Chinese cruiser in New York

[xinhui]

June 20, 1911, the largest Chinese cruiser Hai Chi (海圻) took part in New York’s Shpithead Naval Review as Chinese's navy first ever world tour. The occasion also marked as the first Chinese naval visited to a US Port.


The Hai Chi was the largest warship of the Qing Imperial Navy; it had a displacement of 4300 tons, armed with two 8 inch guns and a speed of 24 knots.

[xinhui]

When Hai Chi left China, she was part of the Imperial Qing Naval flying a “Yellow Green Dragon” flag. When she returned home, she became part of the Republican navy.

[xinhui]

This proud ship met her sad end on Aug 12th, 1937 when she was scuttled in Yangtze river in an attempt to block the Japanese advance.

[KRON1]

Only two eight inch guns?

[xinhui]

Only two eight inch guns?

my bad, two 8 inch main guns

[TopHatter]

What kind of bolt-action rifles are those sailors carrying?

[eocoolj]

Possibly a mauser-type action? Half the world was equipping their armies with mauser-type rifles at that point.

[chlensoe]

Nice pics. Actually I thought China didn't have a navy at that time as it was dependent country.

[gunnut]

I would say a Mauser type rifle. Specifically, Euro Mauser with that straight bolt handle. China always had pretty close ties to Germany early in the 20th century. Mauser broomhandle was manufactured in China; Chinese soldiers had fritz helmets.

[TopHatter]

And you can tell they're genuine sailors by the way they've got those rifles on on their shoulders too

[GraniteForge]

Nice ship. Kind of reminds me of US Cruisers of the period, such as the Baltimore (Cruiser #3)

[KRON1]

my bad, two 8 inch main guns

What abour her secondary armament?

[xinhui]

17000 horse power, 7 Torpedo tubes, 24 officers, 424 crew.

Building started in May 1986, launched in 1898, commissioned in 1899.

10 4.7 in Armstrong fast guns, 12 47mm Armstrong auto canon, 4 37mm twin and 6 maxim machine gun