Excavation of famed Zhiyuan begins

[TaiShang]

Excavation of famed Zhiyuan begins


A part of the warship Zhiyuan is lifted out of water in the Yellow Sea on Sunday. (CHEN YICHEN/XINHUA)

Archaeologists began the first round of excavation on Sunday of a much-sought sunken warship that was confirmed late last month to be the Zhiyuan, a famous vessel of the Beiyang Fleet that sank on Sept 17, 1894 during the Sino-Japanese War.

The excavation work is being conducted 59 kilometers south of the mouth of the Yalu River near Dandong, Liaoning province.

More than 100 historical relics have been salvaged so far from the wreckage. They are classified in three categories: ship-borne weapons, ship parts and daily-life necessities of the sailors.

Deng Shichang, captain of the Zhiyuan, ordered the vessel, after its ammunition was exhausted, to run at full speed to bump the flagship of the Japanese naval force. The official Chinese history recorded that the ship, carrying a crew of 245, was sunk by a torpedo. Deng is considered a national hero.

The most direct evidence proving the identity of the warship comes from a broken china plate excavated from the wreckage that bears the name of the Zhiyuan.

The government of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) imported the Zhiyuan and several other warships, most of which were wiped out in the war with Japan, from the United Kingdom in a bid to revive its weak military after losing the First Opium War (1839-42). Zhiyuan was one of the most advanced naval vessels in Asia at the time.

Chen Yue, a historian with the Navy History Study Society, said the relics of daily living necessities are of great value to those studying the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95).

Additionally, Chen said: "I am looking forward to finding the seal of the ship or the captain. The ship seal was invariably made of good materials and stored in a sturdy box. It is highly possible that we can find it."

The archaeologists also found a unique machine gun from the Zhiyuan's rear mast.

"The machine gun's data plate indicates its date of production, model and manufacturer. And all of this information coincides with the historical record of the Zhiyuan's arms," said Chen.

The archaeologists believe they can find some remains of the sailors' bodies. Lin Qihao, a descendantof one of the Beiyang Fleet's crew members, said: "I hope the government can make good use of thesalvage findings and build a museum in Dandong."

Ji Mo, a fan of navy history in Shanghai, said: "I am very interested in the salvage of the Zhiyuan. The Beiyang Fleet is a painful memory for China. We should learn from that war why China lost it, even though China had the most advanced warships in the world."The Dandong Port Group found a huge steelhull while digging new sailing channels two years ago, and it immediately sent several pieces of steel found in the wreckage to researchers in Beijing.

Sa Su, a Japan-based Chinese archaeologist who attended the appraisal last year, said the size and make of the steel are very close to what the British shipyard that built the Zhiyuan used in the late 19th century. "Our initial conclusion is that the sunken ship belongs to the Beiyang Fleet," said Sa.

The technical evaluation of the National Underwater Archaeology Center indicates that all indexes of the steel match with the warships of the Beiyang Fleet.

The authority initiated a new round of excavation from August to October last year and found that the hull is buried 3 meters deep in the silt. The decisive battle of the war happened in that exact area of the sea.

 

[Pangu]

Finally! I still have the ship model made by Zhengdefu unbuild in the box... I hope the excavated ship to be displayed at Dalian Naval Academy instead of Dandong, a constant reminder to the naval officers to ever be prepared & vigilant.

 

[TaiShang]

Sunken warship may reveal unknown history of first Sino-Japanese war

Archaeologists in China are working hard to analyze the few pieces salvaged from a century old sunken warship, which witnessed China’s humiliating loss to Japan in the first Sino-Japanese naval battle of 1894.

The ship has been confirmed as the cruiser Zhiyuan, a warship belonging to imperial China's naval force, the Beiyang Fleet. The warship, which held 246 officers and soldiers onboard, was lost in the Battle of the Yellow Sea during the first Sino-Japanese War 121 years ago.

Historic records say that Captain Deng Shichang refused to leave the ship, despite it being severely crippled, on fire, and sinking.

More than 100 relic fragments, including cannons, shells, and other artillery have been salvaged since archeologists began underwater investigations in August.

