The ROC navy is the sixth largest in the Asia-Pacific region. The honorable sixth place is not very popular in our world, nevertheless, this is a good result for a small island off the coast of China.
The armed forces of the Republic of China have long ceased to be the guarantor of its security - in 2013, trade between mainland China and Taiwan exceeded $ 100 billion. War and the annexation of the rebellious island by force is disadvantageous to the ruling elites of both states. Nevertheless, the world-scale industrial giant, whose size is smaller than the Moscow region, continues to gain muscle and is one of the most militarized states in the world.
Taiwan is an island, therefore, sea communications are of absolute importance to it. Despite the absence of any real threats and strong support from the US Navy, the inhabitants of the island continue to slowly improve their own fleet: the ship's composition is gradually being updated, new aircraft and naval weapons systems are being purchased in the interests of the Navy. There is no practical benefit from this: in the event of a hypothetical conflict with China, the PLA Air Force and Navy will deal with Taiwanese cans in a couple of hours. Taiwan is not capable of competing in military power with mainland China. Then why did Taiwan need war games?
First is prestige. Secondly, Taiwan can simply afford it.
From other "funny" regional fleets, which are a collection of the same type of trash, decommissioned from the US Navy and the fleets of European countries, the Taiwan Navy compares favorably with a compromise between old proven designs and ultra-modern equipment. The Navy of the Republic of China has a number of completely unique ships, each of which is worthy of the pier of the naval museum or the exposition of an exhibition of contemporary art. I'm not afraid to say - no one else in the world has such ships!
Destroyers URO type Kee Lung - 4 units
"Kurush", "Daryush", "Nadir" and "Anushirvan" were built at American shipyards by order of the Iranian Navy, but there was a misunderstanding - the Iranian revolution in 1979 and the expulsion of the Shah put an end to further military-technical cooperation between the two states. All four destroyers, which were at that time in a high degree of readiness, it was decided to finish building at their own expense and enter the US Navy. This is how the unique Kidd series was born - four destroyers with missile weapons, in whose design the best from the destroyers "Spruance" and nuclear-powered missile cruisers of the "Virginia" class were combined. The sailors themselves jokingly called their ships "Ayatollah".
The Spruence's advanced anti-submarine capabilities were successfully complemented by a powerful air defense system: the Kidd was equipped with two Mk.26 launchers to launch anti-submarine missiles and medium / long-range anti-aircraft missiles. Striking weapons - anti-ship missiles "Harpoon". A pair of universal 127 mm cannons, a hangar for two anti-submarine helicopters, a set of small torpedoes, automatic anti-aircraft guns "Falanx" …
USS Kidd (DDG-993)
The ships were equipped with an automated troubleshooting system: automatically closing doors and hatches, starting water pumps and fire extinguishing systems. The destroyers had a modular design that simplified the repair and elimination of the consequences of combat damage by quickly replacing damaged blocks. Special measures were applied to reduce acoustic fields: shock absorption and noise and vibration isolation of the equipment, the Prarie system, which supplies air through the openings of the incoming blade edges and around the propeller hubs, and the Masker system, which supplies air bubbles to the bottom of the ship.
The SQS-53 hydroacoustic station in the bulb fairing was separated from the rest of the ship's compartments by a sound-insulating cofferdam, which prevents the appearance of interference during the operation of the GAS.
The cruising range was 6,000 miles at an economic speed of 20 knots. (the destroyer could cross the Atlantic diagonally), the gas turbine power plant of four LM2500 turbines was able to go from a "cold" state to maximum power in just 15 minutes. Full speed exceeded 32 knots.
Outstanding dimensions: the length of the destroyer was 172 meters, the total displacement of the Kidd reached almost 10,000 tons! (For comparison - the full military and missile cruiser "Moskva" is 11380 tons, "Kidd" could well claim a cruising rank). The largest and most advanced destroyer in the world, at the time of its appearance, became the strongest ship in its class.
