Yongfeng-class gunboat

Last updated
ZhongShanJian.jpg
Class overview
Builders
Operators
Preceded by Chu-class gunboat
Completed4
Preserved1
General characteristics
Type Gunboat
Displacement860 long tons (870 t) [1] [2]
Length205 ft (62 m) pp [1] [2]
Beam29.5 ft (9.0 m) [1] [2]
Draught10 ft (3.0 m) [1] [2]
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13.5 knots (15.5 mph; 25.0 km/h) (Yongfeng, Yongxiang) [1]
  • 13 knots (15 mph; 24 km/h) (Yongjian, Yongji) [2]
Complement105 [1] [2]
Armament
  • 1 × 4.1" gun (Yongfeng, Yongxiang) [1]
  • 1 × 4" gun (Yongjian, Yongji) [2]
  • 1 × 3" gun [1] [2]
  • 4 × 3 pdr gun [1] [2]
  • 2 × 1 pdr gun [1] [2]
Armor Deck: 25 mm (0.98 in)

The Yongfeng class were early-20th century gunboats built for the Chinese navy. They were enlarged sea-going versions of the Kiang- and Chu -class gunboats. The first ships, Yongfeng and Yongxiang, were built in Japan by Kawasaki; [3] they were launched in 1912-1913. [1] The remainder, Yongjian and Yongji, were built in 1915 by the Jiangnan Shipyard in China; [2] these ships had added poop decks. [4]

Contents

History

Warlord Era

In 1909, the Imperial Chinese Navy of the Qing Empire began ordering ships from foreign yards to implement a new fleet plan; Japan received orders for the first two Yongfengs in 1910. [5] The empire ended shortly afterwards with the 1911 Revolution. The programme was delayed when Yuan Shikai's succeeding Republic of China renegotiated loans in 1912. [6] More ships were ordered in 1913 but financial difficulties and the First World War prevented any from being delivered. To compensate, the Jiangnan Shipyard was contracted to build two more Yongfengs; these and a few minor gunboats were the last ships to enter the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) for a decade. [7]

The political fragmentation of the Warlord Era following Yuan's death extended to the navy. Admiral Cheng Biguang, commander-in-chief of the navy, defected with part of the fleet to Sun Yat-sen in Guangzhou; the fleet was joined by Yongfeng and Yongxiang. [2] In 1922, Sun fled a coup to Hong Kong; he was carried by Yongfeng before transferring to a British warship. [8] In 1923, Wu Peifu bribed Yongxiang and much of the Guangzhou fleet to abandon Sun. [8] Yongfeng remained, being renamed Zhongshan after Sun's death in 1925, and becoming flagship of the remnants of the Guangzhou fleet. [9] After defecting, Yongxiang joined the Admiral Yang Shuchuang's Central Fleet [8] and then Wu's North-East Squadron (NES); for service in the NES, she was rearmed with four 6 pounder guns sourced from that squadron in 1924. In March 1926, the gunboat supported the amphibious landing of Zhang Zuolin's forces near the Taku Forts controlled by Feng Yuxiang. [10] Yongjian and Yongji joined the Central Fleet. The Central Fleet was neutral, but joined the Kuomintang in March 1927 just before the Northern Expedition. [11] By 1933, Zhongshan, Yongjian and Yongji were all part of the First Squadron of the Central Fleet, [12] and Yongxiang was in the NES (called the Third Squadron.) [13]

In 1926, Chiang Kai-shek used the actions of Zhongshan as a pretext to purge Communist influence from the National Revolutionary Army in the Canton Coup. [14] Yongji fought Communist forces in the Changsha area in 1930. [15] In 1933, Yongxiang briefly mutinied after the failed assassination attempt on Admiral Shen Hunglieh. [13]

Second Sino-Japanese War

Asuka in 1942 Japanese gunboat Asuka in 1942.jpg
Asuka in 1942

The 1937 Japanese invasion inflicted extensive and early losses on the ROCN. Admiral Shen scuttled the NES' ships, including Yongxiang, as blockships; guns were removed to equip Chinese field artillery. [16] The Central Fleet retreated up the Yangtze while blocking the mouth near Jiangyin by sinking warships and merchant ships. Yongjian did not join the retreat because she was refitting at the Jiangnan Shipyard; [16] the gunboat was subsequently sunk by aircraft on 25 August. [17] Zhongshan, Yongji and other gunboats waited at Hankou to evacuate government officials to the wartime capital of Chongqing. They were subjected to air attack during the Battle of Wuhan; Yongji beached on 21 October and Zhongshan was sunk on 24 October. [18]

