Kure’s excellent natural harbour is surrounded by mountains and screened from the sea by mountainous islands. Because of its seclusion, Kure was chosen as the site of a major naval base in 1886. During World War II its shipyards and foundries produced the Yamato, one of the largest battleships ever built. The city was heavily damaged by Allied bombing late in the war but was subsequently rebuilt. The shipyard there now builds merchant ships and oil tankers for export. Kure’s industries experienced serious economic depression after the 1973 increases in the price of crude oil. Although the economy recovered, the city has lost population since the late 20th century. Pop. (2010) 239,973; (2015) 228,552.