Naval Battle of Awa

Battle of Awa

Encounter between the Kasuga of the Satsuma navy (forefront), and the Kaiyō of the Shogunal navy (background), during the Naval Battle of Awa.

Date	28 January 1868
Location	Awa Bay
Result	Shogunal victory

Belligerents

Imperial court, Satsuma

Tokugawa shogunate

Commanders and leaders

Akatsuka Genroku

Enomoto Takeaki

Strength

1 warship
2 transports

3 warships

Casualties and losses

1 transport destroyed

The Battle of Awa (阿波沖海戦, Awa oki kaisen) occurred on 28 January 1868 during the Boshin War in Japan, in the area of Awa Bay near Osaka. Involving ships of the Tokugawa shogunate and Satsuma vessels loyal to the imperial court in Kyoto, the battle was the second naval battle in Japanese history between modern naval forces (after the 1863 Battle of Shimonoseki Straits). Enomoto Takeaki led the shogunal navy to victory at Awa, in one of the few Tokugawa successes of the Boshin War, one day after the start of the land Battle of Toba–Fushimi (which the shogunate lost to the Imperial forces).

The Satsuma Domain was preparing to return its troops to Kagoshima aboard two transports, the Hōō (翔凰) and the Heiun (平運), protected by the Satsuma warship Kasuga stationed in Hyōgo harbour. The shogunal navy under Enomoto Takeaki was nearby with the battleship Kaiyō Maru as its main unit, and had been supporting the Battle of Toba–Fushimi from the sea. Enomoto's fleet moved to blockade the withdrawal of the Satsuma ships.

On 28 January, in the early morning, the Satsuma ships left Hyōgo harbor. Heiun left through the Strait of Akashi, and Kasuga went south with Hōō towards the Strait of Kien (紀淡). Kaiyō Maru pursued and prepared for combat. At a distance of 1,200–2,500 meters, Kaiyō Maru fired about 25 times on the two Satsuma ships, and Kasuga responded with 18 shots, without significant damage to either side. However, as more Shogunate navy ships had arrived (the Banryū and Hazuru), Kasuga broke off the engagement, and, being faster than Kaiyō Maru, escaped to Kagoshima. Unable to flee, Hōō was run aground at Yuki-ura (由岐浦) and was destroyed by her crew. Looking at the burning Hōō, Enomoto expressed admiration at the fight put on by his enemies: "Although they are enemies, how remarkable" (敵ながらあっぱれ, Teki nagara appare).

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