# Japanese cruiser Chiyoda

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Cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy

For other ships with the same name, see [Japanese ship Chiyoda](/source/Japanese_ship_Chiyoda).

Chiyoda around 1900 History Empire of Japan Name Chiyoda Ordered 1888 Fiscal Year Builder J & G Thomson Laid down 4 December 1888 Launched 3 June 1890 Completed 1 January 1891 Decommissioned 28 February 1927 Fate Expended as target 5 August 1927 General characteristics Type Cruiser Displacement 2,439 long tons (2,478 t) Length 94.49 m (310 ft 0 in) w/l Beam 12.81 m (42 ft 0 in) Draught 4.27 m (14 ft 0 in) Propulsion 2-shaft vertical triple expansion, 6 locomotive boilers, 5,678 hp (4,234 kW) Speed 19 knots (22 mph; 35 km/h) Complement 350 Armament 10 × QF 4.7 inch /40 naval guns 14 × QF 3 pounder Hotchkiss guns 3 × 11-mm, 10-barrel Nordenfelt guns 3 × 356 mm (14.0 in) torpedo tubes Armour Belt: 82–92 mm (3.2–3.6 in) Deck: 30–35 mm (1.2–1.4 in) Conning tower: 30 mm (1.2 in)

***Chiyoda*** (千代田) was a [cruiser](/source/Cruiser) of the [Imperial Japanese Navy](/source/Imperial_Japanese_Navy), which served in the [First Sino-Japanese War](/source/First_Sino-Japanese_War), [Russo-Japanese War](/source/Russo-Japanese_War) and [World War I](/source/World_War_I).

## Background

*Chiyoda* was ordered by the [Meiji government](/source/Meiji_government) as a replacement for the ill-fated [*Unebi*](/source/Japanese_cruiser_Unebi), and paid for with insurance money received from the [French government](/source/France) after that ship disappeared without a trace somewhere in the [South China Sea](/source/South_China_Sea) en route to Japan.[1] However, unwilling to use a French shipyard after the *Unebi* disaster, the Imperial Japanese Navy placed its order in 1889 to [J & G Thomson](/source/J_%26_G_Thomson) of [Glasgow](/source/Glasgow), [Scotland](/source/Scotland). Construction was supervised by Arai Yukan and by [Ijuin Gorō](/source/Ijuin_Gor%C5%8D), and on 11 April 1891, *Chiyoda* arrived safely at [Yokosuka](/source/Yokosuka%2C_Kanagawa). On 5 September 1892, command of *Chiyoda* was assigned to Captain (later [Fleet Admiral](/source/Fleet_Admiral)) [Prince Arisugawa Takehito](/source/Prince_Arisugawa_Takehito).

## Design

*Chiyoda* was a 'belted cruiser' based on a much scaled-down version of the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy)'s [*Nelson*-class](/source/Nelson-class_cruiser) cruisers. The hull comprised 84 watertight compartments, protected with [Harvey armor](/source/Harvey_armor).[2] Originally designed to carry 12.6-inch [Canet guns](/source/Canet_gun), the plan was abandoned due to excessive top weight. Instead, the design was changed so that her [main battery](/source/Main_battery) consisted of ten [QF 4.7-inch /40 naval guns](/source/QF_4.7-inch_Gun_Mk_I%E2%80%93IV) in single mounts, mounted one each in the bow and stern, and four on each side in [sponsons](/source/Sponson). The use of the Elwick quick-firing technology resulted in an increase in the rate of fire by six-fold over previous cruiser designs. Her secondary battery consisted of 14 [QF 3 pounder Hotchkiss](/source/QF_3_pounder_Hotchkiss) and three 11-mm, 10-barrel [Nordenfelt guns](/source/Nordenfelt_gun). She was also equipped with three 356 mm (14.0 in) [Whitehead torpedo](/source/Whitehead_torpedo) tubes mounted on the main deck. As was standard practice at the time, the [prow](/source/Prow) was reinforced for [ramming](/source/Naval_ram).[3]

## Service record

With the outbreak of the [First Sino-Japanese War](/source/First_Sino-Japanese_War), *Chiyoda* was assigned to patrol duties off of the coasts of [Korea](/source/Korea), [China](/source/China), [Russia](/source/Russia), and occasional patrols to [Hokkaidō](/source/Hokkaid%C5%8D). She was present at all of the significant battles of the war, including the crucial [Battle of Yalu River](/source/Battle_of_Yalu_River_(1894)) and the [Battle of Weihaiwei](/source/Battle_of_Weihaiwei). *Chiyoda* was also among the Japanese fleet units that participated in the [invasion of Taiwan](/source/Japanese_invasion_of_Taiwan_(1895)) in 1895 and saw action on 3 June 1895 at the [bombardment](/source/Shore_bombardment) of Chinese coastal forts at [Keelung](/source/Battle_of_Keelung_(1895)).[4]

