Chinese cruiser Yangwei: Difference between revisions
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Each of the Chinese vessels were equipped with Chinese crews, with Western captains and instructors in place. They sailed out of the [[Tyne River]] on 9 August, and stopped in [[Plymouth Sound]] two days later where Admiral [[Ding Ruchang]] joined them to take command of the ships for the journey to China.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=47}} Upon arrival in October, they toured [[Hong Kong]], [[Canton]] and [[Shanghai]], before travelling to the [[Taku Forts]]. ''Chaoyong'' was boarded by Hongzhang, and the two cruisers took the diplomat to inspect the dredging of the port at Taku (now the [[Port of Tianjin]]). Both ships were assigned to the [[Beiyang Fleet]] in the north, and Ruchang was placed in command.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=48}} |
Each of the Chinese vessels were equipped with Chinese crews, with Western captains and instructors in place. They sailed out of the [[Tyne River]] on 9 August, and stopped in [[Plymouth Sound]] two days later where Admiral [[Ding Ruchang]] joined them to take command of the ships for the journey to China.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=47}} Upon arrival in October, they toured [[Hong Kong]], [[Canton]] and [[Shanghai]], before travelling to the [[Taku Forts]]. ''Chaoyong'' was boarded by Hongzhang, and the two cruisers took the diplomat to inspect the dredging of the port at Taku (now the [[Port of Tianjin]]). Both ships were assigned to the [[Beiyang Fleet]] in the north, and Ruchang was placed in command.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=48}} |
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On 23 June 1884, ''Yantai'' was present alongside ''Chaoyong'', as well as the [[corvette]] {{ship|Chinese corvette|Yangwu||2}} and the [[sloop of war|sloop]] {{ship|Chinese sloop|Kangji||2}}, when the Chinese vessels met their [[French Navy]] counterparts. The French ships dwarfed their Chinese counterparts, and following a discussion between the leaders of each fleet, the French put on a firing demonstration. Afterwards, the Chinese fleet broke up with ''Yang-Wu'' headed to Foochow (now [[Fuzhou]]), and the two ''Chaoyong'' cruisers sailed back to Taku.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| pp=60-61}} The [[Sino-French War]] broke out shortly afterwards,{{sfn |Wright| 2000| pp=62-63}} although ''Yangwei'' saw no action |
On 23 June 1884, ''Yantai'' was present alongside ''Chaoyong'', as well as the [[corvette]] {{ship|Chinese corvette|Yangwu||2}} and the [[sloop of war|sloop]] {{ship|Chinese sloop|Kangji||2}}, when the Chinese vessels met their [[French Navy]] counterparts. The French ships dwarfed their Chinese counterparts, and following a discussion between the leaders of each fleet, the French put on a firing demonstration. Afterwards, the Chinese fleet broke up with ''Yang-Wu'' headed to Foochow (now [[Fuzhou]]), and the two ''Chaoyong'' cruisers sailed back to Taku.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| pp=60-61}} The [[Sino-French War]] broke out shortly afterwards,{{sfn |Wright| 2000| pp=62-63}} although ''Yangwei'' saw no action,{{sfn |Wright| 2000| pp=60-61}} although there was speculation that the two cruisers might be sent to break the French blockade of [[Formosa]].<ref>{{cite news|title=The Chinese Navy|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38295324?searchTerm=%22yang-wei%22%20navy&searchLimits=|accessdate=11 December 2016|work=Lauceston Examiner|date=31 January 1885|page=1|via=[[Trove]]}}</ref> She and ''Chaoyong'' were sent south to Shanghai in November, but were then brought back north after concerns were raised about growing Japanese influences in Korea.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=64}} |
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===Battle of Yalu River=== |
===Battle of Yalu River=== |
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As the Japanese fleet moved in, the Chinese fleet moved away from anchor and attempted for form up in a line. However, the manoeuvre was botched and ''Yangwei'' was one of four ships which ended up behind the others.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=90}} This was due to a lack of maintenance over the years; with their equipment out of date they could barely make {{convert|10|kn|lk=n}}. Orders had been given for the ships to operate in pairs, with ''Yangwei'' and ''Chaoyong'' teamed together. This battle plan was alien to the premise of their design, inherent in the lack of armour for ships about to fight in the line of battle.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=91}} |
As the Japanese fleet moved in, the Chinese fleet moved away from anchor and attempted for form up in a line. However, the manoeuvre was botched and ''Yangwei'' was one of four ships which ended up behind the others.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=90}} This was due to a lack of maintenance over the years; with their equipment out of date they could barely make {{convert|10|kn|lk=n}}. Orders had been given for the ships to operate in pairs, with ''Yangwei'' and ''Chaoyong'' teamed together. This battle plan was alien to the premise of their design, inherent in the lack of armour for ships about to fight in the line of battle.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=91}} |
