View source for Chinese cruiser Chao Ho

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
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|Ship image=Chinese cruiser Chao Ho.jpg
|Ship caption=Chinese cruiser ''Chao Ho''
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{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=Republic of China
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Republic of China|naval}}
|Ship name=''Chao Ho'' (肇和)
|Ship namesake=
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|Ship builder=[[Armstrong Whitworth]]
|Ship original cost=£210,000
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|Ship laid down=7 October 1910
|Ship launched=23 October 1911
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|Ship completed=21 February 1912
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|Ship recommissioned=31 December 1928
|Ship decommissioned=December 1923
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|Ship struck=December 1923
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|Ship homeport=[[Guangzhou]]
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|Ship fate=Sunk 28 September 1937 by Japanese Aircraft
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{{Infobox|child=yes
| label1 = Reacquired
| data1 = 29 December 1928
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|Ship country=Beiyang Government
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Republic of China (1912–1949)|1912}}
|Ship name=''Chao Ho'' (肇和)
|Ship namesake=
|Ship acquired=December 1923
|Ship commissioned=5 January 1924
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|Ship homeport=[[Qingdao]]
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|Ship fate=Reintegrated into the Republic of China Navy
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Ship class={{sclass|Chao Ho|cruiser|0}} [[protected cruiser]]
|Ship displacement= {{convert|2750|t|LT|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship length={{convert|105.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|13|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught={{convert|4.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=Three-shaft Parsons steam turbines, 4 cylindrical and 4 Yarrow boilers; {{convert|6000|hp|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed={{convert|20|kn|mph km/h|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{convert|4500|nmi|km|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}
|Ship endurance=
|Ship complement=283
|Ship armament=* 2 x 1 - [[BL 6 inch naval guns Mk XIII – XVIII#6-inch Mark XVII gun in Royal Navy service|Armstrong Pattern NN]] {{convert|6|in|mm|0|adj=on}}/50 guns<ref name="Friedman">{{cite book|last1=Friedman|first1=Norman|title=Naval weapons of World War One : guns, torpedoes, mines and ASW weapons of all nations : an illustrated directory|date=2011|publisher=Seaforth Pub.|location=S. Yorkshire|isbn=9781848321007|page=90|edition=Repr.|ref=Friedman}}</ref>
*4 x 1 - [[EOC 4 inch 50 caliber|Elswick Pattern P]] {{convert|4|in|mm|sp=us|abbr=on}}/50 guns<ref>Friedman 2011, p. 106.</ref>
*4 x 1 - Armstrong {{convert|3|in|mm|sp=us|abbr=on}} guns
*6 x 1 - [[QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss|47/40 Hotchkiss]] guns
*2 × [[QF 1-pounder pom-pom|{{convert|37|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}]] Maxim AA guns
*2 × {{convert|450|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s
|Ship armour=*Deck: {{convert|19|to|25|mm|in|abbr=on}}
*Conning tower: {{convert|76|mm|in|abbr=on}}
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'''''Chao Ho''''' ({{zh|c=肇和||w=Chao Ho|p=Zhào Hé|l=Harmonious Beginnings}}) was the [[lead ship]] of a class of [[Chao Ho-class cruiser|her class]] of training [[protected cruiser]]s originally built for the [[Manchu]] [[Qing Dynasty]].

==Development==
The ''Chao Ho'' class were part of a largely unrealized seven-year modernization program by the Qing Dynasty's imperial [[regent]] [[Zaifeng, Prince Chun]] that would have ordered a number of modern [[battleship]]s, [[cruiser]]s, [[torpedo boat]]s and [[submarine]]s. Shortly before the completion of her sea trials and impending induction into the [[Imperial Chinese Navy]], the 267-year reign of the Manchu Qing Dynasty came to an end when Dr. [[Sun Yat-Sen]]'s [[Xinhai Revolution]] forced the abdication of the child-emperor [[Puyi]] and created the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]].<ref>Rhoads, Edward J.M.. ''Manchus & Han: Ethnic Relations and Political Power in Late Qing and Early Republican China, 1861–1928''. University of Washington Press. 2000, p. 150.</ref> The Chao Ho would subsequently enter service with the [[Republic of China Navy]].

