1868 naval battle of the Boshin War
The 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).
Summary.
The Satsuma Domain was preparing to return its troops to Kagoshima aboard two transports, the and the , protected by the Satsuma warship "Kasuga" stationed in Hyōgo harbour. The shogunal navy under Enomoto Takeaki was nearby with the steam frigate "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 "Shōō" towards the Kitan Strait. "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 "Shokaku"), "Kasuga" broke off the engagement, and, being faster than "Kaiyō Maru", escaped to Kagoshima. Unable to flee, "Shōō" was run aground at and was destroyed by her crew. Looking at the burning "Shōō", Enomoto expressed admiration at the fight put on by his enemies: .
The future Imperial Japanese Navy Fleet Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō was a gunner aboard "Kasuga" during the engagement.