Early twentieth-century China was making a serious effort to build a navy, even though its fleet was not large. The Chao Ho-class protected cruisers were divided among Vickers, Armstrong Whitworth, and New York Shipbuilding. Ordering from two British yards and one American yard gave China access to established foreign shipbuilding capacity. The three ships show how a rising or rebuilding navy could obtain modern vessels before it possessed comparable domestic industry.
Chapter · 1:34-2:12
China builds a small navy through foreign yards
China's protected cruisers illustrate a serious, if limited, attempt to build naval power through British and American shipyards.