SANEYYUKI AKIYAMA

Many described the Tsushima battle. Everyone knows, even the flagship of the commanders participating ships. But hardly a wide range of Russian readers know the name of Akiyama, who developed the plan of battle with the Japanese side. The time - the secret is obvious.

Born in March 1868 on the island of Shikoku Akiyama Saneyyuki was the fourth son of an official sort-samurai from Matsuyama. Unlike his elder brother, commander of cavalry, Saneyyuki in 1890 graduated from the Maritime Academy in Etadzima. Seaman was a good practice, swimming navigator on various ships. Capable young man was appointed in 1896 to mine school in Yokosuka, and then in the reconnaissance department of the Naval Staff. Taking this opportunity, Akiyama inquisitive passion for maritime history. At that time he became acquainted with the writings of AT Mehena and SO Makarova. In 1897 the well-proven lieutenant was sent to study in the United States. The Americans closed its doors Naval Academy in Annapolis, but the President of the Academy of AT Mehen recommend to address the self and gave a list of books on history. A sailor could soon see a battle at first hand. After the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898 in his capacity as foreign observers at the North Atlantic squadron, Admiral T. Sampson. With it, he took part in the blockade of Cuba and in the battle of Santiago. My observations and conclusions presented in Akiyama message sent to Japan. He later used this experience in lectures, which in 1900 returned to his homeland lieutenant. Taught military doctrine, a young scientist except tactics and strategies identified "war" (as he said, "Sejm"), includes the development of communications, logistics and training.

Photo — «Saneyyuki Akiyama»

He took into account geographical factors, the impact of weather, technology, and possible ways of communication. For example Americans Akiyama put into practice the marine game that is convenient for the analysis of theoretical developments.

Taking advantage of the experience of the European fleet, and the writings of the medieval Japanese authors, describing the battle pirates XIV century in the inner sea, Akiyama developed their tactics, including: the concentration of power, flexibility constructions attack at a time and place where the enemy did not expect. He believed that the opponent should be stunned first, and then disperse to exterminate. Battle-fleet, he offered to use a maneuver involving a medieval Japanese attack ( "kasumagakari"), similar to later head of the hostile coverage of the famous columns, called the British "crossing the T". The linear structure Akiyama recognized for his fundamental flexibility. Of particular importance it attached to the planning, organization, training and morale of Navy sailors. Enemy fleet, who came to the shores of Japan, should destroy the successful attacks defender ship fleet.

In 1903, Akiyama was appointed on 1 st navy, it soon became a member of staff on board the fleet "Mikasy, flag-captain Togo. And Togo, and his chief of staff, Kato trusted Akiyama, who have worked to plan emerging hostilities against Russia. Sailor out of the cabin just for lunch and a short walk.

The main task of solving Akiyama, together with T. Hirose, a blockade or neutralization of the fleet at Port Arthur. Plans are for all cases of armed clashes. Surprise for the Japanese was the only way the Russian squadron in August 1904.

Photo — «Saneyyuki Akiyama»

They helped Vitgefta death. But Togo has decided that there should be a detailed plan of operation for the general battle. When the squadron of Vice Admiral ZP Rozhestvenskogo moved to the shores of Japan, Chief Akiyama entrusted to prepare a scheme is constructed for fighting battles. Akiyama plan was divided into seven phases and provides the main force fighting the day and at night - minonostsami attack. The first two stages of assumed that the enemy will be seen and attacked by the mine south of Tsushima Strait. The third stage of action the main draw of the following - for the night mine attacks. The last phase involved the destruction of remnants of the Russian navy, to move to Vladivostok, where the harbor has been littered with contact mines.

Rozhestvensky went unnoticed in the Tsushima Strait, and to reduce its forces torpedo attacks failed. The battle just began with the third stage. Japanese concern fog and the sea: the waves were to be destroyed by some low-lying heavy guns of Russian ships. Because the signal Togo to fight, mainly by Akiyama, included the phrase "The sky is clear and the waves high. "

By the middle of the day the two fleets met. Togo uses involving attack and made a powerful enemy shelling. By night the third stage of the plan ended Akiyama, and Togo began a fourth. For three hours minonostsami destroyer was sunk and several Russian ships. The next morning the remains of a squadron Rozhestvenskogo surrendered. Akiyama, preparing a report on the victory of Togo, was not only the creator, but also the first chronicler Tsusimy.

The main provisions of the tactics Akiyama (depletion of the approaching enemy forces of light and after the main battle fleets) formed the basis for defense of the Japanese island of moving from the west the enemy, which meant the Americans.

Photo — «Saneyyuki Akiyama»

Returning after the war in the Naval Staff College, Akiyama, together with T. Sabo, the Japanese Mehenom, and a leading expert on the Navy mine warfare, the future Prime Minister, K. Suzuki, and began to develop the doctrine of the Japanese fleet out of the Inland Sea in the vast ocean, to combat new probable opponent, United States. To the west of experience in this circle were critical. For example, Akiyama believed the theory of possession sea Mehena inappropriate and idealized for the Pacific, because it provided a complete destruction of an enemy fleet, which neither the Japanese nor the Americans could not achieve. Japanese strategy weakening the enemy numerical superiority or the cunning to direct military confrontation.

Akiyama has made these findings to the general principles of defense of Japan, when considering the weapons, tactics and organization. In 1912 he wrote the book "Fundamentals of Marine tactics. " Akiyama emphasized the importance of establishing a balanced fleet of the main forces and the need to take decisions on the organization of the fleet until a decision on construction of basic units. He defended the concept of "8-8", believing that the Japanese fleet should have 2 squadrons of 8 battleship, each supported by 2 squadrons cruisers 1 and 2 squadrons - 2 nd grade. Seaman believed that, under the overall command of the combined action of mine from destroyers and other ships of light at night is equivalent to day activities of the principal. He proposed to contain at least 3 Squadron minonostsev to 16 ships. The views of those affected by the establishment of the Japanese fleet, and its division of the fleet at the "battle" and "subsidiary" has become a model organization in the 20-ies.

Photo — «Saneyyuki Akiyama»

Became in 1913, Rear-Admiral Akiyama has been appointed in the next year, head of marine operations Naval Ministry. He sent his energy to prove the people and Government of the importance of the fleet. Seaman has written several articles which said shift the balance of naval forces in the Pacific Ocean to the United States, and stressed the need to modernize and increase the number of Japanese ships first line. As the U. S. economic power is clearly superior to Japan, Akiyama found nearly mystical spirit of preference matter. He believed that the spirit should lead to a victory over the United States, no matter how long the war may be, and what would be strong no matter the opponent. In recent years, he has unusual ideas such as "underwater battleship" or "flying the cruiser. "

Akiyama died suddenly in February 1918. But his theoretical developments were used in 30-s block in the strategy of operations N. Suetsugu, requesting a weakening U. S. Navy submarine attacks in the middle of the Pacific. It is believed that the idea before the war to attack Pearl Harbor in order to weaken the U. S. Navy, also derives from the doctrine of Akiyama. When in the mid 30-ies of the sailors asked H. Mizuno of possible sea-leader, he wished the emergence of "second Saneyyuki Akiyama. This shows what role he played in the development of the Japanese fleet.