Ning Hai Class Cruiser, Ping Hai "Peaceful Seas"

thethrill8284257 · May 4, 2024, 2:27am

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Ning Hai Class Cruiser

Ping Hai

“Peaceful Seas”

ROCN

Background

Spoiler

Ping Hai, also known as ‘Peaceful Seas’, served as a light cruiser in the Chinese fleet prior to World War II. It belonged to the Ning Hai class and was the second ship of its kind. The construction of Ping Hai took place in China, following the specifications provided by the Japanese. Japanese advisors were also employed to supervise the construction process. In comparison to its sister ship Ning Hai, Ping Hai had a less powerful powerplant and did not possess seaplane facilities. Additionally, its anti-aircraft armament differed from that of Ning Hai.

The construction progress of Ping Hai faced challenges due to the Mukden Incident on September 18, 1931, and the January 28 Incident, which occurred from January 28 to March 3, 1932. These incidents resulted in disruptions in the supply of parts and the lack of cooperation from Japanese advisors, consequently delaying the ship’s launch date. Originally planned for October 10, 1933, the launch was postponed until September 28, 1935. Furthermore, the delivery of the initially specified anti-aircraft weapons was blocked, leading to the need to purchase equivalent replacements from Germany. By the time Ping Hai was completed in 1936, the official outbreak of the Sino-Japanese war was merely a year away.

Ping Hai has been the flagship of the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) since April 1937. Being a formidable surface combatant, Ping Hai faced aerial attacks from the Imperial Japanese Navy starting from the Battle of Shanghai. However, it was not until 23 September, during the Japanese assault on the Kiangyin Fortress near Nanking, that Ping Hai, along with her sister ship, succumbed to airstrikes launched from both the aircraft carrier Kaga and airfields around occupied Shanghai.

Japanese Re-floatation and Service

She was refloated by the Japanese in 1938, as ships submerged in river water would not suffer as much corrosion as those submerged in sea water. Originally intended to be transferred to the Collaborationist navy under Wang Jing-Wei, the Japanese decided to seize her instead. Ping Hai was then towed to Sasebo, where she was first outfitted as a barracks hulk named Mishima (見島) and later transformed into the escort ship Yasoshima on 10 June 1944. Initially classified as a coastal defense ship, she was later reclassified as an escort vessel. Although she lost all cruiser armaments, Yasoshima was equipped with radar sets, standard Japanese dual-purpose weapons, and anti-aircraft weapons.

Yasoshima was deployed for combat operations on 25 September 1944, taking part in the Battle of Leyte Gulf and escorting troop convoys. During an encounter on 25 November 1944, aircraft from the carriers USS Ticonderoga and Langley intercepted her while she was escorting two merchantmen west of Luzon, resulting in the sinking of all three vessels.