japanese ironclad second vessel class ironclad built imperial_japanese_navy 1870s built united_kingdom japanese unable build ironclad warships japan training ship training cruises mediterranean countries edge pacific_ocean ship returned active duty sino japanese war damaged battle river participated invasion ship resumed training duties war played minor role russo japanese war reclassified survey ship sold scrap design description brief japanese occupation taiwan tensions heightened china japan possibility war caused japanese government realize needed reinforce navy following year government placed order armored frigate class ships designed british naval architect sir british shipyards japanese shipyard able build ship size feet long perpendiculars beam feet forward draft feet drew feet aft ship displaced long tons crew officers enlisted men hull composite construction iron framework wood propulsion ship single cylinder double expansion horizontal return connecting rod steam engine driving single propeller steam cylindrical boilers engine designed produce indicated horsepower class ironclads speed knots mph sea trials december ship reached maximum speed knots mph carried coal steam nautical miles knots mph ironclad barque rigged sail area square feet ship naval arsenal steel cylindrical boilers new boilers proved powerful sea trials reached maximum speed knots mph ihp removed armament armor fitted millimeter krupp rifled breech loading guns millimeter krupp guns millimeter guns positioned chase guns forward aft millimeter guns mounted broadside ship carried short millimeter guns use ashore mounted ship boats 1880s armament ship reinforced addition quadruple millimeter millimeter machine guns defense torpedo boats time received millimeter torpedo tubes torpedoes anti torpedo boat armament reinforced addition pair pounder hotchkiss guns end russo japanese war armament reduced russian pounder guns pounders class wrought iron armor waterline belt inches thick amidships tapered inches ends ship history contract awarded wales september price exclusive armament japanese sources universally date keel laying september awarding contract historian describes arguing shipyard order material begin construction cash hand launched june reed daughter smashed bottle champagne ship bow traditional western style ship named mount completed february sailed japan march command british captain british crew ready long voyage passengers aboard future admiral completed years study united_kingdom arrived assigned naval district month later july formal ceremony held ship attended senior government officials ship opened tours nobility families invited guests days ceremony july general public allowed tour ship week visited ports india persia ports southeast_asia ship annual port visits korea assigned training ship following year sister ship sailed tokyo august training cruise mediterranean cadets returning february october sisters departed pick survivors wrecked ottoman frigate continued constantinople turkey return homeland arrived january ships officers received ships carried class naval cadets return voyage port visit visited king george greece son making stops alexandria singapore hong_kong sisters arrived began cadet cruise september visited australia manila returning april ship service recommissioned beginning sino japanese war assigned july ship japanese line september heavily damaged captain decided pass chinese fleet try faster ship target chinese ships forced prevent damage transferred october sisters assigned second raiding unit december operations chinese port ships present january february saw significant combat took invasion participated bombardment chinese coastal forts october war alternated training cruises making cruise west_coast north_america hawaii april september repeating cruise december august cruise march ship designated 3rd class coast defense ship retained training duties ships cruise manila australia february august played minor role russo japanese war reclassified survey ship stricken navy list april ordered sold december exact date sale known naval district reported sale march
Japanese ironclad Hiei