Tuo Chiang-class corvette
{{Short description|Taiwanese class of war vessel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:沱江級艦運動性能展示.jpg }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = Tuo Chiang | Builders = Lungteh Shipbuilding, Su-Ao, Yilan County, Taiwan | Operators = {{ flagicon | TWN }} Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy | Class before = {{sclass|Ching Chiang|patrol ship|1}} | Class after = | Subclasses = {{sclass|Anping|offshore patrol vessel|1}} | Cost = NT$5.4 billion (US$188 million){{cite news |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/10/28/2003603112 |title='Carrier-killer' starts trials |work=Taipei Times |date=28 October 2014 |access-date= 22 August 2015}} | Built range = 2012–present | In service range = | In commission range = 2014–present | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = 12 | Total ships completed = 7 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = 7 | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Header caption = | Ship type = Coastal corvette | Ship displacement = 567 tonnes full load,{{cite web |url=http://news.usni.org/2014/12/24/taiwan-navy-takes-delivery-first-stealth-carrier-killer-corvette |title=Taiwan Navy Takes Delivery of First Stealth 'Carrier Killer' Corvette |last=LaGrone |first=Sam |date=24 December 2014 |work=United States Naval Institute |access-date=22 August 2015}}{{cite web |title=Taiwan highlights new features, further development for Tuo Jiang stealth corvette |url=http://www.janes.com/article/53734/taiwan-highlights-new-features-further-development-for-tuo-jiang-stealth-corvette |last=Wong |first=Kelvin |website=IHS Jane's 360 |date=19 August 2015 |access-date=22 August 2015}} 732 tonnes full load (improved hull) | Ship length = {{cvt|60.4|m|ftin}} (Length on cushion), {{convert|65|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (improved hull) | Ship beam = {{cvt|14|m|ftin}}, {{convert|14.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (improved hull) | Ship draught = {{cvt|2.3|m|ftin}}, {{convert|2.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (improved hull) | Ship propulsion = *2 × MTU 20V 4000 M93L diesel engine – rated at {{cvt|4300|kW|hp|lk=out}}, 4 × MJP CSU 850 waterjet
| Ship speed = {{cvt|45|kn}} (fully armed) | Ship range = | Ship endurance = | Ship boats = | Ship complement = 41 | Ship capacity = | Ship sensors = *Navigational radar *CS/SPG-6N(S) surface search radar (Tuo Chiang) *CS/SPG-6N(T) fire control radar (Tuo Chiang) *CS/MPQ-90 Sea Bee Eye surface search and fire control AESA type radar (Ta Chiang onwards) *STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 fire control radar (Ta Chiang onwards) *Variable depth sonar (Tuo Chiang) | Ship EW = 12 counter-IR/RF chaff dispensers (6 bow and stern){{cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/ships/2014/12/31/taiwan-navy-catamaran-corvette/21097169/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150103182502/http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/ships/2014/12/31/taiwan-navy-catamaran-corvette/21097169/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2015 |title=Taiwan Navy Accepts New Catamaran |website=Defensenews.com |last=Minnick |first=Wendell |date=31 December 2014 |access-date=22 August 2015 }} | Ship armament = *Tuo Chiang **8 × Hsiung Feng II **8 × Hsiung Feng III **1 × Otobreda 76 mm gun **1 × Phalanx CIWS **2 × 12.7 mm Browning M2HB **2 × Mark 32 triple torpedo launcher (one port and one starboard) * Flight I onwards **16 × TC-2N **8 × Hsiung Feng II **4 × Hsiung Feng III **1 × Otobreda 76 mm gun **1 × Phalanx CIWS **2 × 12.7 mm Browning M2HB * Flight II onwards **16 × TC-2N **4 × Hsiung Feng II **8 × Hsiung Feng III **1 × Otobreda 76 mm gun **1 × Phalanx CIWS / 1 x Sea Oryx **2 × 12.7 mm Browning M2HB | Ship aircraft facilities = Flight deck, primarily for VERTREP }} |
