Chutai-class gunboat

Chutai (楚泰) class gunboats were a series of gunboats of the Chinese navy, all of which served in Qing dynasty and Republic of China, and one also served in People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) the People’s Republic of China.

Chutai class gunboats were ordered by Zhang Zhidong, and all were built by Kawasaki Shipyards, at unit coast of 393,258 taels per ship.[1][2] A total of six were completed, with the first three returned to China in February 1906 and joined Imperial Chinese Navy (ICN) in the same year, while the second batch of three returned to China in October 1906, but due to budgetary constrains of the imperial court, did not join the ICN until the next year.[1][2]After the end of Qin dynasty, all ships joined the Republic of China Navy (RoCN). On December 12, 1937, RoCNS Chu Yu was sunk by RoCN along with six other ROCN ships at Qingdao and Liugong Island to block harbors.[1][2]RoCN Chu You and RoCNS Chu Tai were sunk by Japanese aircraft on September 29, 1937 and June 1, 1938 respectively.[1][2]RoCN Chu Tong was captured by CCP in 1949, and entered PLAN service as PLANS Yichuan, which was sunk as a target in an AShM test.[3]RoCNS Chu Qian and RoCNS Chu Guan retired from RoCN respectively in Aug 1949 and on December 31, 1955.[2]Specification:[2]

• Length: 200 ft
• Beam: 29.6 ft
• Depth: 14 ft
• Draft: 8 ft
• Propulsion: 2 Reciprocating steam engines with 8 boilers
• Fuel capacity: 150 ton coals
• Fresh water capacity: 15 ton
• Speed: 11 kt
• Primary armament: two 4.7” naval guns (I x 2)
• Secondary armament: two 3” naval guns (I x 2)
• Other armament: various antiaircraft guns
• Crew: 17 officers and 86+ enlisted (depending onhow many antiaircraft guns installed)