The Republic of China 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 (Republic of China Ship); an older usage is CNS (Chinese Navy Ship).
ROCN also avoids giving ships hull numbers that add up to or end at "4", as the Chinese pronunciation of the number 4 is close to the pronunciation of "death". This numbering scheme is more apparent on more newly acquired ships.
Note: The ROCN generally uses hull classification symbols similar to the U.S. system with some changes. The proper classification is provided when known.
Present fleet
In June 2016, two Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates of the US Navy, ex-USS Taylor (FFG-50) and USS Gary (FFG-51), were handed over to the Government of Taiwan for the Republic of China Navy. The transfer cost was an estimated US$177 million. Following a reactivation period at Detyens Shipyard in Charleston SC, the ships sailed for Taiwan in March 2017 and arrived at their new home port in June 2017. The transfer of the ships includes the AN/SQR-19 Multi-Function Towed Array. 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.
A new class of eight (8) conventional attack submarines is planned. In November 2020, President Tsai Ing-wen officially opened the submarine construction facility in Kaohsiung, and it is reported (as of November 2021) that the lead submarine is under construction. The Taiwanese military's Indigenous Defense Submarine program anticipates having the first 2,500-ton domestically produced Hai Kun-class submarine entering service in 2025.
Decommissioned ships
US designed; based on PSMM MK.5
- FABG-1~59 (no 4, 13, 22, 31, 40); all were decommissioned by 2013; two were gifted to Paraguay in 1994 and 4 were gifted to Gambia in 2009; replaced by Kung Hua VI project missile boats
PCL-class offshore patrol craft
- 9 locally designed and built. 143 tons fully load. All decommissioned in 2011.
Decommissioned in 1973.[17]
- ROCS Hai Jiao (海蛟)
- ROCS Hai Lung (海龍)
Chi Yang-class frigate (Knox-class)
Chao Yang-class destroyer (Gearing-class)
World War II era DDs later upgraded to DDGs in three batches, Wu Chin I, II and III. All ships in this class were retired by 2005. [1]
Wu Chin I Batch: (Retired in 1980s-1990s)
Wu Chin II Batch: (Retired in late 1990s)
Wu Chin III Batch: (Retired in 2003–2004)
Benson-class destroyers
Gleaves-class destroyers
Fletcher-class destroyers
Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers
Ashland-class dock landing ship
Casa Grande-class dock landing ships
Evarts-class destroyer escorts
Cannon-class destroyer escorts
Rudderow-class destroyer escort
Yangtze Patrol gunboats
PCE-842-class patrol craft
Admirable-class minesweepers
Crosley-class high speed transports
Charles Lawrence-class high speed transports
Auk-class minesweepers
PC-461-class submarine chasers
- ROCN Qing Jiang PC-116 (ex USN PC-1168)
- ROCN Xi Jiang PC-120 (ex USN PC-1149)
- ROCN Bei Jiang PC-122 (ex USN Hanford PC-1142)
- ROCN Wu Song (ex USN PC-490)
- ROCN Dong Ping (ex USN PC-1088)
- ROCN Song Ping (ex USN PC-1090)