The Tuo Chiang-class corvette ({{zh|t=沱江|l=Tuo River}}) is a Taiwanese-designed class of fast (up to {{convert|45|kn|lk=in|disp=comma}}) and stealthy multi-mission corvettes built for the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy. It is designed to counter the numerous and increasingly sophisticated People's Liberation Army Navy ships by utilizing hit-and-run tactics, and thus features clean upper structure design with very few extrusions to reduce radar signature, pre-cooled engine exhaust to reduce infrared signature, and a reduced visual signature to reduce chance of detection.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/taiwanese-navy-showcases-new-killer-stealth-warship|title=Taiwanese Navy showcases new 'killer' stealth warship|date=24 March 2015|website=Fox News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2014/12/23/taiwan-launches-its-largest-ever-missile-ship/|title=Taiwan Launches Its Largest-Ever Missile Ship|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=8 August 2017|website=Defense News}}{{Cite web|url=https://phys.org/news/2011-07-taiwan-stealth-technology-breakthrough.html|title=Taiwan in stealth technology breakthrough: report|website=phys.org}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.popsci.com/article/technology/taiwan-navy-launches-new-stealth-boat/|title=Taiwan Navy Launches New Stealth Boat|date=18 March 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/taiwan-navy-stealth-missile-warship-corvette-2014-12|title=The Taiwan Navy Just Unveiled A Stealth Missile Warship Dubbed The 'Carrier-Killer'|author=Devan Joseph|agency=Associated Press|website=Business Insider}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2014/12/24/taiwan-navy-takes-delivery-first-stealth-carrier-killer-corvette|title=Taiwan Navy Takes Delivery of First Stealth 'Carrier Killer' Corvette|date=24 December 2014}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1668158/taiwan-navy-testing-stealth-frigates|title='Stealth' frigate handed over to Taiwan's Navy|date=23 December 2014|website=South China Morning Post}}
Development
The program was announced by the Republic of China (Taiwan) Ministry of National Defense (MND) on 12 April 2010. It was developed by the Naval Shipbuilding Center in Kaohsiung,{{cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/04/28/2003531472|title='Carrier killer' program goes ahead|last=Cole|first=J. Michael|date=12 April 2012|work=Taipei Times |access-date=22 August 2015 |location=Taipei}} The Tuo Chiang class was developed to address common weakness of traditional small warships such as patrol craft and corvettes not fit for extended periods of time in rough seas around Taiwan Island.
In 2011, the Taiwanese Legislative Yuan approved a NT$24.98 billion (US$853.4 million) budget to fund the construction of up to 12 ships.{{cite web|url=http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1101&MainCatID=11&id=20140314000089|title=Taiwan's first stealth missile corvette christened Tuo River|date=14 March 2014|work=Want China Times|access-date=22 August 2015|archivedate=29 October 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029141435/http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1101&MainCatID=11&id=20140314000089|url-status=deviated}} On 18 April 2011 a top military officer and a lawmaker announced that the construction of a 500-ton prototype would begin in 2012. In the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition in 2013, the Navy unveiled a model of the Hsun Hai project corvette. The prototype of the Hsun Hai program was named and christened on Friday, 14 March 2014 as ROCS Tuo Chiang (PGG-618) in honor of the gunboat in the September 2 Sea Battle during the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis.{{Cite web |url=http://udn.com/NEWS/BREAKINGNEWS/BREAKINGNEWS1/8546874.shtml |title=海軍沱江軍艦擲瓶下水 | 要聞 | 即時新聞 | 聯合新聞網 |access-date=14 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314150637/http://udn.com/NEWS/BREAKINGNEWS/BREAKINGNEWS1/8546874.shtml |archive-date=14 March 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}
The Ministry of National Defense prepared a budget of more than NT$16.395 billion in order to secure the follow-up mass production of three Tuojiang ships from 2017 to 2025. The mass production cost of the Tuojiang ship is 3.2 billion higher than that of the first prototype ship already in service, after deducting the hull. The Navy said that the prototype ship did not take into account the cost of missiles, and the mass-produced type was mainly used for combat readiness. The anti-aircraft missile is the standard configuration of the ship.
