Lun Chuan (輪船)

Drawing of a Lun Chuan, from 'Liang Zhe Hai Fang Lei Kao Xu Bian (《兩浙海防類考續編》)'.

Following the end of the Song Dynasty, China’s once-dominant paddle-wheel warships—massive boats driven by crewmen working internal pedals to turn the wheels—quickly fell out of favour as strategic naval priorities shifted. While highly agile and formidable on inland rivers and lakes, these craft required exhausting human muscle to power and proved far too vulnerable to rough open-sea waves and floating debris. As subsequent dynasties turned their focus towards ocean navigation, naval shipbuilders abandoned human-powered wheels in favour of multi-masted sailing junks, culminating in the massive ocean-going fleets of the Ming Dynasty.

Despite losing their status as main combat ships, paddle-wheel warships did not vanish entirely. Instead, they adapted to a scaled-back role, proving invaluable for patrolling inland rivers, shallow estuaries, and coastal waterways. This was especially true during the Ming Dynasty, when Wokou pirates frequently launched swift raids up regional rivers and canals to plunder inland settlements. To counter these rapid amphibious strikes, naval forces deployed smaller, simplified paddle boats. Free from the need for wind and capable of instant acceleration, these nimbler craft could easily navigate shallow tributaries, outmanoeuvre Wokou boats, and defend vital inland waterways with far smaller crews.

A prime example of this evolution was a Ming Dynasty patrol vessel known simply as the Lun Chuan (輪船, lit. 'Wheel-ship'). Entering active naval service to guard Zhejiang waters in the 15th year of the Wanli Emperor’s reign (1587), this ship is notable as the only paddle-wheel vessel positively confirmed by historical records to have been in active service during the Ming Dynasty, unlike other designs documented in Ming military treatises whose operational status remains unverified. Lun Chuan was adapted from the hull of the light, fast Hu Chuan (唬船), featuring three paddle wheels on each side alongside a stern-mounted yuloh operated by two sailors. Swift, light, and responsive, it served as an ideal patrol craft for scouting and guarding river networks where larger warships could not operate.

Read more

Fei Lun Jia Hai Zhou (飛輪架海舟) and Tao Chuan Zi Mu Lun Zhou Chuan (套船子母輪舟船)

Fei Lun Jia Hai Zhou (飛輪架海舟, lit. 'Flying wheel sea-rack ship')

Drawing of a Fei Lun Jia Hai Zhou, from 'Bing Jing (《兵鏡》)'.

Fei Lun Jia Hai Zhou was a warship of unusual design, possibly a Ming-era throwback to older paddle-wheel warships from the previous dynasties (as hinted by its tower ship-style crenellated superstructure). Intended as a capital-class warship despite its moderate size, Fei Lun Jia Hai Zhou was made of expensive and durable nanmu wood and came with two masts, four inboard paddle wheels and twelve large oars. In addition, it also had two large slots at the bow and stern, which allowed two ships to be connected together via wooden beams into a catamaran-like configuration for increased stability.

Tao Chuan Zi Mu Lun Zhou Chuan (套船子母輪舟船, lit. 'Ship-sheathing mother and child wheeled ship')

Drawing of a Tao Chuan Zi Mu Lun Zhou Chuan, from 'Bing Jing (《兵鏡》)'.

The Tao Chuan Zi Mu Lun Zhou Chuan was actually not a different ship per se, but a detachable exterior shell/auxiliary armour equipped by Fei Lun Jia Hai Zhou. Made of Chinese fir, the exterior shell enclosed the warship hull from the bow, port, and starboard. Its bow-shaped prow was fitted with barbed spikes and storage spaces packed with gunpowder and flammable materials. Aside from acting as ablative armor to soak up gunfire and protect the warship from grounding hazards, the shell was a potent weapon in its own right—allowing the vessel to ram an enemy ship, ignite the volatile payload, and then discard the outer shell to safely disengage.

Read more

Huo Long Chuan (火龍船)

MINOR UPDATE MARCH 6, 2024

Drawing of a Huo Long Chuan, from 'Huo Long Jing (《火龍經》)'.

Huo Long Chuan (火龍船, lit. 'Fire dragon ship'), full name Shen Fei Du Jiao Huo Long Chuan (神飛獨角火龍船, lit. 'Divine flying single-horned fire dragon ship'), was an interesting weapon that was more of a trap than a true warship. It was a small, three-decked warship with the hull of an ocean-going vessel but is propelled by oars or paddle wheels. The hull of Huo Long Chuan was heavily protected by bamboo palisade and raw cowhides, and its main deck was fitted with numerous gun and arrow loops allowing combatants on the ship to engage their enemy without exposing themselves to return fire. The ship was also possibly equipped with a naval ram, hence its "Single-horned" moniker. 

Read more

Po Chuan Fa (破船筏)

Drawing of a Po Chuan Fa, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

Po Chuan Fa (破船筏, lit. 'Ship-breaking raft'), also known as Po Chuan Ge (破船舸, lit. 'Ship-breaking barge') was a simple yet effective anti-ship weapon designed for coastal and riverine warfare. It was essentially a heavy log raft assembled from five full-sized, three zhang long tree trunks, waterproofed with tung oil, caulked with putty and hemp, and installed with four to six paddle wheels. For armaments, three Po Zhou Chong (破舟銃, lit. 'Ship-breaking gun') which were essentially oversized Shen Qiang (神鎗) loaded with spear-sized steel darts, were mounted at the bow of the raft. A fully enclosed crew compartment was also built on the raft to allow the crews to operate the guns and paddle wheels in relative safety.

Read more