By far the most promising findings are a shattered porcelain plate that features the words 'Zhiyuan' written on the back in the middle, and a seal with Chinese imprints, leading analysts to believe that it was a part of Captain Deng Shichang's personal belongings.

 

[Aepsilons]

Deng Shichang, captain of the Zhiyuan, ordered the vessel, after its ammunition was exhausted, to run at full speed to bump the flagship of the Japanese naval force. The official Chinese history recorded that the ship, carrying a crew of 245, was sunk by a torpedo. Deng is considered a national hero.

A noble last ditch effort, nonetheless. As I said before Deng is considered as Samurai in Japanese Military Circles.

An image of the late Deng Sensei,

Finally! I still have the ship model made by Zhengdefu unbuild in the box... I hope the excavated ship to be displayed at Dalian Naval Academy instead of Dandong, a constant reminder to the naval officers to ever be prepared & vigilant.

To be honest, the Beiyang Fleet had greater firepower than the Imperial Japanese Fleet , at that time. I think the issue was that the Beiyang Fleet had too many western strategic advisers and thus each ship operated not in tandem , not in cohesion. Remember that the Beiyang Fleet fielded German made battle crusiers , and had fire power greater than the Japanese peers'.

I suppose what made the difference in the Battle of Yalu River was the Imperial Fleet's use of torpedo ships in advanced guard. The same tactic was used on the Russian Baltic Fleet some 10 years later, tho on a larger scale.

Also, if you read military records, the Beiyang Fleet approached the Imperial Fleet in a bow north formation. Whereas the Imperial Fleet was on a double line diagonal formation, which would ultimately surround the Beiyang Fleet's bow north formation. Note that the double line diagonal wheel formation enables the fleet to maintain continuous shots , whereas the bow north style of the Beiyang Fleet only maintains a forward shot, and, due to the formation's limitations, each ship ran a risk of hitting its own side when making lateral shots.

 

[Pangu]

A noble last ditch effort, nonetheless. As I said before Deng is considered as Samurai in Japanese Military Circles.

An image of the late Deng Sensei,

To be honest, the Beiyang Fleet had greater firepower than the Imperial Japanese Fleet , at that time. I think the issue was that the Beiyang Fleet had too many western strategic advisers and thus each ship operated not in tandem , not in cohesion. Remember that the Beiyang Fleet fielded German made battle crusiers , and had fire power greater than the Japanese peers'.

I suppose what made the difference in the Battle of Yalu River was the Imperial Fleet's use of torpedo ships in advanced guard. The same tactic was used on the Russian Baltic Fleet some 10 years later, tho on a larger scale.

Also, if you read military records, the Beiyang Fleet approached the Imperial Fleet in a bow north formation. Whereas the Imperial Fleet was on a double line diagonal formation, which would ultimately surround the Beiyang Fleet's bow north formation. Note that the double line diagonal wheel formation enables the fleet to maintain continuous shots , whereas the bow north style of the Beiyang Fleet only maintains a forward shot, and, due to the formation's limitations, each ship ran a risk of hitting its own side when making lateral shots.

Thank you for the study of IJN tactics, the diagram clearly shows advantage of Japanese ship formation. The concentration of firepower even from smaller calibre guns, bringing both forward & aft guns to bear would have overwhelmed Qing's disastrous formation. Both Qing & Russia were still asleep when you guys went on to absorb & internalized sound & practrical naval doctrine & tactics.

 

[TaiShang]

Century-old body remains found from warship wreckage
| October 5, 2015, Monday |

ONLINE EDITION

Photo taken on Oct. 4, 2015 shows items salvaged from the shipwreck to be studied in Dandong, northeast China's Liaoning Province. "Dandong No.1", a shipwreck discovered last year near Dandong Port, has been confirmed as cruiser Zhiyuan, one of the warships of the Beiyang Fleet sunk by the Japanese navy during the first Sino-Japanese War 121 years ago.

AT least seven remains of bodies have been found by archeologists from a warship sunken by theJapanese navy during a Sino-Japanese War 121 years ago.

"We believe the remains belonged to officers and soldiers aboard the warship," said Zhou Chunshui, who leads the exploration mission organized by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

The Zhiyuan Warship, with a 50-meter-long hull, is located about 10 nautical miles southwest of Dandong Port in Northeast China.

