Republic of China Navy
The Republic of China Navy, also known as the Taiwan Navy is the maritime branch of the Republic of China Armed Forces. The ROC Navy's primary mission is to defend ROC territories and the sea lanes that surround Taiwan against a blockade, attack, or possible invasion by the People's Liberation Army Navy of the People's Republic of China. Operations include maritime patrols in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, as well as counter-strike and counter-invasion operations during wartime. The Republic of China Marine Corps functions as a branch of the Navy.
The ship prefix for ROCN combatants is ROCS ; an older usage is CNS.
Organization
Republic of China Navy Command Headquarters
The Navy CHQs is subordinate to the General Staff, the Minister of Defense, and the ROC President.Sources:
History
1912–1949
The precursor to the modern ROC Navy was established as the Ministry of the Navy in the Provisional Government of the Republic of China in 1911 following the overthrow of the Qing dynasty. Liu Guanxiong, a former Qing dynasty admiral, became the first Minister of Navy of the Republic of China. During the period of warlordism that scarred China in the 1920s and 1930s the ROCN remained loyal to the Kuomintang government of Sun Yat-sen instead of the warlord government in Beijing which fell to the nationalist government in the 1928 northern campaign and between the civil war with the Communist Party and 1937 Japanese invasion of Northeast China. During that time and throughout World War II, the ROCN concentrated mainly on riverine warfare as the poorly equipped ROCN was not a match to Imperial Japanese Navy over ocean or coast.Following World War II, a number of Japanese destroyers and decommissioned U.S. ships were transferred to the ROC Navy. During the Chinese Civil War, the ROCN was involved in the protection of supply convoys and the withdrawal of the ROC Government and over 1 million refugees to Taiwan in 1949. The subsequent reorganization and reestablishment of the Navy after evacuation to Taiwan is referenced in the lyrics of the post 1949 ROC Navy Song "The New Navy".
1949–present
Following the relocation of the ROC government to Taiwan, the ROCN was involved in a number of commando attack escorts, evacuation and transport of more displaced soldiers and later to provide patrols and resupply operations to Kinmen and Matsu in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea offshore islands.Since the 1990s the Navy has grown in importance as the emphasis of the ROC's military doctrine moves towards countering a possible People's Republic of China blockade, as well as offshore engagement. As of 2004 the ROCN had been working hard to expand its capability in electronic and anti-submarine warfare, as well as the replacement of antiquated warships and support vessels. While for many years the ROCN operated hand me down and foreign designed vessels in recent years they have been operating a higher number of indigenous platforms, sensors, and weapons much of it made by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology.
In April 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic the ROCN cut short their semi-annual goodwill mission to Central and South America. The flotilla consisting of two frigates and a supply vessel was subject to 30 days of quarantine after returning to Taiwan.
In April 2020 Taiwanese boatbuilder Karmin International Co., Ltd. won a NT$450-million contract to supply the Republic of China Navy with eighteen special operations watercraft and eight RIB tenders, the later for the Cheng Kung-class frigates. Delivery is scheduled for June 2022. The contract covered only the watercraft themselves with their machine guns, infrared equipment, and boarding ladders sourced separately.
Rank and rating insignia
;Officers;Non-commissioned
Equipment
Traditionally, most ROCN equipment is purchased from the United States, though several ships have been built domestically under licence or through domestic development. The ROCN has also purchased s from France and s from the Netherlands as well as four U.S. destroyers originally intended for Iran.Despite the ROCN refurbishing and extending the service life of its vessels and equipment, it has suffered from procurement difficulties due to pressures exerted by the PRC. It has only two useful submarines. The U.S. has approved sales of eight new diesel-powered submarines but lacks the manufacturing capability to make the engines; at the same time, threats from the PRC prevent the necessary technology transfer from other countries. Furthermore, the Legislative Yuan did not approve the budget and thereby slowed the opportunity to procure the badly needed underwater defense capability.
On 12 September 2007, an arms notification was sent to the United States Congress concerning an order for 12 P-3C Orion patrol aircraft and 3 "spare aircraft", along with an order for 144 SM-2 Block IIIA surface-to-air missiles. A contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin to refurbish the 12 P-3C Orion aircraft for the ROC on 13 March 2009, with deliveries to start in 2012.
