Suma-class cruiser

Japanese cruiser Suma around 1905
Class overview
NameSuma class
BuildersYokosuka Shipyards, Japan
Operators Imperial Japanese Navy
Preceded byAkitsushima
Succeeded byTakasago
Built18921899
In commission18961930
Completed2
Retired2
General characteristics
TypeProtected cruiser
Displacement2,657 long tons (2,700 t)
Length93.5 m (306 ft 9 in)
Beam12.3 m (40 ft 4 in)
Draught4.6 m (15 ft 1 in)
Propulsion2-shaft VTE reciprocating engines; 8 boilers; 8,500 hp (6,300 kW)
Speed20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h)
Range11,000 nmi (20,000 km) at 10 kn (19 km/h)
Complement256
Armament
Armour
  • Deck: 50 mm (2 in) (slope), 25 mm (1 in) (flat)
  • Gun shield: 115 mm (4.5 in) (front)

The two Suma-class cruisers (須磨型防護巡洋艦, Suma-gata bōgojun'yōkan) were protected cruisers operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. While more lightly armed and armored than many of its contemporaries, their small size and relatively simple design facilitated their construction and their relatively high speed made them useful for many military operations. Both participated in combat during the Russo-Japanese War and World War I.