In early 2016, the ROC Navy began plans for procuring three air defense frigates. It has been speculated that these frigates would possibly be catamarans based on the Tuo River-class hull. Expected weapon systems include the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) equipped with a naval variant of the Sky Bow III and the Sky Sword II, as well as the Sea Oryx CIWS system.[http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3699 ROC Navy to Build Three Air Defense Catamaran Corvettes based on Tuo River-class] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530031207/http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3699 |date=30 May 2016 }} – Navyrecognition.com, 15 March 2016 It will field a ballistic missile defense version of the Sky Bow III missile defense system to shoot down incoming enemy ballistic missiles.[http://navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2017/january-2017-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/4750-taiwan-s-ncsist-successfully-tested-a-ship-based-variant-of-tien-kung-iii-bmd-interceptor.html Taiwan's NCSIST Successfully Tested a Ship-based Variant of Tien Kung III BMD Interceptor] – Navyrecognition.com, 2 January 2017
In 2019 work commenced on the first of twelve 600+ ton coastal patrol vessels for the Coast Guard Administration, the Anping-class offshore patrol vessel, based on the Tuo Chiang-class corvette at the Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Company's Kaohsiung shipyard.{{cite web |last1=hen Chi-feng and |first1=William Yen |title=Construction works for 600+ tonne CGA ship starts in Kaohsiung |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aeco/201901040024.aspx |website=focustaiwan.tw |date=4 January 2019 |publisher=Focus Taiwan |access-date=23 May 2019}}
In 2021 Ta Chiang completed the testing and evaluation of the TC-2N missile.{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Kelvin |title=Taiwan Navy to deploy new air defense missile system in August |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4211363 |website=taiwannews.com.tw |date=27 May 2021 |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=28 May 2021}}
Design
The ship is a wave-piercing catamaran design which is {{convert|60.4|m|ft}} long, {{convert|14|m|ft}} wide and carries a crew of 41. It is capable of a top speed of 40 knots and a range of {{convert|2000|nmi|lk=in}}. It is armed with eight subsonic Hsiung Feng II and eight supersonic Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles launchers, a Phalanx Close-In Weapons System, and a {{convert|76|mm|in|abbr=on|0}} main gun. The ship can operate up to sea state 7 in waves up to {{convert|20|-|30|ft|m|abbr=on}} high. Taiwan Security Analysis Center (TAISAC) stated that the ship features stealth technologies to minimize radar detection, a combat system that includes a distributed-architecture combat direction system known as "Taiwan Aegis" developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology{{cite web |last1=Minnick |first1=Wendell |title=Taiwan Moves on $14.7B Indigenous Shipbuilding, Upgrade Projects |url=https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2016/06/23/taiwan-moves-on-14-7b-indigenous-shipbuilding-upgrade-projects/ |website=defensenews.com |date=23 June 2016 |publisher=Defense News |access-date=16 July 2019}} and an indigenous search/track and fire-control radar and electro-optical director.{{cite web |url=http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2010/04/13/Taiwan-shows-images-of-carrier-killer/UPI-94971271173599/ |title=Taiwan shows images of carrier killer |website=UPI.com |date=13 April 2010 |access-date=22 August 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Taiwan_developing_carrier_killer_for_navy_report_999.html |title=Taiwan developing 'carrier killer' for navy: report |website=Spacewar.com |date=12 April 2010 |access-date=22 August 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4588116 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730105135/http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4588116 |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 July 2012 |title=Taiwan Plans Stealthy 900-Ton Warships |website=Defensenews.com |last=Minnick |first=Wendell |date=18 April 2010 |access-date=22 April 2015 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.tadte.com.tw/en_US/industry/news/info.html?id=EB027BC3EA278639 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130920185231/https://www.tadte.com.tw/en_US/industry/news/info.html?id=EB027BC3EA278639 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 September 2013 |title=Missile Launchers, Vessels, UAVs Unveiled at TADTE |website=Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition |date=17 August 2013 |access-date=22 August 2015 }}
The ship increases its survivability in naval warfare by utilizing advanced stealth technology and low radar cross section (RCS), which makes it less detectable by radar and allows it to be obscured by background radar noise when operating closer to the coastline.[https://news.usni.org/2016/03/25/taiwan-navy-emphasizing-domestic-shipbuilding-program-in-ongoing-maritime-restructure Taiwan Navy Emphasizing Domestic Shipbuilding Program in Ongoing Maritime Restructure] – News.USNI.org, 25 March 2016
Production
