 Itsukushima, the lead ship of the Matsushima class
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Matsushima class |
| Operators |  Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Preceded by | Naniwa class |
| Built | 1888–1894 |
| In commission | 1891–1926 |
| Planned | 4 |
| Completed | 3 |
| Cancelled | 1 |
| Lost | 1 (Matsushima) |
| Retired | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Protected cruiser |
| Displacement | 4,217 long tons (4,285 t) (Matsushima); 4,278 long tons (4,347 t) (Itsukushima and Hashidate) |
| Length | 91.81 m (301 ft 3 in) w/l |
| Beam | 15.6 m (51 ft 2 in) |
| Draft | 6.05 m (19 ft 10 in) |
| Propulsion | 2-shaft reciprocating; 6 boilers; 5,400 hp (4,000 kW), 680 tons coal |
| Speed | 16.5 knots (19.0 mph; 30.6 km/h) |
| Complement | 360 |
| Armament |
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| Armor |
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The Matsushima class (松島型防護巡洋艦, Matsushima-gata bōgojun'yōkan) was a class of protected cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), with three ships named after the three most famous scenic spots in Japan (nicknamed Sankeikan (三景艦, 'three-views ships')). The Matsushima class was a highly unorthodox design among cruisers of the 1890s, as each ship had a primary armament of a single massive 320 millimetres (13 in) Canet gun, resulting in a monitor-like appearance.