In 2008, the ROCN set out to acquire an improved anti-ship capability. On 26 August, an arms notification was sent to Congress for an order for 60 air-launched Harpoon Block II missiles for the 12 P-3Cs. At least a portion of these missiles will be installed on the navy's s.
On 29 January 2010, the U.S. government announced five notifications to the U.S. Congress for arms sales to the ROC. In the contracts total US$6.392 billion, ROC Navy would get 2 s for US$105 million, 25 Link 16 terminals on ships for US$340 million, 10 ship- and 2 air-launched Harpoon L/II for US$37 million.
The ROC Navy already has 95 older Harpoon missiles in its inventory for the 8 s, 22 newer RGM-84L for the 4 Kidd-class destroyers, 32 sub-launched Harpoon II on order for the 2 Hai Lung-class submarines, and with 60 air-launched Harpoon Block II anti-ship missile on order for the 12 P-3Cs, plus the newly announced 10 ship-launched and 2 air-launched Harpoon II/L sales.
On 31 August 2010, it was announced for the next year's defense budget, ROCN planned to lease one or two more s from the United States, but the 900-ton stealth corvette plan was put on hold, due to lack of funds. That same year, On 29 September, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution, authorizing the U.S. Government for the sale of one more Osprey-class minehunter to the ROC.
Other ongoing local upgrade programs include locally designed and built Ching Chiang class of 12 patrol ships that were designed back in the 1990s to carry four HF-1 anti-ship missiles on board but only the lead ship of the class had them. Since 2006, seven ships of this class were upgraded to carry four HF-2/3 with W-160 fire control radar from Wu Chin III program. In 2010 more ships of this class were undergoing this same upgrade program but using CSIST produced fire control radars instead. Currently four different variants exist within this class, the original Ching Chiang patrol ship constructed with four HF-1.
On 29 December 2010, two LSTs and four remaining of Adjutant-class coastal minehunters were retired.
In 2011, the navy retired several vessels. On 31 October, all eight PCL in the 124th Fleet were retired. On 28 December, the two Lung Jiang-class guided missile patrol boats of the 131st Fleet were retired from ROC Navy service, after entering service in 1978 and 1981 respectively.
In June 2018, two s of the US Navy, ex- and ex-, were handed over to the Government of Taiwan for the Republic of China Navy. The transfer cost was an estimated US$177 million. The transfer of the ships includes the advanced AN/SQR-19 Multi-Function Towed array sonar. Taiwan had previously been blocked from acquiring the AN/SQR-19, and the transfer of the system points to an anti-submarine focus in line with the Knox-class frigates they will likely replace.
Indigenous ‘Landing Platform Dock’ / Amphibious Assault Ship
In September 2018, Taiwan confirms contract for first amphibious assault ship built in Taiwan. It will be built by CSBC Corporation, a local shipyard. Four are planned with the first to be entering service around 2021. It is roughly similar to US Navy's San Antonio class, but with a slightly smaller displacement. Support features include a full hospital, well deck, full aviation facilities, storage for wheeled vehicles, and dedicated accommodations for a full battalion of Marines. The vessel design will be armed with a 76 mm naval gun in the primary position, a close-in weapon system turret, two 12.7 mm machine gun positions in the forward section, and launchers that can deploy the Hsiung Feng II and III family of anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles. The primary sensor is expected to be a naval version of the indigenous CS/MPQ-90 Bee Eye AESA radar.Fleet Air Defense Upgrade / Hsun Lien Project
