The 1923 earthquake around Tokyo gave HMS Hawkins a mission beyond deterrence and political observation. With Admiral Leveson aboard, the cruiser first called at Shanghai to collect doctors and medical material from the city's hospitals. It then carried that assistance toward Japan. The ship's mobility and access to regional institutions made the relief mission possible. This was also a cooperative episode in Anglo-Japanese naval relations during a period usually framed through rivalry and treaty limits.
Notable Point · 28:08-28:26
HMS Hawkins turned presence into earthquake relief
After the 1923 Tokyo-region earthquake, HMS Hawkins collected doctors and supplies in Shanghai before sailing to assist Japan.