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At a distance of {{convert|3000|yds|m|lk=n}}, the Japanese fleet targeted the ''Chaoyong'' and ''Yangwei''. Within a few minutes, fires broke out on both ships, which quickly engulfed the central superstructures with its numerous wooden partitions covered with thick layers of flammable varnish applied over the years. ''Yangwei'' fought no more, and eventually beached on a reef several miles south. Following the battle, she was destroyed by a spar torpedo from a boat of the Japanese cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Chiyoda||2}}.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=91}} |
At a distance of {{convert|3000|yds|m|lk=n}}, the Japanese fleet targeted the ''Chaoyong'' and ''Yangwei''. Within a few minutes, fires broke out on both ships, which quickly engulfed the central superstructures with its numerous wooden partitions covered with thick layers of flammable varnish applied over the years. ''Yangwei'' fought no more, and eventually beached on a reef several miles south with the loss of the majority of her crew.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=91}}<ref>{{cite news|title=The Fight off the Yaloo River|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13973982?searchTerm=%22yang-wei%22%20navy&searchLimits=|accessdate=11 December 2016|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=26 October 1894|page=5|via=[[Trove]]}}</ref> Following the battle, she was destroyed by a spar torpedo from a boat of the Japanese cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Chiyoda||2}}.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=91}} |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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Revision as of 22:30, 11 December 2016
| History | |
|---|---|
 China | |
| Name | Yangwei |
| Ordered | 1879 |
| Builder | Charles Mitchell & Company, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England |
| Laid down | 15 January 1880 |
| Launched | 29 January 1881 |
| Completed | 15 July 1881 |
| Commissioned | 22 November 1881 |
| Fate | Sank 17 September 1894 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Template:Sclass- |
| Displacement | 1,350 long tons (1,370 t) |
| Length | 220 ft (67 m) |
| Beam | 32 ft (9.8 m) |
| Draught | 15.5 ft (4.7 m) |
| Installed power | 2,580 indicated horsepower (1,920 kilowatts) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 2 x Pinnaces |
| Complement | 140 |
| Armament |
|
Yangwei (Chinese: 揚威; pinyin: Yangwei; Wade–Giles: Yang-wei; lit. 'Projection of Power and Mightiness') was a cruiser in the late Qing Dynasty Beiyang Fleet. Its sister ship was Chaoyong. The Imperial Japanese Navy warship Tsukushi was built to the same designs.
Design
The design for Yangwei was advertised by its designer British naval architect Sir George Wightwick Rendel as an example of a low-cost cruiser able to withstand larger Ironclad warships. The design was later seen as an intermediate concept between his Flat-iron gunboats and the protected cruiser.[1] In theory, the ship would rely on its small size and higher speed, along with a higher muzzle velocity main battery to attack larger, more cumbersome foes – very similar to the principles of Jeune Ecole, as promoted by French naval architect Émile Bertin. However, the British Admiralty was very skeptical of the idea, and had concerns over the seaworthiness of the design in the North Sea, and did not order any of the design for the Royal Navy. The idea was instead promoted to overseas clients instead.
Although preceded in construction by the Chilean Navy vessel Arturo Prat, the exactly design of the Chilean ship was not replicated. Several changes were made, including increasing the number of steam boilers from four to six. Both Yangwei and her sister ship, the Chaoyong shared the same design, and were built by Charles Mitchell on the River Tyne near Newcastle Upon Tyne. The measured 220 feet (67 m) long overall, with a beam of 32 feet (9.8 m) and an average draft of 15.5 feet (4.7 m). The ships were manned by 140 crew.[2] The most significant difference between the two ships was the power output of their reciprocating engines; while Yangwei had an output of 2,580 indicated horsepower (1,920 kilowatts), Chaoyong's engine supplied 2,677 ihp (1,996 kW)*. This meant that while Yangwei could achieve a speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph), the Chaoyong could go faster at 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph)*.[3]
They both were constructed out of 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) steel with waterproof bulkhead 3.5 feet (1.1 m) below the waterline, a single smokestack, and twin masts, which could also be used for sails. The prow was reinforced for ramming. They had a number of technical innovations, including hydraulic steering systems and electrical incandescent light fixtures. The main armaments were breech-loading 10-inch Armstrong Whitworth cannons, one on the bow and one on the stern, mounted in stationary gun shields. These shields were added for weather proofing reasons, but restricting the angle of fire that could be taken, as well as the elevation they could fire at. Yangweu also had four 5.1-inch guns, (two to each side), two 57 millimetres (2.2 in) long guns, four 11 millimetres (0.43 in) Gatling guns, four 37 millimetres (1.5 in) Hotchkiss guns, two 4-barrelled Nordenfeldt guns, as well as two torpedo tubes.[4] Both ships were equipped with two pinnaces, which were each armed with spar torpedoes.[5]
