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The Republic of China Navy (中華民國海軍; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó Hǎijūn) is the maritime branch of the Armed forces of the Republic of China (Taiwan). 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 forces 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 (Republic of China Ship); an older usage is CNS (Chinese Navy Ship).
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| Republic of China Navy | |
|---|---|
Naval Jack of the Republic of China |
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| Active | 1924-present |
| Country | Republic of China |
| Size | 38, 000 personnel 4 Destroyers 22 Frigates 4 Minesweepers 1 Dock Landing Ship 2 Tank Landing Ships 4 Submarines |
| Commanders | |
| Commander In Chief, ROCN | Admiral Wang Li-Shen[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Insignia | |
See also Naval history of China.
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. 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. 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.[10]
Following World War II, a number of Japanese destroyers and scrapped 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" (新海軍).
Following the relocation of the ROC government to Taiwan, the ROCN was involved in a number of commando attack escorts, evacuation and transport more soldiers displaced 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 PRC blockade, as well as offshore engagement. The ROCN has been working hard to expand its capability in electronic and anti-submarine warfare, as well as the replacement of its current antiquated fleet.[8]
See also: List of ships of the Republic of China Navy
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 Lafayette class frigates from France and Zwaardvis class submarines from the Netherlands as well as well as four U.S. Kidd class (renamed Keelung) 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 September 12, 2007, an arms notification was sent to the U.S. 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.[11] A contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin to refurbish the 12 P-3C Orion aircraft for the ROC on March 13, 2009, with deliveries to start in 2012.[12]
On August 26, 2008, an arms notification was sent to Congress for an order for 60 air launched Harpoon Block II missiles for the 12 P-3C.[13]
On October 3, 2008, an arms notification was sent to Congress for an order for 32 submarine launched Harpoon Block II missiles.[14][15] At least a portion of these missiles will be installed on the navy's Hai-Lung class submarines.
On January 29, 2010, the U.S. government announced 5 notifications to the U.S. Congress for arms sales to the ROC. In the contracts total 6.392 Billion USD, ROC Navy will get 2 Osprey class mine hunters for 105 million USD,25 Link 16 terminals on ships for 340 millions, 10 ship and 2 air launched Harpoon L/II for 37 millions.[16][17]
The ROC Navy already has 95 older Harpoon missiles in its inventory for the 8 Knox frigates, 22 newer RGM-84L for the 4 Kidd DDGs, 32 sub launched Harpoon II on order for the 2 Zwaardvis/Hai Lung submarines, and with 60 air launched Harpoon Block II anti-ship missile on order for the 12 P-3C, plus the newly announced 10 ship launched and 2 air launched Harpoon II/L sales.[18]
On August 31, 2010, it was announced for next year's defense budget, ROCN plan to lease 1 or 2 more Newport LSTs from US, but the 900 ton stealth corvette plan has been put on hold, due to lack of budget.[19]
On September 29, 2010, the U.S. Congress passed resolution, authorizing U.S. government for sales of 1 more Osprey class mine hunter to the ROC.[20]
Other ongoing locally upgrade program includes locally designed and built Ching Chiang class of 12 patrol ships that were designed back in 1990s to carry 4 HF-1 anti-ship missiles on board but only the lead ship of the class had them. Since 2006, 7 ships of this class were upgraded to carry 4 HF-2/3 with W-160 fire control radar from Wu Chin III program (as well as Honeywell H-930 MCS CDS stripped from 7 retired Yang class Wu Chin 3 AAW DDGs). On 2010 it was found more ships of this class undergoing this same upgrade program but using CSIST produced fire control radars instead. Currently 4 different variants exist within this class, the original Ching Chiang patrol ship with 4 HF-1(1 existing in this configuration), remaining of unknown number(originally the rest of the 11 patrol ships in this class) that were built without any sort of anti-ship missiles on board, at most 7 upgraded with Wu Chin III program's radars and 2x2 subsonic HF-2 anti-ship missiles, and 2+ is spotted with 2x2 HF-3 supersonic anti-ship missiles with new unknown CSIST search and fire control radar.
