Taiwan starts trials of carrier killer corvette: Taiwans Republic of China Navy (RoCN) began sea trials of an indigenously designed twin-hull missile corvette dubbed a carrier killer on 27 October, according to naval sources as cited by local media. The 500-tonne vessel, Tuo Jiang (618), is said to have been towed from Lung Teh Shipbuildings facilities in Yilan county to waters south of Guishan Island, where it conducted engine trials at various speeds. Tuo Jiang s wave-piercing catamaran hull form enables it to attain a maximum speed of 38 kt and a standard range of 2,000 n miles. The 60 m by 14 m corvette features a low radar cross-section (RCS) design and can accommodate a crew of 41. Besides carrying eight Hsiung Feng II (HF-2) and eight ramjet-powered Hsiung Feng III (HF-3) anti-ship missiles, Tuo Jiang is also reported to be armed with an Otobreda 76 mm gun, four 12.7 mm machine guns for close-range ship defence and a Mk 15 Phalanx close-in weapon system (CIWS) to defeat incoming projectiles and hostile aircraft. Upon completion of its sea trials, the corvette will be fitted with anti-ship missile systems and is expected to be put on a nine-month tactical testing phase by the RoCN. Tuo Jiang is scheduled to enter service in the first half of 2015. #admin_Lucifer
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 17:06:26 +0000
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