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Naval
Forces News - Taiwan |
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ROC Navy to Build Three Air Defense Catamaran Corvettes based on Tuo
River-class |
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The
ROC Navy (Republic of China - Taiwan) has ordered three air defense
catamaran corvettes based on the existing Tuo River-class. It is rumored
the corvettes are expected to be fitted with Mk 41 VLS for a new naval
variant of the Sky Bow III (Tien Kung III) surface to air missiles.
It remains to be seen however if such large missiles can fit on a small
platform like this catamaran corvette. Same thing goes for long range
radar sensors. |
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 The "Tuo River" Catamaran Corvette sailing under its own power. Picture: Internet/Lee Chung Wei |
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Other
weapon system should include Sky Sword II (Tien Chen II) possily quad-packed
in the VLS in a similar fashion to ESSM. Finally, the new air defense
catamarans should be fitted with the Sea
Oryx RAM-like weapon system which was unveiled last year, and
which is set to be fitted on the Tuo River-class. The Tuo River vessel project was first unveiled during TADTE 2013, the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition, in August 2013. The corvette was built by the Lung-De Shipbuilding Corporation under the "Swift Sea" program. With a length of 60.4 meters this corvette size vessel is designed for littoral operations. A sign on display at the show indicated: "In order to face the increasing threat across the Taiwan Strait, ROC Navy has developed a new type of Littoral Combat Ship, High Efficiency Wave Piercing Catamaran (WPC). This ship design increases ship mobility, and provides for greater stealth technology, larger capacity, and better adaptability to environmental conditions. This new class of ships is designed by Naval Shipbuilding Development Center (NSDC) and Ship Ocean Industries R&D Center (SOIC). The High Efficiency Wave Piercing Catamaran (WPC) is currently under construction by the Lund-De Shipbuilding Corporation." |
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The "Tuo River" catamaran corvette during sea trials Video: ROC Navy |
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This
Taiwanese "Littoral Combat Ship" is heavily armed for its
size as it is fitted with no less than 16 anti-ship missiles. Representatives
at the show said the catamaran corvette may fire both Hsiung Feng II
and Hsiung Feng III missiles making it a potent ASUW platform. HF-3
missile is expected to have a range of 130 kilometers and is reported
to be capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2 while the older generation
HF-2 missile has a range of 160 kilometers and reach subsonic speeds. In addition to anti-ship missiles, the corvette is fitted with a 76mm main gun, 4x 12.7mm machine guns and a CIWS. There is no helicopter hangar; however the deck may accommodate a medium size helicopter (10 tons class). Propulsion is achieved through 4 waterjets. Basic ship specifications: Length: 60.4m Width: 14m Depth: 6m Max draught: 2.3m Max speed: 38 knots Endurance: 2000 nautical miles Crew: 34 |
 The "High Efficiency Wave Piercing Catamaran" Taiwan's Navy future Littoral Combat Ship solution under the Hsun Hai program was first unveiled during the TADTE 2013 defense exhibition in August 2013. |
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