View source for Chinese cruiser Chaoyong

{{Short description|Chinese Tsukushi-class cruiser}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= Chinese Tshao Yong.jpg
|Ship caption=''Chaoyong'' docked on the [[River Tyne]]
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[Imperial China]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Qing dynasty|naval}}
|Ship name=''Chaoyong''
|Ship ordered=1879
|Ship builder=[[Charles Mitchell (shipbuilder)|Charles Mitchell]] & Company, [[Newcastle Upon Tyne]]
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=15 January 1880
|Ship launched=11 November 1880
|Ship completed=14 July 1881
|Ship commissioned=22 November 1881
|Ship homeport=
|Ship fate= Sank, 17 September 1894
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class= {{sclass|Tsukushi|cruiser}}
|Ship displacement= {{convert|1350|LT|t|lk=in|abbr=on}}
|Ship length= {{Convert|220|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{Convert|32|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught={{Convert|15.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship power={{convert|2580|ihp|lk=in|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=*[[Reciprocating engine]], two shafts
*Six boilers
|Ship speed= {{convert|16|kn|lk=in|abbr=on}}
|Ship range=
|Ship boats=*2 x [[Pinnace (ship's boat)|Pinnaces]]
|Ship complement=140
|Ship armament=*2 × [[Armstrong Whitworth]] [[BL 10 inch gun Mk I – IV|{{convert|254|mm|in|abbr=on}}]] cannons
*4 × Armstrong Whitworth {{Convert|120|mm|in|abbr=on}} cannons
*2 × twin Armstrong Whitworth 9-pounders
*4 × 11 mm [[Gatling gun]]s
*4 × 37 mm [[Hotchkiss gun]]s
*2 × 4-barreled [[Nordenfelt gun]]s
|Ship armour=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''''Chaoyong''''' ({{zh|c=超勇|p=Chāoyǒng|w=Ch'ao-yung|l=Valiant}}) was a [[cruiser]] built for the [[Imperial Chinese Navy]]. She was built by [[Charles Mitchell (shipbuilder)|Charles Mitchell]] & Company in [[Newcastle Upon Tyne]], England, from a design by Sir [[George Wightwick Rendel]] which had already been used on the [[Chilean Navy]] vessel ''Arturo Prat'' (later the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]'s {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Tsukushi||2}}). Two ships were ordered by the Chinese, ''Chaoyong'' and {{ship|Chinese cruiser|Yangwei||2}}. Both would serve together throughout their careers, assigned to the [[Beiyang Fleet]] and based in [[Port of Tianjin|Taku]] during the summer, and [[Incheon|Chemulpo]], Korea, in the winter.

''Chaoyong'' did not see any action during the [[Sino-French War]], but in the [[First Sino-Japanese War]], she was in the Chinese [[line of battle|line]] at the [[Battle of Yalu River (1894)|Battle of Yalu River]] on 17 September 1894. She was one of the early casualties of the battle, being set alight, and sinking after a collision with the Chinese cruiser {{ship|Chinese cruiser|Jiyuan||2}}.

==Design==
The design for ''Chaoyong'' 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 warship]]s. The design was later seen as an intermediate concept between his [[flat-iron gunboat]]s and the [[protected cruiser]].{{sfn |Chesneau|Kolesnik| 1979| p=233}} In theory, the ship would rely on its small size and higher speed, along with a higher muzzle velocity [[main battery]] to attack larger,{{sfn |Friedman| 2012| p=150}}<ref>{{cite news|title=Hostilities in China|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7841484//|access-date=13 December 2016|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=12 January 1885|page=5|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{open access}}</ref> less maneuverable ships.{{sfn |van de Ven| 2014| p=110}}

''Chaoyong''{{'}}s basic design was initially used on the [[Chilean Navy]] vessel {{ship|Chilean cruiser|Arturo Prat|1880|2}}, which preceded it in construction, although several changes were made, including increasing the number of [[steam boiler]]s from four to six. Both ''Chaoyong'' and her [[sister ship]], {{ship|Chinese cruiser|Yangwei||2}} shared the same design, and were built by [[Charles Mitchell (shipbuilder)|Charles Mitchell]] on the [[River Tyne]] near [[Newcastle Upon Tyne]]. Mitchell had worked alongside Rendel, and was building ''Arturo Prat''. ''Chaoyang'' measured {{Convert|220|ft|m}} [[length overall|long overall]], with a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|32|ft|m|abbr=on}} and an average [[draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|15.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The ships were manned by 140 crew.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=47}} The most significant difference between the two ships was the power output of their [[reciprocating engine]]s; while ''Yangwei'' had an output of {{convert|2580|ihp|abbr=off|lk=in}}, ''Chaoyong''{{'s}} engine supplied {{convert|2677|ihp|abbr=on|lk=in}}. This meant that while ''Yangwei'' could achieve a speed of {{convert|16|kn|lk=in}}, ''Chaoyong'' could go faster at {{convert|16.8|kn|lk=in|abbr=on}}.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=48}}

