Chinese ironclad Tien-sing
A line drawing of Tien-Sing from Brassey's Naval Annual 1887
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| History | |
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 Imperial China
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| Name: | Tien-sing |
| Namesake: | Tianjin (formerly Tientsin) |
| Builder: | Kiangnan Arsenal |
| Completed: | 1875 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Prototype ironclad |
| Displacement: | 195 long tons (198 t) |
| Length: | 104 ft (31.7 m) |
| Beam: | 20.3 ft (6.2 m) |
| Draught: | 6.8 ft (2.1 m) |
| Installed power: | 340 ihp (250 kW) |
| Propulsion: | Reciprocating engine with twin shafts |
| Speed: | 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement: | 40 |
| Armament: | |
| Armour: | |
Tien-sing, originally named Chin-ou (金甌) and sometimes referred to as Jinou, was a ironclad built for the Imperial Chinese Navy. She was completed in 1875 at the Kiangnan Arsenal, the first time an ironclad had been constructed in China. She was built out of spare components, prior to the construction of a purpose built yard for ironclads. Tien-sing was modified part way through construction to allow it to undertake a sea voyage to Hai River, but instead was only ever used on the Yangtze and Huangpu Rivers. She was still in operation in 1902, having survived the Sino-French War and the First Sino-Japanese War.
Tien-sing was the only ship of its type constructed, which was built out of spare iron and an extra 17cm Krupp gun at the Kiangnan Arsenal. It had been intended for ironclads to be built there, and Tien-sing was constructed while the ironclad building yard was also under construction. This made her the first home built ironclad in Chinese service, with the vessel known locally as "The Terror of the Western World". Her design was later compared to that of HMS Staunch of the Royal Navy, but with additional protection for the Krupp gun. Originally named Chin-ou, she was 104 feet (32 m) long overall, had a beam of 20.3 feet (6.2 m) and an average draft of 6.8 feet (2.1 m). She displaced 195 long tons (198 t). The propulsion system consisted of a 340 ihp (250 kW) reciprocating engine with twin shafts. Her engines produced a cruising speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She had a total crew complement of 40.
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