Fighting Beijing: Taiwanese Shipbuilding
Two countries - two systems
The situation around the Republic of China (aka Taiwan) continues heat up... Beijing is showing its willingness to resolve the "Taiwan issue" by flexing its muscles and making unambiguous hints at the United States.
Many predict a peace scenario similar to that of Hong Kong, but the difference between the Special Administrative Region and the large island republic of 23 million is still too large. It should not be forgotten that Taiwan has a powerful US ally, although Biden recently reassured Xi Jinping that America is committed to the "one China" principle.
The real guarantor of Taiwan's independence can be a powerful fleet that will carry out an amphibious operation of the PRC either:
a) impossible (which, of course, is in some way an exaggeration),
b) too risky and costly (which is closer to the truth).
Until recently, Taipei relied exclusively on its ally in the West in this matter. De facto, the Naval Forces of the Republic of China still consist mainly of American and European ships. Their basis is:
- four Kee Lung-class destroyers (formerly Kidd-class destroyers developed by the United States);
- ten frigates of the Cheng Kung class, which are licensed and transferred American frigates of the Oliver Hazard Perry class;
- six frigates of the Chi Yang type (old American ships of the Knox type);
- six frigates of the La Fayette family of French construction.
Also, according to data from open English-language sources, the Naval Forces of the Republic of China have four submarines, 14 patrol ships, 9 landing ships, 9 minesweepers, three dozen combat boats and auxiliary vessels in service.
New submarines of the IDS type
In 2016, Taiwan launched a 23-year project to develop its own shipbuilding and modernize its naval forces.
It aims to stop buying foreign ships. The main reason for dissatisfaction is that they are too expensive, and in addition, they cause criticism from the PRC.
It must be said that the words of the inhabitants of East Asia are rarely at odds with their deeds, and Taiwan is no exception.
One of the main News world defense became the laying of the leading non-nuclear submarine in the framework of the national program Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS). The ceremony was held on November 16 at the shipyard at the China Shipbuilding Corporation (CSBC) in Kaohsiung.
IDS will be the first submarine built by Taiwan.
In total, the program involves the construction of eight large non-nuclear submarines for its Navy. According to a previously signed contract, hand over the fleet the lead ship is due in 2025.
On the whole, such a step seems completely justified. Of the four submarines that are now at Taiwan's disposal, only two - the Dutch Chien Lung-class submarines - can be called really combat-ready. The other two were built in the United States back in the 40s, and now they can only be used as training.
It is rather difficult to say something specific about the new submarines due to the highest degree of secrecy. It is known, however, that US specialists took an active part in their design: a significant part of the equipment is supplied by the Raytheon and Lockheed Martin corporations.
Judging by the latest images, the Indigenous Defense Submarines should have X-shaped rudders and a low, elongated retractable guard. The submarine's standard surface displacement is estimated at 2 tons. The length of the ship is 500 meters.
They want to equip the boat with 533 mm Mk 48 Mod 6AT torpedoes and UGM-84L Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles, which will be launched from torpedo tubes. The creators decided to abandon the air-independent power plant, but the boats will receive "highly efficient batteries, developed and produced by domestic manufacturers."
Corvettes-catamarans of Tuo Chiang project
If we talk about the surface fleet, then one of the most ambitious programs in this direction was the creation of a Tuo Chiang-type missile corvette. There should be twelve of them in total.
The lead ship was commissioned in 2014. In 2018, it became known that Lung Teh Shipbuilding had won a tender for the construction of 11 corvettes of the improved Tuo Chiang II design and four minelayers of the Min Jiang design. This year, a ceremony was held to enter the fleet of the head missile catamaran Tajiang, built according to the improved design Tuo Chiang II.
In Taiwan itself, they do not skimp on epithets, calling their offspring "aircraft carrier killers", which is an obvious reference to the PRC's program of building new aircraft-carrying ships.
In reality, of course, everything is much more modest.
This is a relatively small ship with a displacement of 685 tons. The basis of its armament is the improved anti-ship missiles of the Hsiung Feng III type, with a cruising speed of approximately M = 3. The missile's firing range can reach 180 kilometers, which is comparable to some versions of the above-mentioned Harpoon. According to some reports, the range of the Hsiung Feng III can be 400 kilometers.
Tuo Chiang is capable of speeds up to 45 knots (83 kilometers per hour) along with weapons. Together with the use of stealth technology, this, according to experts, will make it possible to act on the “hit and run” principle. It is not entirely clear how exactly it will be implemented with the actual dominance in the sky of the Chinese aviation.
By the story with Taiwanese high-speed corvettes is seen as an Asian variation on the "mosquito fleet", which itself has never won wars.
Amphibious assault ships
On April 13, 2021, Taiwan held the launching ceremony of the lead landing helicopter dock Yushan, built under the Hong Yun program. There will be four such ships in total.
Displacement "Yushan" is 10 tons. It is almost 600 meters long and 153 meters wide. The crew includes 23 people, on board can accommodate 190 marines. The ship can carry several landing craft and helicopters.
There is a solid arsenal of weapons, including a 76-millimeter artillery mount, Hsiung Feng II and III missiles and Mark 15 Phalanx CIWS anti-aircraft artillery systems.
In general, Taiwan's efforts to re-equip its navies are difficult to criticize due to the real threat from the PRC and the limited capabilities of the defense industry.
At the same time, you need to understand that even if all the ships mentioned above are built and entered into the fleet, they alone will not be enough to confront the Chinese Navy, which, as reported, in 2019 surpassed the US Navy in terms of the number of warships. , and in the foreseeable decade will surpass the American Navy in the number of submarines.
Information