In December 2020 the first of the improved Tuo Chiang-class corvettes, PGG-619 Ta Chiang, was launched in Yilan. 6 improved models are to be delivered by 2023. According to Janes the new models feature improvements in "weaponry, mission systems, and design."{{cite web |last1=Dominguez |first1=Gabriel |title=Taiwan launches first improved Tuo Chiang-class fast missile corvette |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/taiwan-launches-first-improved-tuo-chiang-class-fast-missile-corvette |website=janes.com |publisher=Janes |access-date=27 April 2021}} Ta Chiang has been positively received by military analysts.{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Kelvin |title=Military analyst praises Taiwan Navy's new corvette for its survivability |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4253702 |website=taiwannews.com.tw |date=21 July 2021 |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=21 July 2021}}
Lungteh launched the third Tuo Chiang-class corvette in February 2023.{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Kelvin |title=Taiwan Navy launches third Tuo Chiang-class corvette |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4812288 |website=taiwannews.com.tw |date=16 February 2023 |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=17 February 2023}}
The fifth vessel, An Chiang (安江), was launched in October 2023. The An Chiang is named after Yilan's Annong River (安農溪).{{cite web |title=Navy launches fifth Tuo Chiang-class corvette |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/10/20/2003807966 |website=taipeitimes.com |publisher=Taipei Times |access-date=19 October 2023}}
In March 2024, the final two corvettes from the initial batch of six ships ordered from Lungteh Shipbuilding, PPG-625 An Chiang and PPG 626 Wan Chiang, were commissioned at Su'ao Harbor in Yilan.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-27 |title=Taiwan commissions 2 new navy ships as safeguards against rising threat from China |url=https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-military-ships-navy-threat-2db7c1833c224939da9b5b5932b516ef |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Micah McCartney China News |date=2024-03-28 |title=China's neighbor adds more "carrier killers" to navy |url=https://www.newsweek.com/china-neighbor-taiwan-adds-more-carrier-killers-navy-1884395 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}
Production of the second batch began in 2024 with production expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Five ships are planned in the second batch.{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Kelvin |title=Taiwan's 2nd batch of Tuo Chiang corvettes expected to be completed by 2026 |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5944872 |website=taiwannews.com.tw |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=9 June 2025}}
Ships of class
| class = "toccolours" border = "1" cellspacing = "1" cellpadding = "2" style = "margin:auto; border-collapse:collapse;" |
| style = "background:#079;"
| Hull number | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Status | Note |
| colspan="7"|Flight 0 |
|---|
| PGG-618
| Tuo Chiang ({{lang|zh|沱江艦}}) | Lung Teh Shipyard, Su-Ao | Active | Class prototype |
| colspan="7"|Flight I |
| PGG-619
| Ta Chiang ({{lang|zh|塔江艦}}) | rowspan = "6" | Lung Teh Shipyard, Su-Ao | 15 December 2020 | Active | Improved hull of first ship |
| PGG-620
| Fu Chiang ({{lang|zh|富江艦}}) | 28 June 2023 | Active | |
| PGG-621
|Hsu Chiang ({{lang|zh|旭江艦}}) | 6 February 2024 | Active | |
| PGG-623
| Wu Chiang ({{lang|zh|武江艦}}) | 1 March 2024 | Active | |
| PGG-625
| An Chiang ({{lang|zh|安江艦}}) | Active | |
| PGG-626
| Wan Chiang ({{lang|zh|萬江艦}}) | November 2023 | Active | |
| colspan="7"|Flight II |
| PGG-627
| | rowspan = "6" | Lung Teh Shipyard, Su-Ao | | | | |
| PGG-628
| | | | | |
| PGG-629
| | | | | |
| PGG-630
| | | | | |
| PGG-632
| | | | | |
Gallery
File:ROCN PGG-618 model at RF5 20171022.jpg|Model of PGG-618 Tuo Chiang
File:104年3月31日 馬英九總統出席海軍磐石、沱江軍艦成軍典禮暨國艦國造成果展示 - Flickr id 16366043734.jpg|Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou with dignitaries, officers, and crew at Tuo Chiang's commissioning ceremony
File:104年3月31日 馬英九總統出席海軍磐石、沱江軍艦成軍典禮暨國艦國造成果展示 - Flickr id 16366043654.jpg|President Ma in an open top limousine at Tuo Chiang's commissioning ceremony
File:ROCN Tuo Chiang (PGG-618) launches Hsiung Feng III.jpg|Hsiung Feng III fired from Tuo Chiang
File:總統視導沱江軍艦 (27351057142).jpg|Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen aboard Tuo Chiang
File:09.09 總統主持「海軍塔江軍艦成軍暨快速布雷艇交艇典禮」.jpg|PGG-619 Ta Chiang delivery ceremony
File:TC-2N missile fired from ROCS Ta Chiang.png|TC-2N fired from PGG-619 Ta Chiang
File:07.13 總統勗勉海軍131艦隊-53852260622.jpg|HF-2, HF-3, and TC-2N aboard PGG-621 Hsu Chiang
File:03.26 總統主持「海軍高效能艦艇安江及萬江軍艦交艦典禮」 - 53611020077.jpg|PGG-625 An Chiang
File:03.26 總統主持「海軍高效能艦艇安江及萬江軍艦交艦典禮」 - 53611891586.jpg|President Tsai reviewing ships of the class from an open humvee
File:03.26 總統主持「海軍高效能艦艇安江及萬江軍艦交艦典禮」 - 53612231049.jpg|Four corvettes pierside
See also
- Type 037 corvette
- Type 022 missile boat
- {{sclass|Visby|corvette|1}}
- {{sclass|Skjold|corvette|1}}
- Defense industry of Taiwan
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Tuo Chiang class corvette}}
- NCSIST videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYEiQ7XNoYE 沱江艦], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdXciugXA6M 多頻段干擾彈及多載台自動防禦系統], and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks3XALrXTho 2017台北國際航太展-雷射預警]
- [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/taiwan/tuo-jiang.htm Hsun Hai (Swift Sea) Tuo Jiang – missile corvette – Globalsecurity]
- [https://news.usni.org/2016/03/25/taiwan-navy-emphasizing-domestic-shipbuilding-program-in-ongoing-maritime-restructure Taiwan Navy Emphasizing Domestic Shipbuilding Program in Ongoing Maritime Restructure – USNI News]
Category:Corvettes of the Republic of China Navy
Category:Military history of Taiwan