Japanese cruiser Miyako

Background
Miyako was designed under the supervision of French military advisor Emile Bertin, and built in Japan by the Kure Naval Arsenal. With a small displacement, powerful engines, and a 20 kn speed, the lightly armed and lightly armored Miyako was an example of the Jeune Ecole philosophy of naval warfare advocated by Bertin. Due to its small size it is sometimes classified as a corvette or gunboat.

Design
Similar in design to JAPANESE CRUISER Yaeyama and the French unprotected cruiser Milan (1885), Miyako was the first warship produced by the new Kure Naval Arsenal. She had a steel hull, and retained a full barque rigging with two masts for auxiliary sail propulsion in addition to her steam engine. Miyako was armed with two QF 4.7 inch Gun Mk I–IVs guns and eight QF 3 pounder Hotchkiss guns. In addition, she carried two torpedoes, mounted on the deck.

Service record
Miyako was not completed in time for the First Sino-Japanese War. During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, Miyako participated in the naval Battle of Port Arthur and subsequent blockade of that port. Miyako struck a mine and sank off Port Arthur on the night of 14 May 1904, with the loss of two crewmen. She was official struck from the navy list on 21 May 1905. Her wreckage was raised and sold for scrap on 4 July 1906.