Allied code letters for Japanese Mediterranean squadron 1917-19

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apwright
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Joined: 05 Sep 2020, 12:05
Location: Thessaloniki, Greece

Allied code letters for Japanese Mediterranean squadron 1917-19

#1

Post by apwright » 07 Sep 2020, 18:18

Can anyone direct me to a list of the code letters used for the ships of 2nd Special Squadron in the Mediterranean in WW1?
The letters were painted on the bows of the destroyers (maybe on the cruisers too?), and the Hiragana and Katakana names appear to have been overpainted.
I have gleaned a few from various sources ... O for Ume, P for Kusunoki, R for Katsura, K for Sendan/Minstrel according to the Imperial War Museum photo collection, H and I probably for Matsu and Sakaki, but no idea which is which.

Does anyone know if there is a full list anywhere?

Thanks!

Adrian

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fontessa
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Location: Yokohama, Japan

Re: Allied code letters for Japanese Mediterranean squadron 1917-19

#2

Post by fontessa » 07 Sep 2020, 19:51

Hello apwright、

H: Matsu 松
I: Sakaki 榊
J: Sugi 杉
K: Kashiwa 柏
O: Ume 梅
P: Kusu 楠
Q: Kaede 楓
R: Katsura 桂
S: Kashi 樫
T: Hinoki 檜
U: Momo 桃
V: Yanagi 柳

2ndSpecialSquadron1.jpg
2ndSpecialSquadron1.jpg (47.63 KiB) Viewed 2034 times
2ndSpecialSquadron2.jpg
2ndSpecialSquadron2.jpg (29.57 KiB) Viewed 2034 times
2ndSpecialSquadron3.jpg
2ndSpecialSquadron3.jpg (32.43 KiB) Viewed 2034 times

fontessa


apwright
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Posts: 4
Joined: 05 Sep 2020, 12:05
Location: Thessaloniki, Greece

Re: Allied code letters for Japanese Mediterranean squadron 1917-19

#3

Post by apwright » 07 Sep 2020, 20:48

Wow, that's fantastic! Thank you very much fontessa, I really appreciate it!
The logs of the French warships often refer to the Japanese vessels by their letters only, so it's not always possible to work out which ships are being mentioned.
Your information will help me make a lot more sense of these.

Thanks again & best wishes,
Adrian

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