Navy - Overview
The Navy's primary mission is to defend the island against a Chinese blockade and to protect Taiwan's sea lines of communication (SLOCs). The ROC Navy is charged with maintaining control and surveillance of the waters that surround Taiwan on all sides. The Navy also takes part in joint operations with the Army and Air Force. Including some 30,000 marines, the ROC Navy forces number around 68,000 officers and men.
As a result of the ching shih reforms, the Taiwan Navy (TN) has shrunk from approximately 55,000 to 45,000 personnel, while preserving its basic organizational structure, fleet size, and mission focus on counter-blockade/defense of sea lines of communication. The TN is organizationally well-run, its equipment generally well-maintained, and its leadership apparently aware of its own strengths, weaknesses, and the nature of the threat it faces. The TN has benefited from several important hardware acquisitions from abroad; as a result, its fleet contains a number of relatively new platforms with enhanced combat potential. Despite these improvements, Navy operations are not well-integrated with those of either the army or air force, and joint training is infrequent and rudimentary. Perhaps a more significant shortcoming is the Navy’s inability to conduct multiple missions simultaneously.
The Navy General Headquarters is in charge of developing and maintaining the Navy's combat readiness, as well as commanding and supervising all its subordinate fleets and ground units. Under its command are the Naval Fleet Command, the Marine Corps Headquarters, the Navy Logistics Command, Headquarters of the Naval Area Command, the Area Service Office, the Naval Base Command, and the Bureau of Maritime Survey.
The Fleet Command consisted of the Amphibious Forces, two Destroyer Squadrons, a Patrol Squadron, a Mine Warfare Squadron and a Logistic Squadron. The subordinate Navy units, in descending order, include the Naval Fleet Command to the fleet, group, and ship levels. The Marine Corps units, like those of the Army, extend from the Marine Corps Headquarters, through division, regiment, battalion, company, and platoon.
Prior to recent reorganizations which consolidated and simplified the command structure, Navy GHQ oversaw operational and land-based forces consisting of:
- 2 destroyer fleets and 1 frigate fleet;
- 1 amphibious landing fleet and 1 amphibious landing vessel fleet;
- 1 submarine group;
- 1 mine vessel fleet and 1 mine-sweeper/layer fleet;
- 1 logistical service fleet and 1 logistical rescue group;
- 1 Hai-chiao speedboat group
- 1 anti-submarine helicopter group
- 1 Hai-feng shore-based missile group
- 2 marine divisions, 1 landing tank regiment, and 1 operational service regiment.
The 1st Naval District, headquartered at Tsoying, is the site of the Fleet Command, the base for southern patrol and transport aviation squadrons, officer training, the Naval Academy and the Naval shipyard (at Kaohsiung). The 2nd District at Makung, Pescadores includes several attack squadrons and naval shipyard and training facilities. The 3rd Naval District at Keelung is the headquarters for northern patrol and transport aviation squadrons.
Logistical support is carried out by one fleet of auxiliary craft while another fleet of auxiliary craft is assigned to disaster relief duties. The Navy's coastal SAM batteries employ Hsiung-feng missiles which resemble US Harpoon missiles.
The Chinese Naval Academy (CNA) offers cadets courses similar to those in civilian colleges of science and engineering. During a four-year training period, they take special military courses, including navigation, marine engineering, equipment maintenance, and serve an apprenticeship aboard ship. Just prior to graduation, CNA cadets sail abroad in an armada dubbed the "Fleet of Friendship" for two months of hands-on training. In recent years, the "Fleet of Friendship" has sailed as far as the Middle East and South Africa. During the long voyage, future naval officers are given a chance to practice their combat skills and tactics and to enrich their navigational experience.
Each Navy logistics command center has the capacity to provide depot maintenance for the new generation warships and other type of military vessels. The Marine Corps factory has the capability to provide depot maintenance for LVT landing vessel. 20 private satellite factories are contracted to produce parts and components for military vessels.
