In the Kuomintang army, the gold content of the first-class generals was very heavy. The rank was first awarded in April 1935 to only 9 people, including 8 generals of the first class in the army and only 1 general in the first class of the navy. The first admiral of the first naval rank in the history of the Republic of China was Chen Shaokuan.
People who have seen the movie "The Great Cause of Building the Country" should have an impression of Chen Shaokuan, played by Jet Li, who said: "Who to beat?" Chinese Chinese? I don't do this kind of thing. ”
However, many people are not familiar with Chen Shaokuan. So, why did Chen Shaokuan become the first admiral of the first naval rank in the history of the Republic of China? What contributions did he make in the history of the Republic of China Navy?
Chen Shaokuan, a native of Minxian County, Fujian Province, was born into a poor family in 1889. At the age of 10, he entered a private school, and at the age of 15, he was admitted to the Gezhi College run by the Fuzhou Church and systematically learned English. Two years later, Chen Shaokuan was admitted to the Jiangnan Water Teachers' School to study navigation technology. Since then, he has been associated with the Navy. The reason why he was awarded the first rank of admiral in the Navy is mainly because he made pioneering contributions to the naval cause of the Republic of China.
First, he has served in the navy for a long time and is familiar with the naval structures of various countries in the world
After graduating from the Jiangnan Admiralty School, due to his excellent grades, he was sent to the "Tongji" ship for internship, and after the completion of the internship, he was awarded the rank of second lieutenant in the navy, and since then he has served in the navy for a long time. Starting from the instructor, first officer, and adjutant, he worked diligently and skillfully, and was deeply appreciated by the Beiyang government. In December 1915, Chen Qimei and others attempted to seize the warship Zhaohe, and Chen Shaokuan, who was then a lieutenant of the major, commanded the fleet to intercept and successfully prevent Chen Qimei from seizing the ship. After that, he was promoted to acting captain of the "Zhaohe" ship.
Although Chen Shaokuan was born in the old era, he was a naval admiral with an international vision. In early 1916, he was commissioned by the Beiyang government to go to the United States to learn the operation technology of aircraft and submarines. After returning to China, he followed Cheng Biguang, the chief of the Navy, to Visit Europe and was allowed to stay in the United Kingdom for further study for a period of three years.
While in Britain, he visited British military ports, warships, and aircraft factories. It also examined the manufacture and tactics of the British Navy's submarines. He then traveled from England to France and Italy to investigate their naval readiness. After the outbreak of World War I, the Beiyang government joined the Allies and declared war on Germany. Chen Shaokuan joined the British Navy and participated in the war against Germany. In the Anglo-German Naval Battle of Jutland, Chen Shaokuan bravely fought bravely and was awarded the "Special Medal of Merit" by the British Navy.
2. Outstanding military achievements in the Northern Expedition
When it comes to the Northern Expedition, everyone thinks of land wars. In fact, during the Northern Expedition, the role of naval warfare should not be underestimated.
After Returning to China, Chen Shaokuan served as the captain of the Ying Rui in 1925. After the start of the Northern Expedition, Chen Shaokuan served as the commander of the Second Fleet of the Beiyang Navy, and was ordered to lead the navy to garrison Xiaguan in Nanjing, and to patrol the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River at all times. At this time, Chen Shaokuan judged the situation and believed that Sun Chuanfang and other warlords could not lead the country to become strong, so at the critical moment, Chen Shaokuan led the navy to defect and return to the National Revolutionary Army. This was very beneficial for the entire Northern Expedition. After his annexation, Chen Shaokuan led the navy to attack Sun Chuanfang, and finally won a complete victory. Then, he led the fleet up the river to conquer Hankou, Changsha, Yuezhou and other places. He was awarded the First Class Medal of the National Government and the Great Medal of "Mainstay".
3. The Navy of the Republic of China was created
In December 1928, the Nationalist Government in Nanjing established the Naval Administration. Who is in charge of the Navy? The best candidate at that time was Chen Shaokuan. He became the director of the Navy and was responsible for the creation of the Navy. He selected the naval team, absorbed the naval systems of various countries, and formulated the official ranks and regulations of the Republic of China Navy. In January 1932, Chen Shaokuan became the Minister of the Navy, established the Fuzhou Naval School, hired British naval instructors to teach at the school, and trained hundreds of graduates, who became the backbone of the Republic of China Navy.
Fourth, support Chiang Kai-shek at a critical moment
In addition to his great contributions to the Republic of China Navy, Chen Shaokuan also supported Chiang Kai-shek at critical moments. In March 1929, war broke out between Chiang Kai-shek and Li Zongren of the Gui clan. At the crucial moment, Chen Shaokuan resolutely sided with Chiang Kai-shek, personally commanding the "Ying Rui" to escort Chiang Kai-shek on a western expedition and quickly occupied Hubei, Hunan and other places. After that, Chen Shaokuan was deeply trusted by Chiang Kai-shek and served as minister of the navy and member of the National Defense Commission of the National Government. In April 1935, Chen Shaokuan was awarded the first rank of admiral of the Navy, becoming the first admiral of the Navy in the history of the Republic of China.