On December 29, 2010, 2 LST(中肇、中治戰車登陸艦) and remaining of the 4 Adjutant class coastal mine hunters were retired.[21]
On October 31, 2011, all 8 PCL in 124th Fleet, retired.[22]
On December 28, 2011, the 2 Lung Jiang(PSMM Mk5) Missile Guided Patrol boats(PGG 601 and 602) in the 131st Fleet retired from ROC Navy service, after entered service in 1978 and 1981.[23]
| Type | Class | Number | Builder | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destroyer | Kee Lung Class | 4 | Ingalls Shipbuilding | ex-Kidd class |
| Frigate | Cheng Kung Class | 8 | CSBC Corporation | long hull Oliver Hazard Perry Class design |
| Frigate | Chi Yang class frigate | 8 | Lockheed/Avondale | ex-Knox class |
| Frigate | Kang Ding Class | 6 | DCNS | La Fayette class variant |
| Class | Number | Builder | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hai Lung class submarine (Zwaardvis class) | 2 | Rotterdam Dockyard Company Submarines | Netherlands |
| Hai Shih class submarine (Tench class) | 2 | Portsmouth Naval Shipyard | United States |
| Class | Number | Builder | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ching Chiang class patrol ship | 12 | CSBC Corporation | Republic of China |
| Kuang Hua VI class missile boat | 31 | CSBC Corporation | Republic of China |
| Hai Ou class missile boat (Dvora class) | 50 mostly built in Taiwan. Only 20 still in serve with 3rd and 4th Squadrons, the other 30 replaced by KH-6 missile craft | CSBC Corporation, Taiwan | Republic of China |
| Class | Number | Builder | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yung Yang class minesweeper (Aggressive class) | 4 | J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. | United States |
| Yung Feng class coastal minehunter (MMW50 class) | 4 | Abeking & Rasmussen | Germany |
| Osprey class coastal minehunter | 3 (on order, announced) | Intermarine USA | United States |
| Class | Number | Builder | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hsuhai class dock landing ship (ex-USS Pensacola LSD-38) | 1 | General Dynamics-Quincy | United States |
| Chung Cheng class dock landing ship (ex-USS Comstock LSD-19) | 1 | Newport News Shipbuilding | United States |
| Chung Ho class tank landing ship (Newport class) | 2 | Philadelphia Naval Shipyard | United States |
| Chung Hai class (LST-1) | 7 | Newport News Shipbuilding | United States |
| Mei Chin class (LSM-1) | 4 | Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. | United States |
| Class | Number | Builder | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wu Yi class AOE Fleet Underway Replenish Ship | 1 | CSBC Corporation | Republic of China |
| Ta De class (ARS-556) salvage tug (ex-USS Recovery ARS-43) | 1 | Basalt Rock Inc. | United States |
| Tai Hu class (ARS-552) salvage tug (ex-USS Grapple ARS-7) | 1 | Basalt Rock Inc. | United States |
| Ta Tung class (ATF-548) fleet tug (ex-USS Chickasaw AT-83) | 1 | Charleston Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. | United States |
| Ta Kuan oceanographic research ship | 1 | Fincantieri, Muggiano, La Spezia, Italy | Italy |
| Chung Bai class coastal logistics tankers (ex-USS Pecatonica AOG-57) | 2 | Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. | United States |
| Wu Kang class coastal transports | 2 | CSBC Corporation | Republic of China |
| Wan An coastal transport | 1 | CSBC Corporation | Republic of China |
| Tai Wu coastal transport | 1 | CSBC Corporation | Republic of China |
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service[24] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grumman S-2 Tracker | United States | Maritime patrol aircraft | S-2T Turbo Tracker | 26, half operational | Originally 32 were upgraded to T version, but only 27 were converted |
| Lockheed P-3C Orion | United States | Maritime patrol aircraft | P-3C Orion | 12 | Ordered, plus 3 spare airframes |
| Sikorsky S-70 Seahawk | United States | Naval utility/ASW helicopter | S-70C(M)-1/2 Thunderhawk | 19 | Out of 10+11 ordered |
| Hughes 500MD/ASW Defender | United States | ASW helicopter | Hughes 500MD/ASW Defender | 9 | Out of original 13 ordered |
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