Taiwanese Cheng Kung class frigate
Posted on 04/22/2012 5:47:52 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Taiwan plans to buy 'four warships from US'
Taiwan plans to purchase four warships from the United States as part of the island's efforts to modernise its forces and offset the perceived military threat from China, local media reported on Sunday.
The defence ministry briefed President Ma Ying-jeou on the proposed arms deal during a meeting last month and is prepared to set aside the budget next year, the United Daily News said, without specifying the cost.
The ministry declined to comment on the report.
If finalised, the arms deal will increase to 12 the total number of such warships owned by Taiwanese navy.
The four Perry-class frigates, separately built in the 1980s and to be retired by the US navy lately, are aimed to replace the Taiwan navy's fleet of eight Knox-class frigates, the daily said.
Ties between Taiwan and its former rival China have improved drastically since Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang party became president in 2008 promising to boost trade and tourism links.
Ma was elected for a second term in January.
China however still claims sovereignty over Taiwan, which has governed itself since 1949, and has vowed to get it back -- by force if
(Excerpt) Read more at bangkokpost.com ...
Taiwanese Cheng Kung class frigate
Is this just a political purchase or does this help them out in reality?
They’re old Perry class frigates, so it’s cheap. They have budget issues.
We took the Mk 13 missile launchers off so they are only useful as an ASW platform.
Knox class is more ASW capable than the Perry Class. At least that was true when I was in the Navy. Maybe they improved the Perry Class ASW suite but I am unaware of it.
The Taiwanese Knoxes are 40 years old so it really doesn’t matter; no way they can be kept functional. The Perry’s we would sell them are 10 years younger, at least.
While we did take the MK-13 launchers off, it doesn’t mean we scrapped them. There was one shipyard that had at least eight of them a couple years ago that could be refurbished and reinstalled. More than likely though, Taiwan would choose to install MK-41 VLS as the Aussies did in the FFG Upgrade Project or as the Turks did in their Genesis program.
The OHPs were essentially missile and torpedo sumps, with weak air defense and Helen Keller sonar. Hard to see how it enhances Taiwan’s position. Taiwan would be better off with fast missile corvettes similar to the Russian Tarantula. Ultimately, Taiwan needs nuclear SRBMs if it is to remain independent.
The OHPs were essentially missile and torpedo sumps, with weak air defense and Helen Keller sonar. Hard to see how it enhances Taiwan’s position. Taiwan would be better off with fast missile corvettes similar to the Russian Tarantula. Ultimately, Taiwan needs nuclear SRBMs if it is to remain independent.
I served on the Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) as CICO and ASWO.
The capability for AAW was lacking and earned our “target” moniker, and yes, the active sonar sucked, but you don’t hunt subs with active sonar - least not since the 60s or so. With the passive tail and LAMPS helo we were formidable enough on ASW to win a pac fleet award in that area. Our torpedo launchers were no great threat the, but the helo’s torpedos were right on target. This was back in the early 90s since then I imagine that the passive systems have gotten better.
In addition, the rail supported launching Harpoons good enough for over the horizon targeting of ships. I would imagine that they would instead install VLS with tomahawks though the potential for canister harpoons or equivalent exists. I’m assuming that the anti-ship capability can be significantly upgraded for the islanders and the real driver is the ASW side.
The other thing to keep in mind is they are much more fuel efficient and easy to maintain with the gas turbines then the old Knox class boilers. The Knoxs (originally produced in the 60s I think?) are likely worn to the bone.
TAS can be put on any ship including a fishing trawler with a module sonar sweet, so not particular to OHPs, but point taken. However, taiwanese coord op ASW is more likely to be with fixed wing assets than organic helos.
I still think fast, ASUW focused corvettes would be a better fit.
I spent 3 wks in the North Pacific on an OHP as a Midshipman - I’ve never puked more in my life - spent a lot of time hanging from the hand cable strung across the bridge. I went into tactical naval aviation where I could handle the motion :-)
Ha - I loved that cable on the frigate and YPs at boat school - when everyone else was puking their guts out I’d be hanging with my feet off the deck grinning ear to ear. The 2nd CO I had on the RMD had it taken down :(
I’m with you though - I think a couple hundred 5 man ships equipped with harpoon equivalents would be a deadly combination against whatever came their way. That and lots and lots of air power and shore missle batteries.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.