They both were constructed out of {{convert|0.75|in|cm}} steel with waterproof bulkhead {{convert|3.5|ft|m|abbr=on}} below the [[waterline]], a single smokestack, and twin masts, which could also be used for sails. The [[prow]] was reinforced for [[Naval ram|ramming]]. They had a number of technical innovations, including hydraulic steering systems and electrical [[incandescent light]] fixtures. The main armaments were [[breech-loading weapon|breech-loading]] [[Armstrong Whitworth]] [[BL 10 inch gun Mk I – IV|{{convert|254|mm|in|abbr=on}}]] cannons, one on the bow and one on the stern, mounted in stationary [[gun shield]]s. These shields were added for weather proofing reasons, but restricted the angle of fire that could be taken, as well as the elevation they could fire at. ''Chaoyong'' also had four {{convert|5.1|in|mm}} inch guns, (two to each side), two {{convert|57|mm|in|abbr=on}} long guns, four {{convert|11|mm|in|abbr=on}} [[Gatling gun]]s, four {{convert|37|mm|in|abbr=on}} [[Hotchkiss gun]]s, two 4-barrelled [[Nordenfeldt gun]]s, as well as two [[torpedo tube]]s.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=49}} Both ships were equipped with two [[Pinnace (ship's boat)|pinnaces]], which were each armed with [[spar torpedo]]es.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=181}}

==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. ''Chaoyong'' was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 15 January 1880, and launched on 4 November. She  was subsequently worked up, and was announced as completed on 15 July, a day after her sister ship, ''Yangwei''. They were both completed ahead of ''Arturo Prat'',{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=47}} who instead would enter service as the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]'s {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Tsukushi||2}} after Chile cancelled the order following the end of the [[War of the Pacific]].{{sfn |Chesneau|Kolesnik| 1979| p=233}}

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}} Following their arrival on 20 October in [[Hong Kong]],{{sfn |The Desk Hong List| 1884| p=173}} they toured Canton (now [[Guangzhou]]) 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}}

On 23 June 1884, ''Chaoyong'' was present alongside ''Yangwei'', 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 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 ''Chaoyong'' 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=|access-date=11 December 2016|work=[[The Examiner (Tasmania)|The Examiner]]|date=31 January 1885|page=1|via=[[Trove]]}}</ref> She and ''Yangwei'' 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}}

===Battle of Yalu River===
{{main|Battle of Yalu River (1894)}}
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]]).{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=81}} During the [[First Sino-Japanese War]] in 1894, ''Chaoyong'' remained with the fleet and was supporting troop transports when they made contact with a Japanese fleet on the morning of 17 September.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=90}}

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 ''Chaoyong'' 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=in|abbr=on}}. Orders had been given for the ships to operate in pairs, with ''Chaoyong'' and ''Yangwei'' 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}}

At a distance of {{convert|3000|yds|m|lk=in|abbr=on}}, the Japanese fleet began to fire on the ''Chaoyong''. Within a few minutes, fires broke out, which quickly engulfed the central superstructure with its numerous wooden partitions covered with thick layers of flammable varnish applied over the years. ''Yangwei'' quickly suffered the same fate. As the ''Chaoyong'' attempted to make way to a nearby island to beach itself,{{sfn |Brassey| 1895| p=111}} it collided with the Chinese cruiser {{ship|Chinese cruiser|Jiyuan||2}}, before listing to [[Port and starboard|starboard]] and sinking in shallow water nearby.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=91}}{{sfn |Inouye| 1895| p=3}} Some of the crew were rescued by a Chinese [[torpedo boat]] engaged in the battle.{{sfn |Wright| 2000| p=92}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

==References==
* {{cite book|title=The Desk Hong List|year=1884|publisher=North China Herald|location=Shanghai|url=https://archive.org/stream/1884deskhonglist#page/n70/mode/1up/|ref=CITEREFThe Desk Hong List1884}}
*{{cite book|title=The Naval Annual|editor1-last=Brassey|editor1-first=T. A.|publisher=J. Griffin and Company|location=Portsmouth, UK|year=1895}}
*{{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|editor2-last=Kolesnik|editor2-first=Eugene M.|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich, UK|year=1979|isbn=0-8317-0302-4|name-list-style=amp|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/conwaysallworlds0000unse_l2e2}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Cruisers of the Victorian Era|year=2012|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=978-1-59114-068-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Inouye|first=Jukichi|title=The Japan-China War: The Naval Battle of Haiyang|year=1895|url=https://archive.org/stream/japanchinawarnav00inourich#page/n3/mode/2up|publisher=Kelly and Walsh, Limited|location=Yokohama, Japan}}
*{{cite journal|last1=Jacques|first1=William H.|title=Torpedo Boats in Modern Warfare|journal=Cassier's Magazine|year=1898|volume=14|url=https://archive.org/details/cassiersmaga141898newy|publisher=Cassier Magazine Company|location=London}}
* {{cite book|last=van de Ven|first=Hans|title=Breaking with the Past: The Maritime Customs Service and the Global Origins of Modernity in China|year=2014|publisher=Columbia University Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-231-51052-3}}
* {{cite book|last=Wright|first=Richard N.J.|title=The Chinese Steam Navy|year=2000|publisher=Chatham Publishing|location=London|isbn=978-1-86176-144-6}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Chinese Cruiser Chao Yong}}
{{Tsukushi class cruisers}}
{{1894 shipwrecks}}

{{coord missing|Yellow Sea}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaoyong}}
[[Category:Tsukushi-class cruisers]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Tyne]]
[[Category:1880 ships]]
[[Category:First Sino-Japanese War cruisers of China]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1894]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Yellow Sea]]
[[Category:Naval ships of China]]
[[Category:Cruisers of the Beiyang Fleet]]
[[Category:Chaoyong-class cruisers]]
[[Category:Sino-French War naval ships]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of China]]