Ching Yuen

The Ching Yuen was a protected cruiser in service with the Chinese Beiyang Fleet. "Ching Yuen" was the sister ship to "Chih Yuen", both of which were designed and constructed in Elswick, Great Britain by Armstrong Whitworth.

The "Ching Yuen" displaced 2,355 tons and had a maximum speed of 18 knots. Her armament consisted of three 8.2 inch (210 mm) guns, two 5.9 inch (150 mm) guns, eight 57 mm guns and four 18 inch (457 mm) torpedo tubes.

Total crew was around 260 officers and men. Dimensions; length of 72.085 m, a beam of 10.058 m and a draught of 4.8 m. Armour was 2 (50.8 mm) inches for belt; 2 inches (50.8 mm) turret. 510 tons of coal could be carried.

The "Ching Yuen" took part in the Battle of the Yalu River against the Imperial Japanese Navy on 17 September, 1894 and was sunk later at the siege at Weihaiwei.

References

*Wright, Richard N. J., "The Chinese Steam Navy 1862-1945", Chatham Publishing, London, 2000, ISBN 1-86176-144-9
*Chesneau, Roger and Eugene M. Kolesnik (editors), "All The World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905", Conway Maritime Press, 1979 reprinted 2002, ISBN 0-85177-133-5