The Japanese Imperial Fleet at sea on manoeuvres, 1902-04 RMG PV2611, William Lionel Wyllie, circa April 1902

The japanese imperial fleet at sea on manoeuvres, 1902-04 a watercolour study of the japanese fleet at sea during manoeuvres in the period 1902-04. Cruisers are in the starboard column. The centre column is of battleships and armoured cruisers. The leading ship and the third in line are the battleships 'hatsuse' (1899) and 'shikishima' (1898). The battleship leading the port column is the fleet flagship 'mikasa' (1900). The drawing can be dated post march 1902 and prior of 15 may 1904, when the 'hatsuse' was sunk in the russo-japanese war. The british-built 'mikasa' was admiral togo's flagship at his victory over the russians at the battle of tsushima, 1905, and though now encased in concrete to waterline level is preserved as a restored historic vessel outside the yokosuka naval base just south of tokyo. Date: circa April 1902. Dimensions: 284 mm x 465 mm. Collection: Fine art.