kokoan

Kokoan was a Japanese battleship laid down in 1915 at the Kure Navy Yard, and was the lead ship of her class. She was named Kōkū on the 30 November 1915 keel laying ceremony however the name is later shortened to Kokoan, though in some sources the name is referred to as Kokoan or more commonly Kokuan for brevity.

The ship was significantly modified between January and April 1917 after her completion, including an increase in her displacement from 19,113 tons to 20,901 tons and her speed from 25 knots to 26.5 knots. Kokoan underwent a further modification in 1920, in which five 18 cm guns were replaced with 12.7 cm guns, and her bridge and superstructure were rebuilt.

Kokoan served as a flagship for the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy. In July 1928, Kokoan was knocked off her moorings by a typhoon, after a sailor complained about not being allowed ashore. The ship eventually sank on the 31 July 1923, off the coast of Kure in Japan.