Zhiyuan-class cruiser

For cruisers in the Beiyang Fleet, see Beiyang Fleet.

The Zhiyuan class (Chinese: 致远级; pinyin: Zhiyuanji; Wade–Giles: Chih-yuan-chi) were two protected cruisers built during the late stages of the Qing dynasty. Both were sunk during the during the First Sino-Japanese War.

Zhiyuan circa 1894
Class overview
Name	Zhiyuan class
Builders	Armstrong Whitworth, Elswick, England
Operators	Qing dynasty, Beiyang Fleet
In service	29 September 1886 - 9 February 1895
Planned	2
Completed	2
Lost	2
General characteristics
Type	Protected cruiser
Displacement	2,300 long tons (2,300 t)
Length	268 ft (82 m)
Beam	38 ft (12 m)
Draft	15 ft (4.6 m)
Propulsion	Compound-expansion steam engine, two screws 4 x boilers
Speed	18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Capacity	510 tons of coal
Complement	204–260 officers and men
Armament	3 × 8 in (20 cm) Krupp guns 2 × 15 cm MRK L/35 (6 in) 8 × QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns 2 x QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns 8 x 1-pounder guns 6 x gatling guns 4 × above water torpedo tubes
Armour	Deck armour: 4 in (10 cm) (flat), 3 in (7.6 cm) (slope) Gun shields: 2 in (5.1 cm)

Context and build

In the late 19th century, the ships were built as part of Li Hongzhang's effort to modernize the Imperial Chinese Fleet. Zhiyuan was built first and Jingyuan followed.

Both ships were built by Armstrong Whitworth in Elswick.

The main armament of the class consisted of three Krupp 21 cm MRK L/30 breechloaders. Secondary armament consisted of two 15 cm MRK L/35 breechloaders and 8 6-pdr L/40 Hotchkiss quick firing guns. There were installations to launch four torpedoes.

Service of this class

Both cruisers took part in the Battle of Yalu River during the First Sino-Japanese War, with Zhiyuan being sunk in battle and Jingyuan damaged. Jingyuan was later sunk during the Battle of Weihaiwei in January 1895.

References

• "CHN Chih Yuen". navalhistory.flixco.info.
• Jones, Marcus O. (2016). New Interpretations in Naval History: Selected Papers from the Seventeenth McMullen Naval History Symposium Held at the United States Naval Academy 15-16 September 2011. Government Printing Office. pp. 182–183.