Background
Nisshin was the last of the Giuseppe Garibaldi-class cruiser armored cruisers to be built. The first ship in the class had been completed in 1895 and the series had enjoyed considerable export success, and had evolved with improvements over the years based on operational experience.
Originally ordered by the Italian Navy as Roca in the spring of 1902, it was sold immediately after launch to the Argentine Navy, who renamed it the Mariano Moreno. However, the possibility of war between Argentina and Chile abated before the ship was completed, making it surplus. The Italian government attempted to sell the ship to Russia, but in December 1903 rejected the Russian counter-offer. The Japanese government quickly stepped in and purchased it due to increasing tension with Russia.
The keel was laid in May 1902, and the vessel was launched on 9 February 1903. The ship was designated Nisshin on 7 January 1904.
Read more about this topic: Japanese Cruiser Nisshin
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