The ROC Navy currently lacks a modern fleet defense system. Its current destroyers currently use obsolete Mark 26 missile launchers designed from the 1970s and does not currently have a modern centralized air defense combat system like the Aegis. Past US administrations rejected the sale of Aegis radar system and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, including George W. Bush in 2001. Under George W. Bush administration, the US instead sold Taiwan four Kidd-class destroyers, which did not carry the Aegis and were no longer in service in the US Navy at the time. However, in January 2019, the US government delivered two sets of Mk 41 VLS to Taiwan. The ROC government plans to integrate the MK41 VLS and locally developed Tien-Kung III with its indigenously developed Hsun Lien naval combat system, which is similar to Aegis, to upgrade its ship air defense capabilities. Taiwan has acquired the license and technology to produce additional MK 41 VLS launchers. The ROC Navy currently as of 2019 possesses at least 14 warships compatible with the Mk41. Additionally, the AN/SLQ-32 system on the Kee Lung class guided missile destroyers will be upgraded and is expected to be completed by 2023. In November 2019 it was reported that the decommissioned amphibious landing ship Kao Hsiung was being used as a test ship for the Hsun Lien naval combat system project and had been fitted with a large phased array radar system and the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System. In January 2020, it is reported the Tien-Kung III is successfully fired from the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System.Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) Program
With its two effective submarines being of Dutch design manufactured in the late 1980s, Taiwan has been trying to acquire more modern submarines for over 20-years; but the US only makes large nuclear submarines, and other sellers of conventional submarines have been scarce. In 2003 the US Government brokered an offer and suggested buying four Nazario Sauro-class submarines from Italy. Italy reportedly also agreed to sell them an additional four other later vintage Sauro-class submarines still on active duty with the Italian Navy, for a total of eight, following their eventual decommissioning by the Italian Navy. However, Taipei rejected this offer, saying it wanted new submarines. In subsequent years no other solution was found.Whilst Taiwan was actively seeking to purchase diesel-electric submarines from other nations, it started considering the possibility of building the required eight submarines indigenously, after repeated failures to strike an overseas deal. A squadron of modern submarines would greatly improve the Navy's defensive capabilities. However building submarines is a very daunting technological project. On 15 April 2014, the Defence Minister Yen Ming announced that the United States agreed to help Taiwan to construct its own diesel-electric attack submarines.
In April 2018, President of the United States Donald Trump approved the license necessary for American firms to sell Taiwan the technology needed to build its own submarines. In July 2018, it was reported that a company from India and a defense contractor from Japan had submitted design proposals for the Indigenous Defense Submarine program alongside two companies from America and another two from Europe.
In May 2019, Taiwan revealed a scale model of its chosen design for an indigenous built diesel-electric attack submarine. The external design appears to be similar to Japan's Soryu– and Oyashio-class SSKs and includes an X-form rudder similar to one found on Sōryū-class submarine. The boats will be assembled using Japanese construction techniques in Taiwan. A Japanese team consisting of 'retired' engineers from Mitsubishi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries will provide technical support. Reportedly, a version of the AN/BYG-1 submarine combat management system, used in US Navy nuclear submarines, is being offered to Taiwan. The vessels are projected to be in the 2,500-ton class and 70m in length.
In October 2019 it was reported that construction of the class would commence at the Heping Island yard in Keelung rather than in Kaohsiung. Later in October 2019 it was reported that personnel working on the project were forbidden from traveling to or transiting through Macao or Hong Kong due to security concerns.
Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Flight II Tuo Chiang Class Corvette Program
In May 2019, the Republic of China Ministry of National Defense announced it had begun construction of three Flight-II Tuo Chiang class corvettes. The ships will be built by Lung Teh Shipbuilding. The Tuo Chiang-class corvette is a class of stealthy multi-mission catamarans based on the single Tuo Chiang class Flight I prototype launched in 2014. They have a length of 65 meters and a displacement of 680 tonnes versus 560 tons for the existing Flight I. Their top speed remains around 45 knots. It features improved upper structure design with fewer extrusions to reduce radar signature, pre-cooled engine exhaust to reduce infrared signature, and a reduced visual signature. It can be armed with up to twelve subsonic Hsiung Feng II or supersonic Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles of which can be mixed configuration, a Phalanx Close-In Weapons System which may be replaced by Sea Oryx in the future, and a 76-mm main gun. In air defense configuration, it will contain a four-cell vertical launch system array. Each cell is quad-packed with four Tien Chien IIN, or Sky Sword IIN, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, for a total of 16 missiles.Surface fleet
Destroyers (4 in service)
| Class | Picture | Type | Ships | Displacement | Note |
| Kee Lung class | / destroyer | ROCS Tso Ying ROCS Su Ao ROCS Kee Lung ROCS Ma Kong | 9,783 tonnes | Formerly Kidd-class destroyer in US Service. Originally built for the Imperial Iranian Navy. |
Frigates (22 in service)
| Class | Picture | Type | Ships | Displacement | Note |
| Cheng Kung class | / frigate | ROCS Cheng Kung ROCS Cheng Ho ROCS Chi Kuang ROCS Yueh Fei ROCS Tzu I ROCS Pan Chao ROCS Chang Chien ROCS Tian Dan ROCS Ming Chuan ROCS Feng Jia | 4,105 tonnes | Eight licensed ships based on US built. Two Additional ex US Navy ships purchased | |
| Kang Ding class | / frigate | ROCS Kang Ding ROCS Si Ning ROCS Wu Chang ROCS Di Hua ROCS Kun Ming ROCS Chen De | 3,600 tonnes | French-built | |
| Chi Yang class | / frigate | ROCS Fong Yang ROCS Fen Yang ROCS Lan Yang ROCS Hwai Yang ROCS Ning Yang ROCS Yi Yang | 4,260 tonnes | Ex- |
Fast attack missile crafts (31 in service)
| Class | Picture | Type | Ships | Displacement | Note |
| Kuang Hua VI class | / missile boat | FACG-60~66 FACG-68~75 FACG-77~84 FACG-86~93 | 186.5 tonnes | Delivery began 2003 |
Patrol ships (12 in service) & corvette (1 in service)
| Class | Picture | Type | Ships | Displacement | Note |
| Ching Chiang class | / patrol ship | ROCS Ching Chiang ROCS Dan Chiang ROCS Sing Chiang ROCS Feng Chiang ROCS Tzeng Chiang ROCS Kao Chiang ROCS Jin Chiang ROCS Hsiang Chiang ROCS Tze Chiang ROCS Po Chiang ROCS Chang Chiang ROCS Chu Chiang | 500 tonnes | Delivery began 2003 | |
| / corvette | Tuo Chiang | 600 tonnes | on 14 March 2014. |
Minesweepers (9 in service)
| Class | Picture | Type | Ships | Displacement | Note |
| Yung Feng class | / minesweeper | ROCS Yung Feng ROCS Yung Chia ROCS Yung Nien ROCS Yung Shun | 558.3 tonnes | MWW-50 class, built anew in Germany in early 1990s | |
| Yung Yang class | / minesweeper | ROCS Yung Yang ROCS Yung Tzu ROCS Yung Ku ROCS Yung Ku ROCS Yung Teh | 735 tonnes | ex- | |
| Yung Ching class | / minesweeper | ROCS Yung Jin ROCS Yung An | 893 tonnes | ex- |
Amphibious ships (9 in service)
| Class | Picture | Type | Ships | Displacement | Note |
| / tank landing ship | ROCS Chung Ho ROCS Chung Ping | 8,450 tonnes | ex-USN and | ||
| Chung Hai class | / tank landing ship | ROCS Chung Chiang ROCS Chung Shing ROCS Chung Chih ROCS Chung Ming ROCS Chung Ye | 4,080 tonnes | Landing Ship, Tank | |
| Kaohsiung class | / amphibious command ship | ROCS Kao Hsiung | 3,698 tonnes | ex-, an | |
| Hsu Hai class | / dock landing ship | ROCS Hsu Hai | 13,700 tonnes | ex-, an |