The ''Chao Ho''-class cruisers were unusual in that all three semi-[[sister ship]]s were built in different ship building yards, and although all three ships were built to the same basic design, they varied in size, armour and displacement, of which ''Chao Ho'' was the largest and longest, and all three ships carried varied assortments of guns (as opposed to uniform main armament). These were done to increase the educational effectiveness of the ships, in order to familiarize their crews with various boiler and weapons systems.

''Chao Ho''{{'}}s hull was laid down on 7 October 1910 by at [[Elswick, Tyne and Wear]] by [[Armstrong Whitworth]]. She was [[ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 23 October 1911 and finished her naval trials on 21 February 1912, nine days after the Xinhai Revolution brought down the Qing Dynasty. In 1913, after a long loan negotiation, she was delivered to China in March.<ref>Wright, Richard N.J.. ''The Chinese Steam Navy 1862–1945''. Chatham Publishing, 2000, pp. 125–126.</ref>

==Design==
''Chao Ho'' as mentioned differed from her two sister ships, as she was larger than either {{ship|Chinese cruiser|Ying Rui||2}} or [[Greek cruiser Elli (1912)|''Fei Hung'']]. ''Chao Ho'' was {{convert|2|ft|6|in}} larger in [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] than ''Ying Rui'', and weighted 290 t more. ''Ying Rui''{{'}}s foremast was stepped further aft and her funnels were spaced wider. ''Chao Ho'' also had thicker armour ({{convert|2|in|mm|abbr=on|0}} compared to ''Ying Rui''{{'}}s {{convert|.75|in|mm|abbr=on}} on the main deck and {{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on|0}} compared to {{convert|1.75|in|mm|abbr=on}} on her [[conning tower]]). ''Chao Ho''{{'}}s primary armament were two [[BL 6 inch naval guns Mk XIII – XVIII#6-inch Mark XVII gun in Royal Navy service|Armstrong Pattern NN {{convert|6|in|mm|0|adj=on}}/50]] guns which were mounted on the forecastle and poop. As a protected cruiser ''Chao Ho'' did not have [[belt armor]]. The only armor was on her [[Deck (ship)|deck]], guns and conning tower. The remaining artillery were placed on the main deck.<ref>Gray, Randall. ''Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921''. Conway Maritime Press, 1985, pp. 396–397.</ref>

==Service record==
''Chao Ho''{{'}}s first incident was in December 1915, when the cruiser was briefly captured by Southern Chinese rebels during the [[National Protection War]]. During the lawless [[Warlord Era]] of the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]], ''Chao Ho'' was often called into action to bombard rebel positions but in December 1923 [[Zhili Clique]] Warlord [[Wu Peifu]] representing the [[Beiyang Government]] bribed half of the Chinese Navy into his service including ''Chao Ho'' where they were used guard the naval base of [[Qingdao]] (formerly the [[German Empire]] [[Concession (territory)|concession]] of [[Jiaozhou Bay Leased Territory|Jiaozhou]]), the most advanced port in China at the time. The fleet of five ships (the cruisers {{ship|Chinese cruiser|Hai Chi||2}}, {{ship|Chinese cruiser|Hai Chen||2}}, ''Chao Ho'') and the [[gunboat]]s {{ship|Chinese gunboat|Yung Hsiang||2}} and {{ship|Chinese gunboat|Chu Yu||2}} arrived at Qingdao on 5 January 1924 and would become known as the Northern Fleet. After the Zhili Clique's defeat during the [[Second Zhili–Fengtian War]], control of Qingdao and its fleet passed to the [[Manchuria]]n warlord [[Zhang Zuolin]] of the [[Fengtian clique]]. By this time, the Northern Fleet had been renamed the North East Fleet as the collection of ships have become known as had gone into disrepair, many unable to exceed {{convert|10|kn|lk=in}}. Zhang, who had always been close politically to the [[Empire of Japan]] had ''Chao Ho'' and the rest of his fleet refitted by Japanese engineers in 1927.

