Chinese gunboat Hyson

Hyson

History
Qing Empire
Name|

* Hyson
* Ching Po

Namesake| Hyson tea[1]
Acquired| 1865
Fate| Sold, 1877
General characteristics
Class and type| Gunboat
Length| 21.33 m (70 ft 0 in)
Beam| 7.31 m (24 ft 0 in)
Draught| 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in)
Complement| 38
Armament|

* 1 × 32-pounder gun
* 1 × 12-pounder howitzer

Hyson (Chinese: 海生; pinyin: Hǎishēng; Wade–Giles: Haisheng) is an early gunboat of the Qing dynasty.

## History

[edit]

Hyson was an armed paddle steamer of the Ever Victorious Army. She was an amphibious vessel, as her wheels allowed her to move across creek beds too shallow for her to float on.[2]

She was originally commanded by an American named Davidson, and later by Charles George Gordon.[2] In 1863, carrying around 350 men and some field artillery, she took part in the retaking of Quinsan.[3][1][2]

She was purchased in April or May 1865 by Shanghai daotai Ding Richang on orders from Li Hongzhang. In July or August 1865, she was transferred to the Shanghai's Pirate Suppression Bureau, and performed patrol duties near Shanghai.[4]

Hyson was eventually transferred to the Qing customs and renamed Ching Po (Chinese: 靜波; pinyin: Jìngbō; lit. 'Quiet Waves'). She was sold in 1877.[4]

## Citations

[edit]

1. ^ a b Mossman 1893, p. 305.
2. ^ a b c Wilson 1868, p. 134.
3. ^ Urban 2005, p. 153.
4. ^ a b Chen 2013, p. 4.

## References

[edit]

* Chen, Yue (2013). Zhōngguójūnjiàntúzhì 1855-1911 中國軍艦圖誌1855-1911 [Album of Chinese Warships 1855-1911] (in Chinese). Hong Kong: The Commercial Press (Hong Kong). ISBN 9789620703614.
* Mossman, Samuel (1893). The great Taiping Rebellion. London: Griffith, Farran, Browne & Co.
* Urban, Mark (2005). Generals: Ten British Commanders Who Shaped The Modern World. London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 978-0571224876.
* Wilson, Andrew (1868). The "Ever-Victorious Army". William Blackwood and Sons.

*[lit.]: Literal translation