Chinese cruiser Nan Thin

Exemplar of unprotected cruiser. This is the sister ship, Nan Shuin
History
Imperial China
Name: Nan Thin
Ordered: Early 1883
Builder: Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Kiel, Germany
Launched: 12 December 1883
Fate: Possibly sold off in 1902
General characteristics
Type: Nan Thin-class unprotected cruiser
Displacement: 2,200 long tons (2,200 t)
Length: 275.5 ft (84.0 m)
Beam: 37.5 ft (11.4 m)
Draft: 15 ft (4.6 m)
Propulsion:
Speed: 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Capacity: 600 tons of coal
Complement: 250 officers and men
Armament:
Armor: Cork belt at waterline

Nan Thin (Chinese: 南琛; pinyin: Nán Chēn; Wade–Giles: Nan Ch'en) was an unprotected cruiser built for the Imperial Chinese Navy. She was built by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Kiel, Germany, while her armament was installed by Armstrong Whitworth, Elswick, England. She was the lead ship of the Nan Thin class, alongside her sister vessel Nan Shuin, which was based on the design of the cruiser Kai Che. Nan Thin was considered to be obsolete by the Western Powers even at the time of her construction.

She was active during the Sino-French War of 1884–1885, first as part of a defensive squadron based at Nanking (now Nanjing). Nan Thin then formed part of the cruiser force of the Chinese squadron sent to engage the French blockade of Formosa (now Taiwan) which resulted in the Battle of Shipu. Following the battle, Nan Thin was blockaded into the port of Ningpo (now Ningbo) until the end of the war. She then fell out of use, and is thought to have been sold off in 1902.

Design and description

The Nan Thin-class unprotected cruisers were intended to be of relatively simple design compared to other Imperial Chinese Navy vessels on order from European shipyards at the time. They were similar to the cruiser Kai Che, but constructed out of steel instead of wood. Both Nan Thin and her sister vessel, Nan Shuin, were obsolete during construction; the Chinese navy had also commissioned armored and protected cruisers, such as Zhiyuan.[1][2]

Nan Thin was 275.5 feet (84.0 metres) long overall. She had a beam of 37.5 ft (11.4 m) and a draft of 15 ft (4.6 m). Zhiyuen displaced 2,200 long tons (2,200 tonnes), and carried a crew of 250 officers and enlisted men. She was unarmored with the exception of a cork belt installed at the waterline of the ship. Unlike Kai Che, on which the class was based, Nan Thin had two funnels instead of one. Both ships of the class were equipped with a naval ram, and had raised forecastles and poop decks.[3] She was powered by a compound-expansion steam engine with eight boilers, driving a single shaft. This provided 2,400 indicated horsepower (1,800 kW) for a top speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[2]

Her initial armament consisted of two 8.2 in (21 cm) breach-loading Armstrong guns, alongside eight 4.7-inch (12 cm) breach-loading Armstrong guns and some Hotchkiss guns.[2] The two larger guns were mounted in sponsons ahead of the funnels, while the smaller Armstrongs were placed amidships as a broadside, on the forecastle and poop deck and in further sponsons ahead of the poop.[3] Although the ship was launched in Germany, that armament was added by Armstrong Whitworth while Nan Thin was at its shipyard in Elswick, England.[2] By 1884, she was equipped with a torpedo boat.[4]

Service history

Two cruisers were ordered from Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Kiel, Germany, in early 1883. At the time of the launch of Nan Thin 12 December 1883,[2] the Germany authorities were preventing some of the Chinese construction from leaving the country such as the Dingyuan-class ironclads due to the impending Sino-French War.[5] However, as she was sailing unarmed, Nan Thin was allowed to travel to England to have her guns installed. The British authorities then considered whether or not to allow the installation to take place,[2] initially embargoing the vessel,[6] but decided to permit it since she was obsolete compared to the French Navy.[2]

The British Government did refuse to allow Nan Thin to test fire her guns, which were not tested until she arrived in China on the Yangtze River in July 1884 just prior to the start of the war. Upon firing, they found that the ship needed to be strengthened to allow the guns to be fired at full charge. Both Nan Thin and her sister were sent to the Kiangnan Arsenal to be reinforced. Despite these issues, and their obsolescence, the German-built cruisers were held in high esteem by the Chinese authorities.[7]

Sino-French War

After the start of the war in August 1884, Nan Thin and Nan Shuin were sent to protect Nanking (now Nanjing) alongside Kai Che. An attack was thought to be imminent, but the French Navy instead assaulted Formosa (now Taiwan) where they established a blockade.[8] Chinese forces were gathered to drive off the blockade of the island, which comprised the two Nan Thin-class cruisers, Kai Che, the frigate Yuyuen and the sloop-of-war Teng Ch'ing. The squadron was under the command of Admiral Wu Ang-k'ang. The five ships gathered in Shanghai, leaving in December 1884. They took some time to work up their crews, and did not seek to engage the French immediately, only finally meeting them in the following February.[9]

The Chinese forces attached in a V-shaped formation, being led by Kai Che as flagship. However, they immediately realised they were outgunned by the French forces and withdrew. While the slower Yuyuen and Teng Ch'ing retreated into Shipu Bay after losing the three cruisers in the fog, which resulted in the Battle of Shipu. Nan Thin, Nan Shuin and Kai Che sailed north to the port of Ningpo (now Ningbo) where they were joined by the sloop-of-war Teng Chao Wu and the transport Yuan-k'ai. All five ships were then blockaded into the port by the French Navy squadron. While some exchanges of fire were conducted in March 1885, this was the last involvement of Nan Thin during the war.[10] Following the war, Nan Thin fell out of use for an unknown reason. While her sister ship was still assigned to different squadrons, Nan Thin was not. No mentions at all are made of Nan Thin by 1900, and was likely to have been sold off during a sale of obsolete naval vessels in 1902.[11]

Notes

  1. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 53.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Wright 2000, p. 56.
  3. 1 2 Chesneau & Kolesnik 1979, p. 396.
  4. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 182.
  5. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 54.
  6. ↑ "Ordinance and Naval". Van Nostrand's Engineering Magazine. New York: D. Van Nostrand. 31: 84. July–December 1884.
  7. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 57.
  8. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 63.
  9. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 64.
  10. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 65.
  11. ↑ Wright 2000, p. 121.

References

  • Chesneau, Roger & Kolesnik, Eugene M., eds. (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  • Wright, Richard N.J. (2000). The Chinese Steam Navy. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-144-6.
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