In 1927, the [[Kuomintang]] Government of the Republic of China, led by Generalissimo [[Chiang Kai-shek]] launched his decisive [[Northern Expedition]] to finally bring the Northern Chinese warlords under his heel. While commanding his newly formed and trained [[National Revolutionary Army]], the Kuomintang had little in the way of a navy after the mass defection of 1923. Throughout 1927 the newly refitted ''Chao Ho'' made several sorties to bombard the Nationalist naval fortifications at [[Wusong]] off the coast of Shanghai and participated in the brief occupation of the island of [[Kinmen]] off the coast of [[Xiamen]] in May 1928. After months of hard fighting, the Kuomintang eventually defeated the Warlord cliques after capturing Beijing in 1928. The fleeing Zhang was assassinated when the train he was in was blown up by Japanese officers of the [[Kwantung Army]] to punish him for his failures in defeating Chiang. His son, [[Zhang Xueliang]] then pledged allegiance to Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang government. The former Beiyang Governments North East Fleet was reintegrated into the Republic of China Navy. In 1930 two [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|QF 2 pounder]] [[anti-aircraft gun]]s were added to ''Chao Ho'' on a platform at the base of the mainmast. The former North East Fleet was renamed Third Squadron and remained in Qingdao.

Problems with ''Chao Ho'' did not end with her return in 1928 though. In July 1933, a lieutenant from the auxiliary gunboat ''Chen Hai'' attempted to assassinate Admiral Shen Hung-lieh (who was also the mayor of Qingdao) over wages and was immediately executed. In sympathy the Third Squadron which consisted of ''Hai Chi'', ''Hai Chen'' and ''Chao Ho'' mutinied and sailed to [[Guangzhou]], governed by general [[Chen Jitang]]. Due to the fractured, clique ridden nature of the Republic of China in the wake of the Northern Expedition, the mutineers were welcomed by the city as useful reinforcements for the [[Cantonese]] faction within the Chinese government. Unfortunately, even in Guangzhou, the former North East Fleet remained underpaid, underemployed and unappreciated. When the original leader of the mutineers, Rear-Admiral Kiang Hsi-yuan was replaced by a local Cantonese commander, the three ships once again mutinied and left Guangzhou on 15 June 1935. ''Chao Ho'' was left behind not long after due to becoming stuck in mud. ''Hai Chi'' and ''Hai Chen'' would go on to be involved in a naval stand off between themselves and the new, modern light cruiser {{ship|Chinese cruiser|Ning Hai||2}} which was carrying the admiral of the fleet [[Chan Chak]] on board. Several [[warning shot]]s were fired by ''Ning Hai'' towards the mutineers but, after tense negotiations the situation was resolved without bloodshed on 18 July.

[[Second Sino-Japanese War|War between China and Japan resumed in 1937]], with Japan launched a full-scale invasion of China, and quickly [[Battle of Beiping–Tianjin|capturing the cities of Beiping and Tianjin]]. At the time ''Chao Ho'' was stationed at the naval fort in [[Bocca Tigris]] to guard the city of [[Guangzhou]] and the entrance to the [[Pearl River (China)|Pearl River]]. On 14 September 1937. ''Chao Ho'' and [[HMS Pentstemon (1916)|''Hai Chow'']] (formerly the {{sclass|Arabis|sloop|0}} [[Sloop-of-war|sloop]] HMS ''Pentstemon'') engaged the {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Yūbari}} and the [[destroyers]] {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hayate|1925|2}} and {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Oite|1924|2}}. The Japanese ships were forced to retreat with the aide of the Bocca Tigris' forts land based artillery but both ships were damaged. After this set back Japan sent the [[aircraft carrier]]s {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Ryūjō||2}} and {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Hōshō||2}} against the forts and ships at the mouth of the Pearl River [[Strategic bombing during World War II#Japanese bombing|as part of a larger strategic bombing campaign]] against the Pearl River Delta and the city of Guangzhou, the fortifications and ports were heavily bombed. On 30 September 1937 ''Chao Ho'' was sunk by Japanese aircraft of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service]].<ref>Wright 2000, p. 173.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Beiyang Navy]]
* [[Zhili clique]]
* [[Fengtian clique]]
* [[Warlord Era]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030319234706/http://www.beiyang.org/bybq/zhaohe.htm]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061117053458/http://navy.mnd.gov.tw/English/index.aspx Republic of China Navy]

{{Chao Ho class cruisers}}
{{1937 shipwrecks}}

{{coord missing|Guangdong}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chao Ho}}
[[Category:Chao Ho-class cruisers]]
[[Category:1911 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built by Armstrong Whitworth]]
[[Category:Second Sino-Japanese War cruisers of China]]
[[Category:Cruisers sunk by aircraft]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by Japanese aircraft]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of China]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1937]]
[[Category:World War II naval ships of China]]