ROC Yat Sen, Republic of China Navy: The “Light Cruiser” That Was More Light Than Cruiser

Launched in 1931 by the Jiangnan Dock and Engineering Works in Shanghai, the Yat Sen was China’s first real attempt at building a “Modern” warship after the establishment of the Republic of China.

Historical Context

Now you have to remember that after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the newly established republic was having a rough go at things. The country was still ruled by various warlords and the Kuomintang was struggling to modernize its military with what little resources it had. Still, they did attempt to do so and the ROC Yat Sen was a product of its time.

Though officially classified as a “Light Cruiser”, Yat Sen could be best described as a glorified gunboat. She was armed with both a 6 inch and 5.5 inch deck gun as her main battery, with a secondary armament consisting of 4 × 75 mm Krupp anti-aircraft guns and a single 47mm rapid-fire gun. So, yeah… calling her a Light Cruiser would be generous.

Wartime Service and Refitting

She too saw action during the Sino-Japanese War and was sunk by Japanese aircraft during the defense of Jiangyin Fortress on the Yangtze River, alongside the cruisers Ning Hai and Ping Hai.

But just like the other two vessels, Yat Sen was salvaged by the Japanese and pressed into service in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Undergoing a refit, she was fitted with a single 120 mm DP gun, 2 × twin 40 mm Type 91 guns, 5 × 25 mm Type 96 AA guns, and 6 × 7.7 mm machine guns. She was even given radar and sonar equipment before being renamed Atada. However, unlike Ping Hai and Ning Hai, the “Atada” was primarily used as a training ship and would survive the war.

Post-War Service and Decommissioning

After the war, Yat Sen would return to the ROC Navy and would be one of the vessels to flee to Taiwan at the end of the Chinese Civil War. She remained in service with the ROC Navy until she was decommissioned in 1958 and scrapped in 1959.

~NC