Foreign observers were unsure whether ships this capable should be called armored cruisers or battleships. Their combination of armor, armament, and intended battle-line function created the ambiguity, with tonnage offering only part of the explanation. More worrying to rival navies, the hulls were arriving alongside yards and other supporting infrastructure. The class therefore advertised Japan's effort to build a self-sustaining navy to Western standards, making classification part of a wider question about national power.
Notable Point · 10:11-10:49
Asama challenges cruiser and battleship labels
Foreign uncertainty over Asama's classification reflected both her fighting power and Japan's rise as a self-sustaining naval power.