- ROCN Gan Tang (ex USN PC-1091)
- ROCN Qian Tang (ex USN PC-1549)
- ROCN Tuo Jiang PC-104 (ex USN PC-1247)
- ROCN Pei Jiang PC-105 (ex USN PC-492)
- ROCN Xiang Jiang PC-108 (ex USN PC-786)
- ROCN Zi Jiang PC-109 (ex USN PC-1078)
- ROCN Yuan Jiang PC-110 (ex USN PC-1182)
- ROCN Li Jiang PC-111 (ex USN PC-1208)
- ROCN Gong Jiang PC-113 (ex USN PC-1233)
- ROCN Bo Jiang PC-114 (ex USN PC-1254)
- ROCN Chang Jiang PC-115 (ex USN PC-1262)
- ROCN Qing Jiang PC-116 (ex USN PC-1168)
- ROCN Zhu Jiang PC-117 (ex USN PC-1567)
- ROCN Zhang Jiang PC-118 (ex USN PC-1232)
- ROCN Dong Jiang PC-119 (ex USS Placerville PC-1087)
- ROCN Liu Jiang PC-123 (ex USS Escandido PC-1179)
- ROCN Gan Jiang PC-124 (ex USS Vandalia PC-1175)
- ROCN Tuo Jiang PC-125 (ex USS Milledgeville PC-1263)
PGM-9-class gunboat
- ROCN Yin Jiang (ex Bao Ying) PC-101 (ex USN PGM-20)
- ROCN Lin Jiang (ex Dong Ting) PC-102 (ex USN PGM-13)
- ROCN Ou Jiang (ex Hong Ze) PC-103 (ex USN PGM-26)
Infantry landing craft
- ROCN Lian Bi (ex USN LCI-516)
- ROCN Lian Guang (ex USN LCI-517)
- ROCN Lian Rong (ex USN LCI-632)
- ROCN Lian Zhen (ex USN LCI-514)
- ROCN Lian Zhu LCI-261 (ex USN LCI-233)
- ROCN Lian Li LCI-262 (ex USN LCI-417)
- ROCN Lian Shen LCI-263 (ex USN LCI-418)
- ROCN Lian Hua LCI-264 (ex USN LCI-630)
- ROCN Lian Zhen LCI-265 (ex USN LCI-631)
- ROCN Lian Jie LCI-266 (ex USN LCI)
- ROCN Lian Qiang LCI-266 (ex USN LCI-1017)
- ROCN Lian Zhi LCI-271 (ex USN LSSL-81)
- ROCN Lian Ren LCI-272 (ex USN LSSL-56)
- ROCN Lian Yong LCI-273 (ex USN LSSL-95)
Medium Landing ships
Tank landing ships
Repair ships
Arethusa-class cruiser
Flower-class corvette
Harbour Defence Motor Launches
- ROCN Fang 1 (ex RN ML-1033)
- ROCN Fang 2 (ex RN ML-1047)
- ROCN Fang 3 (ex RN ML-1058)
- ROCN Fang 4 (ex RN ML-1059)
- ROCN Fang 5 (ex RN ML-1068)
- ROCN Fang 6 (ex RN ML-1390)
- ROCN Fang 7 (ex RN ML-1405)
- ROCN Fang 8 (ex RN ML-1406)
Castle-class corvettes
Azio-class minelayer
Akizuki-class destroyer
Atami-class gunboats
Etorofu-class escort ships
Fushimi-class gunboats
Hashidate-class gunboat
Hiburi-class escort ship
- ROCN Hui An (ex IJN Shisaka)
Kagerō-class destroyer
Matsu-class destroyers
Mikura-class escort ship
- ROCN Zheng An (Xue Feng, ex IJN Yashiro)
Minekaze-class destroyer
No.4-class submarine chaser
- ROCN Min Jiang (Fu Ling) PC-107 (ex Hai Hong, SC-402, ex IJN # 9)
No.13-class submarine chaser
- ROCN Qu Jiang (Yang Long) PC-106 (ex Hai Hong, SC-401, ex IJN # 49)
Seta-class gunboat
Sokuten-class minelayer
- ROCN Yong Jing PF-75 (ex IJN Saishū)
Sokuten-class auxiliary minelayer
- ROCN Jie 29 (ex IJN Kuroshima)
Type C escort ship
- ROCN Rui An (Ying Kou, ex IJN # 67)
- ROCN Huang An (ex IJN # 81)
- ROCN Ji An (ex IJN # 85)
- ROCN Chao An (ex IJN # 107)
- ROCN Chang An (ex IJN # 205)
- ROCN Jie 8 (ex IJN # 215)
Type D escort ship
- ROCN Jie 6 (ex IJN # 14)
- ROCN Cheng An PF-72 (ex IJN # 40)
- ROCN Tai An PF-71 (ex IJN # 104)
- ROCN Jie 12 (ex IJN # 118)
- ROCN Tong An (ex IJN # 192)
- ROCN Wei Hai (ex IJN # 194)
- ROCN Jie 14 (ex IJN # 198)
References
External links