Japan issued a set of stamps on September 3, 1921, to commemorate the return of the Crown Prince (now the Emperor Hirohito) from his European tour. The design shows the battleships Katori and Kashima. The Crown Prince had his quarters on board HIMS Katori, and the countries visited were Great Britain, France, Belgium and Holland. The Kashima and Katori were both armed with four l2in., four 10in, and 12 6in. guns, a number of smaller weapons and five torpedo tubes. The Kashima was launched by Arm¬strong Whitworths at Elswick on March 22, 1905. and was completed in the following year: her tonnage was 16,640, length 425ft., beam 78ft.. draught 27ft i.h.p. 17,280, speed 19.2 knots and complement 980. The Katori was launched by Vickers at Barrow on July 4, 1903, and was completed in 1906: her tonnage was 15,950, length 420ft beam 78ft draught 27ft.. i.h.p. 18,500 speed 19.5 knots and complement 740. Both battleships were scrapped under the Washington Treaty in 1922.
SG206,7,8,9. Sea Breezes 10/51