Combat experience in the First Sino-Japanese War convinced the Imperial Japanese Navy of weaknesses in the Jeune Ecole naval philosophy, and Japan embarked on a program to modernize and expand its fleet.

[1] The design of the Shikishima class was a modified and improved version of the Majestic-class battleships of the Royal Navy.

They had the same armament and similar machinery as the Fuji class which was intended to allow them to work together as a homogenous group.

The engines were rated at 14,500 indicated horsepower (10,800 kW), using forced draught, and designed to reach a top speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)[1] although they proved to be faster during their sea trials.

[4] The ships carried a maximum of 1,643 tonnes (1,617 long tons)[1] of coal which allowed them to steam for 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).

[6] Secondary armament of the Shikishima class consisted of fourteen 40-calibre Type 41 six-inch quick-firing guns mounted in casemates.

It was only 4 inches (102 mm) thick at the ends of the ship and was surmounted by a six-inch strake of armor that ran between the barbettes for 220 feet.

[13] Both ships participated in the action of 13 April when Tōgō successfully lured out two battleships of the Pacific Squadron.

Emboldened by his success, Tōgō resumed long-range bombardment missions, which prompted the Russians to lay more minefields.

[14] On 14 May, Hatsuse, Shikishima, and the battleship Yashima, the protected cruiser Kasagi, and the dispatch boat Tatsuta put to sea to relieve the Japanese blockading force off Port Arthur.

[16] Hatsuse struck another mine while drifting about a half-hour later that detonated one of her magazines and the ship sank in a little over a minute.

[16] Shikishima was not hit during the Battle of the Yellow Sea in August, although a shell exploded prematurely in one of her 12-inch guns, disabling it.