The Katori-class ships were ordered just before the start of the Russo-Japanese War in 1904 as improved versions of the Royal Navy's King Edward VII-class battleships.

She had a full-load draught of 26 feet 4 inches (8.03 m) and normally displaced 16,383 long tons (16,646 t) and had a crew of 864 officers and enlisted men.

The engines were rated at 15,800 indicated horsepower (11,800 kW), using forced draught, and were designed to reach a top speed of 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph).

Kashima, however, reached a top speed of 19.24 knots (35.63 km/h; 22.14 mph) from 17,280 indicated horsepower (12,890 kW) on her sea trials on 4 April 1906.

[7] Whilst conducting gunnery training in Hiroshima Bay on 16 September 1907, brown powder propellant in Kashima's starboard rear 10-inch (250 mm) gun mount ignited when it came in contact with burning residue from the previous shot.

[8] When World War I began, Kashima was in a refit at Maizuru Naval Arsenal that lasted until March 1915.

[10] To comply with the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty the ship was disarmed in April 1922,[1] stricken from the Navy List on 20 September 1923 and the removal of her armor was completed by February 1924.