Taiwan Coast Guard Takes Delivery Of Third Catamaran Patrol Vessel

Saithan · Nov 1, 2021

The third Anping-class ship, “Tamsui" (淡水, CG603), during the delivery ceremony. Taiwan Coast Guard picture.

Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA) took delivery of its third Anping-class patrol vessel and launched the 4th ship of the class on October 28 2021.

Tso-Juei Hsu 30 Oct 2021

According to Ocean Affairs Council (OAC), 6 Legislators of Internal Administration Committee, Legislative Yuan (parliament) visited shipbuilder CSBS’s Kaohsiung shipyard to inspect the progress of the construction of “Hsinchu (新竹 ,CG5002)”, the second ship of 4000-ton Chiayi-class large patrol ship.

The Legislators later visited shipyard of Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Company (中信造船，JSSC) to attend the delivery ceremony of “Tamsui (淡水, CG603) and launching ceremony of Cijin (旗津, CG605).

The ceremonies were hosted by Minister of Ocean Affairs Council Lee Chung-wei (李仲威), OAC Deputy minister and CGA Director-General Chou Mei-wu (周美伍). Legislator Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) from the governing party DPP, was invited to conduct bottle tossing, wishing Coast Guard’s shipbuilding project safe and smooth.

Taiwan Coast Guard Launches Fourth Catamaran Patrol Vessel

The fourth Anping-class ship, Cijin (旗津, CG605) during the launching ceremony. Taiwan Coast Guard picture.

Cijin is the 4th ship of Anping-class, but its hull number is CG605. This is because of the pronunciation of “4” in Mandarin Chinese, is similar to the pronunciation of “death”, which make people consider 4 as an unlucky number.

Taiwanese coast guard and navy tend to avoid giving their ship hull number with 4 as the last digit, but there are several exceptions.

Anping-class patrol vessel is based on the upgraded and modified model of Taiwanese navy’s Tuo Chang-class corvette. Anping-class is capable of sailing under Beaufort scale 9 wind. Its maximum speed is 44 knots. The ships of the class are equipped with 2.75-inch rockets, 20mm gun, remote weapons station, and high pressure water cannon with a 120 meter range.

Phalanx Close-In Weapon System, Stinger SAMs and up to 16 Hsiung Feng-II and Hisung Feng-III anti-ship missiles can be fitted to Anping-class ships during wartime.

About Tuo-chiang class corvette

Taiwan ROC Navy Tuo Chiang-class corvette catamaran

The Tuo-chiang class corvette is designed to counter Chinese navy ships by conducting hit-and-run tactics, and is dubbed as “Carrier-killer”by some Taiwanese media. The prototype of the class was named and launched in 2014. Taiwanese navy (ROC Navy) is planning to build 12 Tuo-chiang class ships, and the project is scheduled to finish in 2026.

Tuo-chiang class is fitted with Hsiung Feng-II and Hisung Feng-III anti-ship missiles, OTO Melara 76 mm main gun, Phalanx Close-In Weapon System. The second and follow up ships of the class, are upgraded and modified, they are equipped with TC-2N surface to air missile that the prototype doesn’t have. The upgraded ships have a displacement of 685 tons, a little bit larger than the 600-ton prototype.