Career
Chinese diplomat Li Hongzhang was made aware of Rendel's designs, and following the start of the construction on Arturo Prat, an order was placed on behalf of the Imperial Chinese Navy for two ships of the same type. Both Yangwei and Chaoyong were laid down on 15 January 1880, with Chaoyong launched on 4 November and Yangwei following on 29 January 1881. Yangwei was subsequently worked up, and was announced as completed on 14 July that year. They were completed ahead of Arturo Prat,[2] who instead would enter service as the Imperial Japanese Navy's Tsukushi after Chile cancelled the order following the end of the War of the Pacific.[1]
Each of the Chinese vessels were equipped with Chinese crews, with Western captains and instructors in place. They sailed out of the Tyne River on 9 August, and stopped in Plymouth Sound two days later where Admiral Ding Ruchang joined them to take command of the ships for the journey to China.[2] Upon arrival in October, they toured Hong Kong, Canton and Shanghai, before travelling to the Taku Forts. Chaoyong was boarded by Hongzhang, and the two cruisers took the diplomat to inspect the dredging of the port at Taku (now the Port of Tianjin). Both ships were assigned to the Beiyang Fleet in the north, and Ruchang was placed in command.[3]
On 23 June 1884, Yantai was present alongside Chaoyong, as well as the corvette Yangwu and the sloop Kangji, when the Chinese vessels met their French Navy counterparts. The French ships dwarfed their Chinese counterparts, and following a discussion between the leaders of each fleet, the French put on a firing demonstration. Afterwards, the Chinese fleet broke up with Yang-Wu headed to Foochow (now Fuzhou), and the two Chaoyong cruisers sailed back to Taku.[6] The Sino-French War broke out shortly afterwards,[7] although Yangwei saw no action,[6] although there was speculation that the two cruisers might be sent to break the French blockade of Formosa.[8] She and Chaoyong were sent south to Shanghai in November, but were then brought back north after concerns were raised about growing Japanese influences in Korea.[9]
Battle of Yalu River
Following the war, Chaoyong and Yangwei continued to operate together. They operated out of Taku, but since the water froze over during winter, they would spend that part of the year in the Korean port of Chemulpo (now Incheon).[10] As the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894, Yangwei remained with the fleet and was supporting troop transports when they made contact with a Japanese fleet on the morning of 17 September.[11]
As the Japanese fleet moved in, the Chinese fleet moved away from anchor and attempted for form up in a line. However, the manoeuvre was botched and Yangwei was one of four ships which ended up behind the others.[11] This was due to a lack of maintenance over the years; with their equipment out of date they could barely make 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)*. Orders had been given for the ships to operate in pairs, with Yangwei and Chaoyong teamed together. This battle plan was alien to the premise of their design, inherent in the lack of armour for ships about to fight in the line of battle.[12]
At a distance of 3,000 yards (2,700 m)*, the Japanese fleet targeted the Chaoyong and Yangwei. Within a few minutes, fires broke out on both ships, which quickly engulfed the central superstructures with its numerous wooden partitions covered with thick layers of flammable varnish applied over the years. Yangwei fought no more, and eventually beached on a reef several miles south with the loss of the majority of her crew.[12][13] Following the battle, she was destroyed by a spar torpedo from a boat of the Japanese cruiser Chiyoda.[12]
Notes
- ^ a b Chesneau & Kolesnik 1979, p. 233.
- ^ a b c Wright 2000, p. 47.
- ^ a b Wright 2000, p. 48.
- ^ Wright 2000, p. 49.
- ^ Wright 2000, p. 181.
- ^ a b Wright 2000, pp. 60–61.
- ^ Wright 2000, pp. 62–63.
- ^ "The Chinese Navy". Lauceston Examiner. 31 January 1885. p. 1. Retrieved 11 December 2016 – via Trove.
- ^ Wright 2000, p. 64.
- ^ Wright 2000, p. 81.
- ^ a b Wright 2000, p. 90.
- ^ a b c Wright 2000, p. 91.
- ^ "The Fight off the Yaloo River". Sydney Morning Herald. 26 October 1894. p. 5. Retrieved 11 December 2016 – via Trove.
References
- Chesneau, Roger; Kolesnik, Eugene M., eds. (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-8317-0302-4.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help); Unknown parameter|lastauthoramp=ignored (|name-list-style=suggested) (help) - Wright, Richard N.J. (2000). The Chinese Steam Navy. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-144-6.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help)
 Imperial Japanese Navy |
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 Chilean Navy | |
 Imperial Chinese Navy | |