More than 100 pieces of ship parts and belongings of the seamen have also been found, Zhou said.

"We will study those relics and try to find out what lives at sea were like more than a century ago," he said.

Coded "Dandong No.1," the 1,600-tonne vessel was one of the four warships of the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911) imperial naval forces -- Beiyang Fleet -- which was defeated in 1894 by the Japanese navy in the Battle of Yellow Sea.

A total of 252 officers and soldiers were aboard. Only seven survived. The four ships were China's most sophisticated vessels at that time, bigger and better armed than the Japanese ones but slower and short of ammunition.

Zhou said further investigation is needed to decide whether to lift the ship, whose main structure has remained intact, out of the water.

History documents recorded that the ship captain Deng Shichang refused to abandon the ship after it was severely damaged. Deng has been described as a patriot in Chinese modern history.

 

[Aepsilons]

Thank you for the study of IJN tactics, the diagram clearly shows advantage of Japanese ship formation. The concentration of firepower even from smaller calibre guns, bringing both forward & aft guns to bear would have overwhelmed Qing's disastrous formation. Both Qing & Russia were still asleep when you guys went on to absorb & internalized sound & practrical naval doctrine & tactics.

The Commander of the Imperial Qing Beiyang Fleet had a reason to implement the bow north formation on all ships. This was the same used in dealing with the French Navy in the Sino-French War of 1884 in the dispatching of the French Far Eastern Fleet's blockade of Formosa. The commander of the Beiyang Fleet, Admiral Ding Rucheng , had dislodged the French when he commanded the two battleships the Chaoyong and the Nangwei -- and a sortie of other capital ships of the Beiyang Fleet to support the Nanyang Fleet. It was a naval full frontal assault , whose overwhelming guns forced the French to flee. Tactically it was victory for the Chinese.

So we can understand why Admiral Ding Rucheng ordered a general bow north formation. He had wanted to "Crush" the Japanese Imperial Fleet right there and then. As he did to the French.

As history would prove, to the surprise of Admiral Ding, the commander of the Imperial Japanese Fleet, Marshall Admirsl Ito Sukeyuki had studied the tactics of Ding. Ironically both were friends before the war.

You will notice if you read into the death of Admiral Ding Rucheng, he committed suicide after the Battle of Weihawei. When his lieutenants surrendered to the Japanese, Admiral Ito first inquired about the health of his friend, Ding. When he was told that Admiral Ding Rucheng committee suicide, Marshall Admiral Ito was brought to great grief.

 

[Pangu]

The Commander of the Imperial Qing Beiyang Fleet had a reason to implement the bow north formation on all ships. This was the same used in dealing with the French Navy in the Sino-French War of 1884 in the dispatching of the French Far Eastern Fleet's blockade of Formosa. The commander of the Beiyang Fleet, Admiral Ding Rucheng , had dislodged the French when he commanded the two battleships the Chaoyong and the Nangwei -- and a sortie of other capital ships of the Beiyang Fleet to support the Nanyang Fleet. It was a naval full frontal assault , whose overwhelming guns forced the French to flee. Tactically it was victory for the Chinese.

So we can understand why Admiral Ding Rucheng ordered a general bow north formation. He had wanted to "Crush" the Japanese Imperial Fleet right there and then. As he did to the French.

As history would prove, to the surprise of Admiral Ding, the commander of the Imperial Japanese Fleet, Marshall Admirsl Ito Sukeyuki had studied the tactics of Ding. Ironically both were friends before the war.

You will notice if you read into the death of Admiral Ding Rucheng, he committed suicide after the Battle of Weihawei. When his lieutenants surrendered to the Japanese, Admiral Ito first inquired about the health of his friend, Ding. When he was told that Admiral Ding Rucheng committee suicide, Marshall Admiral Ito was brought to great grief.

Thank you on further elaborating what transpired leading up to the battle & the choice of tactics deployed by the respective commanders. I must do more reading on this faithful day of Beiyang's defeat.

 

[Aepsilons]

Thank you on further elaborating what transpired leading up to the battle & the choice of tactics deployed by the respective commanders. I must do more reading on this faithful day of Beiyang's defeat.

