Chinese cruiser Nan Chen
Nan Chen (Chinese: 南琛; pinyin: Nán Chēn; Wade–Giles: Nan Ch'en; lit. 'Ornament of the South') 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 Chen class, alongside her sister vessel Nan Shui, which was based on the design of the cruiser Kai Chi. Nan Chen was considered to be obsolete by the Western Powers even at the time of her construction.
Exemplar of unprotected cruiser. This is the sister ship, Nan Shui | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Imperial China | |
| Name | Nan Chen |
| Ordered | Early 1883 |
| Builder | Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Kiel, Germany |
| Launched | 12 December 1883 |
| Fate | Stricken 1919 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Nan Chen-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 |
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| Armor | Cork belt at waterline |
She was active during the Sino-French War of 1884–1885, first as part of a defensive squadron based at Nanking (now Nanjing). Nan Chen 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 Chen was blockaded into the port of Ningpo (now Ningbo) until the end of the war. She was absorbed into the Chinese navy following the Xinhai Revolution and was stricken in 1919.