Republic of China Navy

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Republic of China Navy

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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).

Contents 1 Organization 2 History 2.1 1911 - 1949 2.2 1949 - present 3 Equipment 3.1 Surface Combatants 3.2 Submarines 3.3 Fast Attack Missile Craft 3.4 Minesweepers 3.5 Amphibious 3.6 Support 3.7 Aircraft 4 See also 5 References & notes 6 External links

[edit] Organization

Republic of China Navy
Personnel
Sailors	23,000 (2004 est.)
Marines	30,000 (2004 est.)
Strength
Major Surface Combatants	26 (2007 est.)
Patrol Boats	60
Minesweepers	12
Amphibious Ships	17

• Navy General Headquarters (海軍總司令部)

Navy GHQ is subordinate to the General Staff, the Minister of Defense, and the ROC President.

• Internal units: Personnel, Combat Readiness & Training, Logistics, Planning, Combat Systems, General Affairs, Comptroller, Inspector General, Political Warfare.
• Naval Fleet Command (艦隊司令部)

• 124th Fleet: Tsoying District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
• 131st Fleet: Keelung, Keelung City, Taiwan
• 146th Fleet: Makung, Penghu
• Amphibious Fleet (151st Fleet), Tsoying District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
• 168th Fleet: Suao, Yilan County, Taiwan
• 192nd Fleet (Navy Mine Fleet): Tsoying District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
• 256th Submarine Squadron
• Hai Chiao PGMG Guided Missile Gunboat Group (海蛟大隊)
• Aviation Command

• Marine Corps Command (陸戰隊司令部)
• Education, Training and Doctrine Command(教育訓練暨準則發展司令部)
• Logistics Command (後勤司令部)
• Naval Academy, Hydrographic & Oceanographic Bureau, Shipbuilding Development Center, Communication Systems, General Service.

Sources: ^{[1] [2][3]}

[edit] History

[edit] 1911 - 1949

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 antiquated ROCN stood no chance whatsoever at repelling the IJN on brown or blue water.^[4]

During the Chinese Civil War, the ROCN was involved in the protection of supply convoys and the ultimate withdrawal of the ROC Government to Taiwan in 1949. ROCN units defecting to the PLA during the final days of the civil war would eventually form what became the People's Liberation Army Navy, much to the chagrin of ROCN units who remained loyal to the ROC government. 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).

[edit] 1949 - present

Following the relocation of the ROC government to Taiwan, the ROCN was involved in patrols and resupply operations to Kinmen and Matsu in the Taiwan Strait during the Cold War.

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 to expand its capability in electronic and anti-submarine warfare, as well as the replacement of its current inadequate submarine fleet.^[2]

[edit] Equipment

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 during the early 1990's.

Despite the ROCN refurbishing and extending the service life of its vessels and equipment, it has suffered from procurement difficulties due to pressure exerted on potential arms suppliers from China. It has only four submarines, half of which are obsolete and only useful for training.^[5]

In June 2007, the purchase of 12 P-3C Orion patrol aircraft from the United States was approved by the Taiwanese legislature. Funds for a feasibility study on the purchase of 8 diesel-powered submarines from the US were also allocated.

In mid September 2007, the Pentagon sent the P-3C Orion order to Congress, which included 12 Orions and 3 "spare aircraft", along with an order for 144 SM-2 Block IIIA surface-to-air missiles.^[6]

[edit] Surface Combatants

Class	Number of ships	Builder	Origin
Kee Lung class destroyer (Kidd class)	4	Ingalls Shipbuilding	United States
Cheng Kung class frigate (Oliver Hazard Perry class)	8	CSBC Corporation, Taiwan	Taiwan
Chi Yang class frigate (Knox class)	8	Lockheed Shipbuilding/Avondale Shipyard	United States
Kang Ding class frigate (La Fayette class)	6	DCNS	France

[edit] Submarines

Class	Number of ships	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

[edit] Fast Attack Missile Craft

Class	Number of ships	Builder	Origin
Ching Chiang class patrol ship	12	CSBC Corporation, Taiwan	Taiwan
Kuang Hua VI class missile boat	30 (class completed by 2010)	CSBC Corporation, Taiwan	Taiwan
Hai Ou class missile boat (Dvora class)	48	IAI Ramta	Israel

[edit] Minesweepers

Class	Number of ships	Builder	Origin
Yung Yang class minesweeper (Aggressive class)	4	JM Martinac Shipbuilding Corp	United States
Yung Feng class (MMW50 class)	4	Abeking & Rasmussen	Germany

[edit] Amphibious

Class	Number of ships	Builder	Origin
Hsuhai class (Anchorage class)	1	General Dynamics-Quincy	United States
Chung Ho class (Newport class)	2	Philadelphia Naval Shipyard	United States
Chung Hai class (LST-1)	10	Newport News Shipbuilding	United States
Mei Chin class (LSM-1)	4	Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.	United States

[edit] Support

Class	Number of ships	Builder	Origin
Wu Yi class fleet oiler	1	CSBC Corporation, Taiwan	Taiwan
Ta De (Bolster class) salvage tug	1	Basalt Rock Inc.	United States
Tai Hu (Diver class) salvage tug ex-USS Grapple (ARS-7)	1	Basalt Rock Inc.	United States
Ta Tung (Cherokee class) fleet tug	1	Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.	United States
Ta Kuan oceanographic research ship	1	CSBC Corporation, Taiwan	Taiwan
Chung Bai (Patapsco class) coastal logistics tankers	2	Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co.	United States
Wu Kang class coastal transports	6	CSBC Corporation, Taiwan	Taiwan
Wan An coastal transport	1	CSBC Corporation, Taiwan	Taiwan
Tai Wu coastal transport	1	CSBC Corporation, Taiwan	Taiwan

[edit] Aircraft

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[7]	Notes
Grumman S-2 Tracker	United States	Maritime patrol aircraft	S-2T Turbo Tracker	4	22 retired
Lockheed P-3 Orion	United States	Maritime patrol aircraft	P-3C Orion	12	Ordered
Sikorsky S-70 Seahawk	United States	Naval utility/ASW helicopter	S-70C(M)-1 Super Blue Hawk	19
Hughes 500MD Defender	United States	ASW helicopter	Hughes 500MD Defender	13

[edit] See also

• People's Liberation Army Navy
• Political status of Taiwan

[edit] References & notes

[edit] External links

• ROC Navy website
• Globalsecurity.org report on the ROC Navy

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