Submarine fleet
Submarines (2 in service)
| Class | Picture | Type | Boats | Displacement | Note |
| Chien Lung class | / diesel-electric submarine | Hai Lung Hai Hu | 2,660 tonnes | Based on. These are also known by the lead ship's name as the Hai Lung class. | |
| Hai Shih class | / diesel-electric submarine | Hai Shih Hai Bao | 2,420 tonnes | Used primarily for Training. World's oldest longest-serving submarines. Has two of the three remaining working Arma gyrocompass in the world. |
Auxiliary fleet
Auxiliary Ships (10 in service)
| Class | Picture | Type | Boats | Displacement | Note |
| / fast combat support ship | ROCS Pan Shi | 20,895 tonnes | AOE-532 | ||
| Wu Yi class | / fast combat support ship | 17,000 tonnes | AOE-530 | ||
| Ta Kuan class | / research ship | 3,200 tonnes | oceanographic measurement | ||
| Ta Hu class | / rescue and salvage ship | ROCS Ta Hu ROCS Ta Twen | 1,975 tonnes | ARS-552 | |
| Ta Tung class | / fleet tug | ROCS ATF-551 ROCS ATF-553 ROCS ATF-554 ROCS ATF-555 ROCS ATF-563 | 1,680 tonnes | ATF-548 |
Aircraft
Fixed-wing
| Name | Origin | Type | In service | Notes |
| Lockheed P-3C Orion | Maritime patrol | 12 | Re-built ex-US Navy aircraft and replaced ROCN Grumman S-2 Trackers | |
| Lockheed EP-3E Orion | Signals reconnaissance | 3 | Spare P-3C airframes acquired for future conversion to EP-3E Aries I of II platform | |
| NCSIST Albatross | Reconnaissance UAV | 26 | In service as of 2019 |
Helicopters
| Name | Origin | Type | In service | Notes |
| Sikorsky S-70C-1/2 Thunderhawk | Search and rescue / Anti-submarine warfare | 19 | Out of 10+11 ordered | |
| Hughes 500MD/ASW Defender | Anti-submarine warfare | 9 | Out of original 13 ordered |
Armament
[Surface-to-air missile]
| Name | Origin | Type | Notes |
| Sky Sword I | Short-range | Shipboard deployment with Sea Oryx system. | |
| Sky Sword II | Beyond-visual-range | Unknown number of TC-2N, to be fielded on Tuo Jiang Block II corvettes and retrofitted on the Kang Ding-class frigates. | |
| RIM-66 Standard | Medium-range | 97 RIM-66B Standard-1MR delivered in 1993, 207 RIM-66B Standard-1MR delivered in 1994, 204 RIM-66B Standard-1MR delivered in 2001 | |
| RIM-67 Standard | Medium-long range | 148 Standard Missile-2MR delivered in 2005, 144 Standard Missile-2MR delivered in 2008, 16 Standard Missile-2MR ordered in 2017 |
[Anti-ship missile]
| Name | Origin | Type | Notes |
| AGM-84 Harpoon | Subsonic | AGM-84s – 84Ls | |
| Hsiung Feng II | Subsonic | Unknown, in mass production with secondary ground attack capability | |
| Hsiung Feng III | Supersonic | Unknown, in mass production with secondary ground attack capability |
CIWS">Close In Weapons System">CIWS
| Name | Origin | Type | Notes |
| Phalanx CIWS | Gun System | 20mm, 7 Mk-15 delivered in 1989, 6 Mk-15 delivered in 1996, 1 Mk15 delivered in 2014, 13 Mk15 delivered in 2016, 11 Mk15 delivered in 2018 |
[Torpedoes]
| Name | Origin | Type | Notes |
| Mark 46 torpedo | Lightweight | 100 delivered in 1992, 150 Mk-46 Mod-5 NEARTIP delivered in 1994, 110 Mk-46 Mod-5 NEARTIP delivered in 1998, 90 Mk-46 Mod-5 NEARTIP delivered in 2000, 41 Mk-46 Mod-5 NEARTIP delivered in 2001 | |
| Mark 48 torpedo | Heavyweight | 46 ordered in 2018 | |
| SUT torpedo | Heavyweight | multirole, 200 delivered in 1998 from Indonesian production line |
Marine Corps
: small arms, vehicles, artillery, missiles, and helicoptersGallery
Bases
- Tsoying Naval Base – 1st Naval District HQ, largest naval base in Taiwan and naval airfield near Kaohsiung
- Tsoying Naval Airfield and Naval Yard – Tsoying District
- Makung Naval Base – 2nd Naval District HQ – home to attack squadrons, training centre and naval yard
- Keelung Naval Base, Keelung – 3rd Naval District HQ, home to northern patrol and transport squadrons and small naval yard
- Suao Naval Base, Su-ao, Yilan – East Coast Command and supports Keelung Naval Base