Hi ,

You know many military historians and scholars in East Asian Military Paradigms will like to liken early modern Japanese and Chinese military developments and the leaders within as being similar in level and evoking emotion as that of the history of US military history during the US Civil War. As we notice that in regards to US military leaders of both the Confederacy and the Federal Forces as being fond friends and colleagues of the same military institutions (Virginia Military Academy, US Military Academy et al) such men like Confederate generals Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, P.G.T Beauregard, JEB Stuart, AP Hill and Lewis Armistead were actually fond friends of Union Generals like Joseph Abercrombie, Charles Albright, Joseph Bailey, Nathaniel Banks, Ulysses Grant.

The early generals and admirals of the Empire of China and the Empire of Japan were educated in the west, and implemented very similar strategies learned by the Prussians, English, Americans, and French. All in all, many of them actually became friends in their sojourn abroad, and maintained letters of friendship. I suppose one can, in a military historical viewpoint, find the stoic and fraternal relationship between the Supreme Commander of the Qing Empire's Beiyang Fleet (then the largest in the Empire's 4 fleets), and the Marshal Admiral of the Imperial Japanese Fleet.
Its an example of tragedy and fraternity. Both Ito Sukeyuki and Ding Rucheng were friends, yet at the same time, destined to be heads of two opposing naval forces of two opposing empire states in that period in history.

Quite unique but not uncommon in military history, i suppose.

-------------

Marshal Admiral Ito Sukeyuki, Supreme Commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Combined Fleet.

Supreme Admiral Ding Rucheng, Commander of the Imperial Chinese Navy, Beiyang Area Fleet,

 

[Pangu]

Hi ,

You know many military historians and scholars in East Asian Military Paradigms will like to liken early modern Japanese and Chinese military developments and the leaders within as being similar in level and evoking emotion as that of the history of US military history during the US Civil War. As we notice that in regards to US military leaders of both the Confederacy and the Federal Forces as being fond friends and colleagues of the same military institutions (Virginia Military Academy, US Military Academy et al) such men like Confederate generals Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, P.G.T Beauregard, JEB Stuart, AP Hill and Lewis Armistead were actually fond friends of Union Generals like Joseph Abercrombie, Charles Albright, Joseph Bailey, Nathaniel Banks, Ulysses Grant.

The early generals and admirals of the Empire of China and the Empire of Japan were educated in the west, and implemented very similar strategies learned by the Prussians, English, Americans, and French. All in all, many of them actually became friends in their sojourn abroad, and maintained letters of friendship. I suppose one can, in a military historical viewpoint, find the stoic and fraternal relationship between the Supreme Commander of the Qing Empire's Beiyang Fleet (then the largest in the Empire's 4 fleets), and the Marshal Admiral of the Imperial Japanese Fleet.
Its an example of tragedy and fraternity. Both Ito Sukeyuki and Ding Rucheng were friends, yet at the same time, destined to be heads of two opposing naval forces of two opposing empire states in that period in history.

Quite unique but not uncommon in military history, i suppose.

-------------

Marshal Admiral Ito Sukeyuki, Supreme Commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Combined Fleet.

Supreme Admiral Ding Rucheng, Commander of the Imperial Chinese Navy, Beiyang Area Fleet,

Indeed, geopolitics make fools of man's friendship. Who knows, perhaps in time, China & Japan may fight side-by-side some day as Asian brothers, for Asia.

 

[Aepsilons]

In my personal review and study of the Beiyang Fleet, i think it is worthy to note that the ships of the line were one of the largest warships in Asia, at the time. Let's examine some of the hulking monsters ever to steam through the Yellow Sea !

The ironclad behemoth, the Ting Yuen, the flagship of the Imperial Chinese Navy's Beiyang Fleet

@ChineseTiger1986 , i thought you would like this thread.

The Great Qing's Man of War !

The pride of the Beiyang Fleet, the Zhen-yuen, was captured by the Imperial Japanese Navy, actually. She was then renamed the "Chenyuen" and served the Imperial Japanese Navy for another 20 some years. In fact, when she was serving under the colours of the Rising Sun, she scored impressive kills against the Russians in the Battle of Tsushima Straits in 1905, where she helped gut the Russian Baltic Fleet.