 <unk> were also used from the inception of the Imperial Japanese Navy . The <unk> ( Japanese : <unk> , literally " <unk> " , later renamed <unk> <unk> , " East " ) had a decisive role in the Naval Battle of <unk> Bay in May 1869 , which marked the end of the <unk> War , and the complete establishment of the <unk> Restoration . The <unk> continued to develop its strength and commissioned a number of warships from British and European shipyards , first ironclads and later armored cruisers . These ships engaged the Chinese <unk> fleet which was superior on paper at least at the Battle of the <unk> River . <unk> to superior short @-@ range firepower , the Japanese fleet came off better , sinking or severely damaging eight ships and receiving serious damage to only four . The naval war was concluded the next year at the Battle of <unk> , where the strongest remaining Chinese ships were surrendered to the Japanese . 
