Chinese cruiser Ying Rui

Chinese cruiser Ying Rui
History
Republic of China
NameYing Rui (應瑞)
BuilderVickers Limited
Cost£204,000
Laid down12 December 1910
Launched13 July 1911
Completed2 December 1911
HomeportNanjing
FateSunk 25 October 1937 by Japanese Aircraft
General characteristics
Class and typeChao Ho-class protected cruiser
Displacement2,460 long tons (2,500 tonnes)
Length330 feet (100 metres)
Beam39.5 ft (12.0 m)
Draught13 ft (4.0 m)
PropulsionThree-shaft Parsons steam turbines, 2 cylindrical and 4 White-Foster boilers; 6,000 hp (4,500 kW)
Speed20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h)
Range5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h)
Complement270
Armament
Armour
  • Deck: 0.75–1.5 inches (1.9–3.8 cm)
  • Conning tower: 3 in (7.6 cm)

Ying Rui (Chinese: 應瑞; pinyin: Yìng Ruì; Wade–Giles: Ying Swei; lit. 'Propitious Promise') 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 (now Xiamen) during the Warlord era, before returning again to her training role.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Ying Rui was assigned to the Central Fleet. She was bombarded during August and September 1937 by planes of the Imperial Japanese Navy, becoming damaged. By the following month, she was the last vessel of the fleet left afloat. As her armament was being removed for use as shore batteries during the Battle of Nanjing, she was once again attacked by planes from the Japanese aircraft carriers, and was sunk.

  1. ^ Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval weapons of World War One : guns, torpedoes, mines and ASW weapons of all nations : an illustrated directory (Repr. ed.). S. Yorkshire: Seaforth Pub. pp. 90–91. ISBN 9781848321007.