Chinese cruiser Chaoyong

Chaoyong docked on the River Tyne
History
Imperial China
NameChaoyong
Ordered1879
BuilderCharles Mitchell & Company, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Laid down15 January 1880
Launched11 November 1880
Completed14 July 1881
Commissioned22 November 1881
FateSank, 17 September 1894
General characteristics
Class and typeTsukushi-class cruiser
Displacement1,350 long tons (1,370 t)
Length220 ft (67 m)
Beam32 ft (9.8 m)
Draught15.5 ft (4.7 m)
Installed power2,580 ihp (1,920 kW)
Propulsion
Speed16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried
2 x Pinnaces
Complement140
Armament

Chaoyong (Chinese: 超勇; pinyin: Chāoyǒng; Wade–Giles: Ch'ao-yung; lit. 'Valiant') was a cruiser built for the Imperial Chinese Navy. She was built by Charles Mitchell & Company in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, from a design by Sir George Wightwick Rendel which had already been used on the Chilean Navy vessel Arturo Prat (later the Imperial Japanese Navy's Tsukushi). Two ships were ordered by the Chinese, Chaoyong and Yangwei. Both would serve together throughout their careers, assigned to the Beiyang Fleet and based in Taku during the summer, and Chemulpo, Korea, in the winter.

Chaoyong did not see any action during the Sino-French War, but in the First Sino-Japanese War, she was in the Chinese line at the Battle of Yalu River on 17 September 1894. She was one of the early casualties of the battle, being set alight, and sinking after a collision with the Chinese cruiser Jiyuan.