Calling all Chinese Ting Yuen (定远) ironclad battleship fans

[Dan Banks]

A little late but thanks for the Blue Star info. I recently bought the new book from Piotr Olender, "Sino-Japanese Naval War 1894-1895". It has the same quote as earlier about the tops of the turrets being remved along with removing boats etc. It occured to me that none of the photo's of either Ting Yuan or Chen Yuan titled from dates corresponding to Yalu or Weihaiwei battles show the tops of the turrets removed. The only photo that shows this is the one of Chen Yuan in drydock after the war being refitted by the Japanese. Except for removing the boats, I think it very unlikely that the other modifications were carried out at Yalu. The chances that they were carried out at Weihaiwei is much greater as Ting Yuan was anchored and Chen Yuan was undergoing repair of grounding damage. Also there is a passage in the book about the Chinese admiral Ting Ju-chang being blown off the bridge wing that extended over the turrets. These were supposed to have been cut back when the turrets were uncovered. Any photo's that would confirm or deny this?

[Christian M.]

For all who want to make ... as me ... out of the Chen Yuen (also written as "Zhenyuan") kit a conversation to the IJN Chin'en, following informations:

The Chen Yuen was captured by the Japanese in the Sino War and pressed into service as Japans first battleship. In 1901 the ship was renovated and modernized. Following things were done:

a)
Replacement of the 150mm Krupp guns to rapid fire 152mm Vickers guns. 1 gun remained in the bow turret, the turret of the stern was removed and the 152mm gun was placed there with a full shield and 2 others were placed behind the main turrets on new extensions in level of the center main deck which were in half circle shape (on each side 1 gun with full shields.
b)
Between foremast and bow turret was a pair of 57mm guns with simple shields installed. The 2 in origin placed small boats there were deleted.
c)
8 x 47mm guns were installed ... 4 in the aft section (2 on each side) of the center main deck in front of the aft 152mm gun. Further 4 were installed in the center (2 on each side again) of the main section
d)
the aft mast was renewed with the booms
e)
On each platforms of both masts was a 37mm gun installed

Here some pictures of the Chin'en...

a) Before renovation and modernization



b) After the renovating and modernization:







Cheers,
Christian