Many Chinese ships lost in shallow water were salvaged by the Japanese. Yongxiang was raised at Qingdao and employed locally. [19] Yongjian became harbour ship Asuka at Shanghai; she was converted into an anti-aircraft ship in 1945 and sunk by aircraft at the entrance of the Huangpu River in May 1945. Yongji served the puppet Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China as Hai Hsing. [20]

Civil War and after

Yongji returned to ROCN service after the war. [20]

Zhongshan was raised in 1997. Restoration was completed in 2001, and it went on display as a museum ship in May 2008 at the Zhongshan Ship Museum. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Asiatic Fleet</span> Military unit

The United States Asiatic Fleet was a fleet of the United States Navy during much of the first half of the 20th century. Before World War II, the fleet patrolled the Philippine Islands. Much of the fleet was destroyed by the Japanese by February 1942, after which it was dissolved, and the remnants incorporated into the naval component of the South West Pacific Area command, which eventually became the Seventh Fleet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Fuzhou</span> Opening engagement of the Sino-French War

The Battle of Fuzhou, or Battle of Foochow, also known as the Battle of the Pagoda Anchorage, was the opening engagement of the 16-month Sino-French War. The battle was fought on 23 August 1884 off the Pagoda Anchorage in Mawei (馬尾) harbour, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to the southeast of the city of Fuzhou (Foochow). During the battle Admiral Amédée Courbet's Far East Squadron virtually destroyed the Fujian Fleet, one of China's four regional fleets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yangtze Patrol</span> Naval operation to protect Americans interests in China, 1854–1949

The Yangtze Patrol, also known as the Yangtze River Patrol Force, Yangtze River Patrol, YangPat, and ComYangPat, was a prolonged naval operation from 1854 to 1949 to protect American interests in the Yangtze River's treaty ports. The Yangtze Patrol also patrolled the coastal waters of China where they protected U.S. citizens, their property, and Christian missionaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republic of China Navy</span> Maritime service branch of the Republic of Chinas armed forces

The Republic of China Navy is the maritime branch of the Republic of China Armed Forces (ROCAF).

Chinese ironclad <i>Dingyuan</i> Pre-dreadnought battleship

Dingyuan was an ironclad battleship and the flagship of the Chinese Beiyang Fleet. She was the lead ship of the Dingyuan class, which included one other vessel, Zhenyuan, both of which were built in Germany in the early 1880s. Delivery of the two ironclads was delayed by the Sino-French War of 1884–1885. The ships were armed with a main battery of four 12 in (305 mm) guns in a pair of gun turrets, making them the most powerful warships in East Asian waters at the time.

Japanese cruiser <i>Yoshino</i>

Yoshino (吉野) was a protected cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Yoshino is sometimes regarded as a sister ship to Takasago, although the two vessels are of different classes. The name Yoshino comes from the Yoshino mountains, located in the southern portion of Nara prefecture. She played an important role in the First Sino-Japanese War, but was sunk in the Russo-Japanese War after being rammed by Japanese armored cruiser Kasuga in dense fog.

Chinese cruiser <i>Chaoyong</i> Chinese Tsukushi-class cruiser

Chaoyong was a cruiser built for the Imperial Chinese Navy. She was built by 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. Two ships were ordered by the Chinese, Chaoyong and Yangwei. Both would serve together throughout their careers, assigned to the Beiyang Fleet and based in Taku during the summer, and Chemulpo, Korea, in the winter.

The naval history of China dates back thousands of years, with archives existing since the late Spring and Autumn period regarding the Chinese navy and the various ship types employed in wars. The Ming dynasty of China was the leading global maritime power between 1400 and 1433, when Chinese shipbuilders built massive ocean-going junks and the Chinese imperial court launched seven maritime voyages. In modern times, the current People's Republic of China and the Republic of China governments continue to maintain standing navies through the People's Liberation Army Navy and the Republic of China Navy, respectively.

Chinese gunboat <i>Zhongshan</i> Gunboat of the Republic of China Navy

SS Zhongshan, formerly romanized as Chung Shan, was a Chinese gunboat built in Japan in 1913. It was originally known as SS Yongfeng, before being renamed in 1925 in honor of Sun Yat-sen. Zhongshan was sunk by the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Second Sino-Japanese War, but was later raised and restored as a museum ship in Wuhan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nanyang Fleet</span> One of four modernised naval fleets in the late Qing dynasty

The Nanyang Fleet was one of the four modernised Chinese naval fleets in the late Qing Dynasty. Established in the 1870s, the fleet suffered losses in the Sino-French War, escaped intact in the Sino-Japanese War, and was formally abolished in 1909.

