ROC Ning Hai and Ping Hai…. Republic of China Navy.
Not many people outside of China are aware of this, but Nationalist China did operated a small naval force prior to the outbreak of WW2.
In the 1930s, the Kuomintang government attempted to modernized the Chinese armed forces and part of this plan included acquiring new vessels for the Republic of China Navy. At this point in their History, the Republic of China Navy was not a particularly large force and were still using vessels that once belonged to the Imperial Chinese Navy. All of which were obsolete and were well past their prime.
The ROCN envisioned a modern naval forced that almost mirrored the major naval powers of the world. Consisting of Destroyers, Cruisers, Costal Submarines and even Aircraft Carriers. But this was China in the 1930s, a very turbulent time where warlords ruled over parts of the country and the Economy would not allow for such big plans to happen. There was also the fact that the Kuomintang government were focused more on fighting these aforementioned warlords and uniting the country. So the Navy wasn’t really much of a priority for them.
Also most countries were not willing to do business with China at this time, as they did not believe the new government would be able to pay for any new vessels. But oddly enough, the Japanese government stepped in and agreed to assist the Kuomintang with funding two new “Light Cruisers” for the ROCN.
The design chosen were based off the Japanese light Cruiser Yūbari. Which was a experimental design that while small, still carried an impressive amount of Armament. Two ships were ordered, with one being built in Japan (Ning-Hai) and the other built in China (Ping-Hai).
At a lenght of 110 meters and having a gross weight on 2526 tons, these light cruisers were small compared to what other nations operated. But we’re armed with 6 x 14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns as their main battery, with 6 x 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval guns, 4 x 22 inch torpedo tubes and a healthy amount of Anti-Aircraft guns for a ship that size. The Ning Hai herself was also the first Chinese warship to have Aviation facilities on board, as she could carry a pair of Aichi AB-3 Float Planes. Though they had to be lowered into the water before being launched, as there was no catapult installed.
But these vessels did have their issues. Their design made them “top heavy” and unstable in rough seas. There was also the fact that for cruisers, they were rather slow vessels with top speed of only 22 knots. This was due to the triple-expansion engines used to power the vessels were obsolete. Still, the Ning Hai and Ping Hai were primarily coastal defense vessels so these were not major issues for the Chinese.
Unfortunately, both vessels were sunk by Japanese aircraft in 1937, during the defense of the Kiangyin Fortress on the Yangtze River and were eventually captured/salvaged by the Japanese later that year.
Originally there were to be transfered to the puppet government of Wang Jing-Wei, but went to the Imperial Navy of Japan instead and were renamed Ioshima (Ning Hai) and Yasoshima (Ping Hai).
Unfortunately both ships would not survive there time in Japanese service. As the Ioshina was Sunk by submarine USS Shad in 1944, while the Yasohima would meet her end at the hands of American carrier aircraft just a few weeks later.
~NC