The Kiddas served 20 years under the Stars and Stripes until they fell under the global fleet cutback of the 1990s. The Yankees painted over rust stains on their sides, upgraded the electronics - and put them on the world arms market. In 2005, unique combat units were at the Su-Ao naval base on the island. Taiwan.
Destroyers "Ki Lun" (1801) and "Su Ao" (1802) of the Navy of the Republic of China
There is always a special offer for friends and allies. The Republic of China managed to acquire destroyer cruisers at a ridiculous price of $ 732 million for all four ships, including their overhaul, crew training and ammunition load of 148 SM-2MR Block IIIA * anti-aircraft missiles and 32 Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
* RIM-66L, also known as Standard-2 Medium Range Block IIIA, is the latest modification of the SM-2MR family with an increased launch range of up to 170 km. Among the features of these missiles, a dual-mode seeker is called - guidance in a semi-active mode using external target illumination using ship radars, or active guidance using its own thermal imager (IR range) - used to engage targets with low ESR.
Subsequently, the Chinese sailors acquired an additional batch of 100 anti-aircraft missiles - to bring the ships' ammunition to the calculated value. American anti-ship missiles "Harpoon" were replaced by supersonic missiles of their own production "Xiongfeng-III" ("Brave Wind-III"), capable of developing a cruising speed twice the speed of sound and hitting sea targets at a distance of 150 km. Despite their venerable age and unusual fate, Ki Lun-class destroyers still retain impressive combat potential and may pose a threat to potential adversaries of Taiwan.
Kang Ding-class guided missile frigates - six units
In 1996, French naval couturiers rolled out the frigate Lafayette for public viewing. The first ship of its kind in its class, Lafayette made a splash - for the first time on a warship such outstanding measures to reduce visibility were implemented. Stealth superstructure from "side to side", blockage of the sides "inward", straight clean lines, minimum of radio contrast details - even the windlass and anchor chain were removed under the deck in order to avoid negative impact on the visibility of the frigate.
Low-power, high-efficiency diesels and an exhaust gas ejection system (mixing with cold air) helped to minimize the ship's thermal signature. To reduce the acoustic fields, special measures were used, including the Prarie-Masker bundle, the principle of which was outlined above.
The efforts made to reduce the visibility gave a natural result: the 3600-ton frigate looks like a 1200-ton ship on radars - the Lafayette's detection range is reduced several times compared to other ships of the same size.
The frigate's combat capabilities were not as high as expected: full speed “only” 25 knots, light missiles and short-range air defense systems, emphasis on anti-submarine missions. Nevertheless, its fantastic appearance, optimal dimensions and modular design, allowing to satisfy any customer's wishes, made Lafayette popular in the world market. Beautiful, high-tech stealth frigates were bought by the rich - Saudi Arabia, Singapore … I decided to buy a series of ships and wealthy Taiwan.
The Chinese have chosen a special configuration for themselves:
- The Krotal anti-aircraft complex was replaced by the American-made RIM-72C Sea Chaperel air defense system. A short-range air defense system based on AIM-9 Sidewinder aircraft missiles - four guides, an effective firing range of 6000 m, a target height of 15-3000 m. The IR head will most likely fail to detect the target). Among the positive qualities are ease of maintenance, miniature size and cost;
- The French Exocet anti-ship missiles gave way to the Xiongfeng II anti-ship missiles of their own production. Subsonic speed (0.85M), max. launch range 160 km. Among the features of the missile is an infrared seeker, which allows the use of ammunition to attack ground and surface targets;
- the French 100-mm naval gun was replaced by the Italian 76-mm Oto Melara (85 rounds per minute, firing range 15 km). Additionally, two Swedish 40-mm "Bofors" and an American automatic anti-aircraft gun with radar guidance "Falanx" were installed on board the frigate;
- The regular Eurocopter Panther helicopter was replaced by the American Sikorsky SH-70 Sea Hawk helicopter.
Realizing the inferiority of the Si Chaperel air defense system, whose use made the ship vulnerable to air attacks, the Taiwanese Navy is planning to replace the outdated system with a modern air defense system Ting Chen II (Heavenly Sword II). Created on the basis of an aircraft missile of its own production, the new complex will allow hitting air targets at a distance of several tens of kilometers.