Chinese transport <i>Fu Po</i> Chinese lead ship of Fu Po-class

Fu Po, was the lead ship of a class of armed transports of the Imperial Chinese Navy during the Sino-French War, where she was part of the Fujian Fleet under Zhang Peilun. She was present at the Battle of Fuzhou on 23 August 1884, the opening engagement of the Sino-French War, where the Chinese fleet was defeated by the French Far East Squadron. She was later converted to a receiving hulk, and back into an armed transport.

Chinese cruiser <i>Jiyuan</i> Protected cruiser of the Imperial Chinese Navy

Jiyuan, was a protected cruiser of the Imperial Chinese Navy, assigned to the Beiyang Fleet. She was constructed in Germany as China lacked the industrial facilities needed to build them at the time. Jiyuan was originally intended to be the third ironclad battleship of the Dingyuan class, but was reduced in size due to funding issues. Upon completion, she was prevented from sailing to China during the Sino-French War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imperial Chinese Navy</span> Military unit

The Imperial Chinese Navy was the modern navy of the Qing dynasty of China established in 1875. An Imperial naval force in China first came into existence from 1132 during the Song dynasty and existed in some form until the end of the Qing dynasty in 1912. However, the name "Imperial Chinese Navy" usually only refers to the Qing navy that existed between 1875 and 1912, with "Imperial Chinese Navy" as its official English name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fujian Fleet</span> Military unit

The Fujian Fleet founded in 1678 as the Fujian Marine Fleet was one of China's four regional fleets during the closing decades of the nineteenth century. The fleet was almost annihilated on 23 August 1884 by Admiral Amédée Courbet's Far East Squadron at the Battle of Fuzhou, the opening engagement of the Sino-French War.

Chinese cruiser <i>Ning Hai</i> Chinese light cruiser

Ning Hai was a light cruiser in the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) before World War II and the lead ship of her class. She was sunk in the early days of the Second Sino-Japanese War by aircraft from the Imperial Japanese Navy, and her wreck was raised and repaired by the Japanese, re-entering service with the Japanese Navy in the Pacific War as the escort vessel Ioshima (五百島). She was sunk again in September 1944 by a USN submarine.

Chinese cruiser <i>Chao Ho</i>

Chao Ho was the lead ship of a class of her class of training protected cruisers originally built for the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

Chinese cruiser <i>Ying Rui</i>

Ying Rui was a protected cruiser built for the Imperial Chinese Navy, which served with the Republic of China Navy. She was built by Vickers Limited in Barrow-in-Furness, England. She was one of three Chao Ho class protected cruisers built, although each one was to different specifications. Initially designated as a training vessel, she saw action at Amoy during the Warlord era, before returning again to her training role.

Minquan was a gunboat of the Republic of China Navy (ROCN). It was constructed at the Jiangnan Shipyard and completed in 1930. During the Second World War, it was part of the ROCN's Second Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EOC 4-inch 50 caliber</span> Naval gun

The EOC 4-inch 50 caliber was a British naval gun designed by the Elswick Ordnance Company for export customers in the years before World War I that armed warships of the Republic of China and the Greek Navy. These ships served in both World War I and later World War II.

The Chu class were early-20th century gunboats built for the Imperial Chinese Navy of the Qing Empire. Six - Chu Yu, Chu Tung, Chu Chien, Chu Kuan, Chu Tai, Chu Yiu - were built by Kawasaki in Japan; they were launched in 1906-1907.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Wright 2000, p. 134.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Wright 2000, p. 139.
  3. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 132.
  4. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 131.
  5. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 125.
  6. ↑ Wright 2000, pp. 130–131.
  7. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 133.
  8. 1 2 3 Wright 2000, p. 141.
  9. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 143.
  10. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 144.
  11. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 145.
  12. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 159.
  13. 1 2 Wright 2000, p. 161.
  14. ↑ Wortzel, Larry M.; Higham, Robin (1999). Dictionary of Contemporary Chinese Military History. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. p. 39. ISBN   0-313-29337-6.
  15. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 155.
  16. 1 2 Wright 2000, p. 170.
  17. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 171.
  18. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 175.
  19. ↑ Wright 2000, pp. 177–178.
  20. 1 2 Wright 2000, p. 177.
  21. ↑ "Zhongshan Ship Museum". Zhongshan Ship Museum. Retrieved 8 August 2022.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.