After the war, *Chiyoda* went into [dry dock](/source/Dry_dock) at [Kure Naval Arsenal](/source/Kure_Naval_Arsenal), where the locomotive boilers on her [triple expansion steam engines](/source/Triple_expansion_steam_engine) were replaced with more modern [Belleville boilers](/source/Belleville_boiler), and the [fighting tops](/source/Fighting_top) on her three raked masts were removed to improve stability.[3] On completion of the retrofit in 1898, *Chiyoda* was re-designated a 3rd class cruiser. Later that year, during the [Spanish–American War](/source/Spanish%E2%80%93American_War), she was based at [Manila](/source/Manila) to safeguard Japanese civilians and economic interests in the [Philippines](/source/Philippines). During the [Boxer Rebellion](/source/Boxer_Rebellion), she was stationed at [Taku](/source/Taku_Forts) and [Yantai](/source/Yantai) in northern China.

During the [Russo-Japanese War](/source/Russo-Japanese_War) (1904–1905), *Chiyoda* had a prominent role in the opening [Battle of Chemulpo Bay](/source/Battle_of_Chemulpo_Bay) while commanded by Captain [Murakami Kakuichi](/source/Murakami_Kakuichi) and subsequently fought at the [Battle of the Yellow Sea](/source/Battle_of_the_Yellow_Sea) and the [Battle off Ulsan](/source/Battle_off_Ulsan). On 27 July 1904, *Chiyoda* stuck a Russian [naval mine](/source/Naval_mine) but was towed to [Dalian](/source/Dalian), where repairs were completed in time for her to participate in the [Battle of Tsushima](/source/Battle_of_Tsushima).[3] On 12 January 1905, *Chiyoda* was captained by Captain (later [Fleet Admiral](/source/Fleet_Admiral)) [Prince Higashifushimi Yorihito](/source/Prince_Higashifushimi_Yorihito).

On 28 August 1912, *Chiyoda* was re-designated as a 2nd-class [coastal defense vessel](/source/Coastal_defence_ship).

During the [Siege of Tsingtao](/source/Siege_of_Tsingtao) in [World War I](/source/World_War_I), *Chiyoda* was part of the Japanese fleet sent to capture the [Imperial German Navy](/source/Imperial_German_Navy) base at [Tsingtao](/source/Qingdao) in [Shandong, China](/source/Shandong).[5] Afterwards, based out of [Manila](/source/Manila), she took part in [Allied](/source/Allies_of_World_War_I) patrols of the China coast against German [commerce raiders](/source/Commerce_raiding).

On 14 April 1921, *Chiyoda* was downgraded to a [destroyer tender](/source/Destroyer_tender) and was used for various odd tasks, including a [submarine tender](/source/Submarine_tender) and as a school ship for naval cadets.

*Chiyoda* was officially decommissioned on 28 February 1927 and sunk as a target during [live fire exercises](/source/Live_fire_exercise) on 5 August 1927 in [Bungo Channel](/source/Bungo_Channel) by the [heavy cruiser](/source/Heavy_cruiser) [*Furutaka*](/source/Japanese_cruiser_Furutaka) under review of [Emperor Hirohito](/source/Emperor_Hirohito).

After its dismantling, the [bridge](/source/Bridge_(ship)) of *Chiyoda* was preserved at the [Imperial Japanese Naval Academy](/source/Imperial_Japanese_Naval_Academy) at [Etajima, Hiroshima](/source/Etajima%2C_Hiroshima) as a reviewing stand over the parade grounds.

## Gallery

		- c. 1880s

		- In parade flags after the Russo-Japanese War, 1905–1907

## Notes

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Chiyoda (ship, 1891)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Chiyoda_(ship,_1891)).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Laughton, Leonard George Carr; Anderson, Roger Charles (2007). "Chiyoda". *The Mariner's Mirror*. **93**. The Society for Nautical Research: 488.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Jentsura_2-0)** Jentsura, *Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy*, pages 72

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Conway_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Conway_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Conway_3-2) Chesneau, *Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905*, pages 231–233

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Davidson, 298–99

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Howarth, *The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun*

## References

- Chesneau, Roger (1979). *Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905*. Conway Maritime Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85177-133-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85177-133-5).

- [Davidson, J. W.](/source/James_W._Davidson), *The Island of Formosa, Past and Present* (London, 1903)

- Evans, David C.; [Peattie, Mark R.](/source/Mark_Peattie) (1997). *Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887–1941*. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-87021-192-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87021-192-7).

- Gardiner, Robert, ed. (2001). *Steam, Steel and Shellfire, The Steam Warship 1815-1905*. Chartwell Books, Incorporated. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7858-1413-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7858-1413-2).

- Howarth, Stephen (1983). *The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895-1945*. Atheneum. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-689-11402-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-689-11402-8).

- Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). *Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945*. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-87021-893-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87021-893-X).

- Milanovich, Kathrin (2006). Jordan, John (ed.). Chiyoda*(II): First "Armoured Cruiser" of the Imperial Japanese Navy*. Warship 2006. London: Conway's. pp. 126–136. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-84486-030-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-84486-030-2).

- Roberts, John (ed). (1983). *'Warships of the world from 1860 to 1905 - Volume 2: United States, Japan and Russia*. Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Koblenz. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-7637-5403-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-7637-5403-2).

- Roksund, Arne (2007). *The Jeune École: The Strategy of the Weak*. Leiden: Brill. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-04-15723-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-15723-1).

- Schencking, J. Charles (2005). *Making Waves: Politics, Propaganda, And The Emergence Of The Imperial Japanese Navy, 1868-1922*. Stanford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8047-4977-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8047-4977-9).

v t e Major Japanese naval combatants of the First Sino-Japanese War Protected cruisers Matsushima (flagship) Itsukushima Hashidate Naniwa Takachiho Yaeyama Akitsushima Yoshino Chiyoda Takao Tsukushi Armored corvettes Hiei Kongō Yamato Katsuragi Musashi Kaimon Tenryū Amagi Ironclad warship Fusō Gunboats Maya Chōkai Atago Akagi Banjō Ōshima

v t e Japanese naval ship classes of the Russo-Japanese War Pre-dreadnought battleships Fuji Shikishima Asahi S Mikasa S Katori C Satsuma C Ironclad battleships Chin Yen S Armored cruisers Asama Izumo Yakumo S Azuma S Kasuga Tsukuba C Ibuki C Protected cruisers Izumi S Naniwa Chiyoda S Matsushima Akitsushima S Yoshino S Suma Takasago S Kasagi Niitaka Otowa S Saien S Unprotected cruisers Tsukushi S Takao S Yaeyama S Tatsuta S Miyako S Chihaya S Destroyers Ikazuchi Murakumo Akatsuki Shirakumo Harusame Kamikaze Corvettes Kaimon S Torpedo boats Kotaka S Shirataka S Hayabusa Gunboats Banjō S Maya Ōshima S Epsilon Iota Uji S Heien S S Single ship of class C Completed after the war

v t e Japanese naval ship classes of World War I Seaplane carriers WakamiyaS Dreadnought battleships Kawachi Fusō Ise NagatoC Pre-dreadnought battleships Fuji TangoS Shikishima AsahiS Peresvet HizenS MikasaS IwamiS Katori Satsuma Battlecruisers Kongō Armored cruisers Asama Izumo YakumoS AzumaS Kasuga Tsukuba Ibuki Light cruisers TenryūC KumaC Protected cruisers Naniwa ChiyodaS Matsushima AkitsushimaS Suma Kasagi Niitaka OtowaS ToneS Yodo Chikuma Unprotected cruisers TatsutaS ChihayaS Destroyers Ikazuchi Murakumo Shirakumo Harusame Kamikaze Umikaze Sakura Urakaze Kaba Isokaze Momo HL Enoki Kawakaze MomiC MinekazeC Torpedo boats Hayabusa Submarines Type FC KaichūC Type LC S Single ship of class L Loaned from the Royal Navy C Completed after the war

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1927 Shipwrecks 25 Feb: Artemis 11 Mar: El Sol 27 Jun: Craster Hall 5 Aug: Chiyoda, O-2 18 Aug: Hennepin 22 Aug: Prince Rupert 24 Aug: Warabi 21 Oct: Irene 25 Oct: Principessa Mafalda 28 Oct: Fortuna 3 Nov: Greycliffe 21 Nov: Georgia 7 Dec: Kamloops 17 Dec: USS S-4 30 Dec: Seneca Other incidents 29 Jan: Celtic 6 Mar: USCGC Seminole 11 Mar: Sac City 1 May: USS Colorado 2 May: Astoria 5 Jul: RMS Ebro 15 Jul: Veendam 24 Aug: Jintsū 25 Sep: Minnekahda 6 Oct: Domala 19 Oct: Irene 20 Oct: Irene, HMS L4, HMS L5 3 Nov: Tahiti 8 Nov: Catala 20 Nov: Pierre Chailley 27 Nov: Wahehe November (unknown date): Hougomont 12 Dec: Fylgia 16 Dec: Equity 17 Dec: USCGD Paulding 29 Dec: Galatée 29 Dec: J. A. Moffett Jr. 31 Dec: Consul Horn Unknown date: America Unknown date: Pelican 1926 1928

[32°54′32″N 132°15′00″E / 32.909°N 132.25°E / 32.909; 132.25](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Japanese_cruiser_Chiyoda&params=32.909_N_132.25_E_region:JP_type:waterbody)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Japanese cruiser Chiyoda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cruiser_Chiyoda) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cruiser_Chiyoda?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.