With the exception of this annoying flaw, which they promise to fix by 2017, the Kang Ding-class frigates are strong modern ships with good patrol qualities and a solid potential for their size for striking ground and surface targets, as well as covering ship formations from attacks from under the water.
Hai Shih class submarines - 2 pieces
The third rarity of the Taiwanese Navy is the Hai Shi-class submarines. Former American submarines USS Cutlass and USS Tusk (cruising boats of the Balao and Tench types) - both were laid down in 1943-44. and launched in 1945! Despite their age limit, both submarines are still considered active combat units and periodically go to sea as training classes for the training of Chinese submariners. According to some reports, they now have a limitation on the depth of immersion.
Of course, the presence of such "trash" in service does not honor the Taiwanese Navy, on the other hand - why throw away something that works properly? If there are no objective reasons for the decommissioning of these training submarines, and their replacement will be associated with additional, sometimes not the most necessary expenses.
The reason for the amazing longevity of the Hai Chi boats is the modernization carried out under the GUPPY program. Strictly speaking, what Taiwanese sailors are now using has little to do with the USS Cutlass and USS Tusk that sailed the seas in the 1940s. From the previous boats, only a solid hull remained, everything else underwent global changes.
USS Cutlass (SS-478). Looks too unusual for a WWII submarine
The Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program (GUPPY) was adopted in the 1950s, influenced by the ideas of the German Electrobot. Exploring the captured boat, American designers realized a simple truth: it is worth sacrificing everything - artillery, ammunition, autonomy, comfort of compartments, speed on the surface - for the sake of the submarine's underwater characteristics. All the free space was occupied by rechargeable batteries. Their number has doubled. The artillery and the fencing of the wheelhouse were removed, and only a narrow streamlined "sail" remained from the wheelhouse itself - all for the sake of reducing resistance when moving under water.
Max. submerged speed increased to an incredible 17-18 knots, cruising range increased to several hundred miles. Equipped with modern sonars and radars, the boats of the war years found a second life - modernized according to the GUPPY project, they turned into formidable underwater opponents and were used in the American fleet until the early 1970s!
A similar boat ("Santa Fe", formerly USS Catfish) was actively used by the Argentine Navy during the Falklands conflict, 1982. The old boat was lost, nevertheless, it fulfilled its mission, delivering an assault group.
So it's too early to dismiss the old Taiwanese submarines - they are still able to show their strong fangs. It is curious that both boats were transferred to Taiwan in the form of training units: without ammunition and with welded torpedo tubes - however, the cunning Chinese restored the boats, equipping them with modern Italian torpedoes. A caring attitude to technology works wonders - for 40 years now, Hai Shi and Hai Pao have regularly served under the blue-red flag of the Republic of China.
In general, the underwater component is the weak point of the Taiwan Navy. In addition to the two combat training submarines of the Second World War, the fleet includes only two operational submarines of the "Chi Lun" type, built at Dutch shipyards in the late 1980s. Such a disdainful attitude towards the submarine fleet proves once again that Taiwan is not going to fight with anyone seriously - all its formidable floaters serve only to carry out representative missions, demonstrate strength and participate in international exercises to maintain the prestige of their country.
Afterword
In addition to the above combat units, the Taiwanese Navy includes 16 multipurpose frigates (8 licensed long-hulled Oliver H. Perry and 8 Knoxes from the US Navy), an Ancorge-class amphibious assault dock, two tank landing ships of the Newport”, 10 minesweepers and 40+ missile and patrol boats. The Navy is armed with anti-submarine helicopters "Sea Hawk" and light patrol helicopters "Hughes 500MD" - only about three dozen units. The S-2T Turbo Trekker anti-submarine and search and rescue aircraft (26 in service, half of which are flying) are gradually being replaced by the Orion P-3C: the first of 12 ordered aircraft arrived in Taiwan in November 2013.
Diesel-electric submarines of "Chi Long" type
Destroyer URO Tso Ying (1803)
