Video: ROC Navy Catamaran Corvette "Tuo River", first Taiwanese LCS, Conducting Sea Trials

: Posted On Thursday, 11 December 2014 11:23

Naval Forces News - Taiwan

Video: ROC Navy Catamaran Corvette "Tuo River", first Taiwanese LCS, Conducting Sea Trials

The ROC Navy (Republic of China - Taiwan) released a video showing its first catamaran corvette "Tuo River" conducting trials at sea. The sea trials started in September 2014. According to ROC Navy officials, the corvette already demonstrated its ability to reach the required top speed of 38 knots during the ongoing sea trials.

The "Tuo River" Catamaran Corvette sailing under its own power. Picture: Internet/Lee Chung Wei

This new 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."

The "Tuo River" catamaran corvette during sea trials
Video: ROC Navy

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 Phalanx 20mm 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

At TADTE 2013, the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition, ROC Navy (Republic of China - Taiwan) unveiled a vessel currently under construction by the Lung-De Shipbuilding Corporation dubbed the "High Efficiency Wave Piercing Catamaran (WPC)"

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.