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KIDD-CLASS DESTROYERS TO BE COMMISSIONED INTO SERVICE THURSDAY

ROC Central News Agency

2006-11-01 14:44:36

    Taipei, Nov. 1 (CNA) Two Kidd-class destroyers are scheduled to be commissioned into service Thursday, which together with the two Kid-class destroyers delivered from the United States last December will form the backbone of the Republic of China Navy's fleet, a Navy source said Wednesday.

    The four Kidd-class destroyers -- featuring advanced missiles, three-dimensional radar, and superb air-defense, anti-submarine and battlefield management capabilities -- are almost on par with the Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers, which is built around the Aegis combat system, in terms of combat capability, according to ROC Navy Rear Adm. Pu Tse-chun.

    Taiwan struck a deal with the United States in 2003 on procuring the four Kidd-class destroyers at a cost of NT$24 billion. The ships were built in the late 1970s for Iran but were later mothballed after the deal was canceled amid souring U.S.-Iran relations.

    After taking delivery of the first two of the four Kidd-class destroyers -- christened the "Keelung" and the "Suao, " the ROC Navy accepted the third and fourth warships -- the "Makung" and the "Tsoyin" -- on Oct. 25 after the two vessels made a 52-day voyage across the Pacific Ocean.

    The "Makung" and "Tsoyin" departed from Charleston, South Carolina Sept. 3, making logistics stops at U.S. naval bases in Hawaii and Guam before reaching the Suao naval base in northeastern Yilan County. The two destroyers are scheduled to be commissioned into service in a grand ceremony to be held at the Suao naval base Thursday, Pu said.

    Pu said the ROC Navy takes great pride in taking delivery of the four Kidd-class destroyers in the shortest possible period of time and at the lowest possible cost.

    ROC Navy personnel have helped save some US$27 million in the cost of delivery of the fourth destroyer, which was originally scheduled to reach Taiwan in July 2007, Pu added.

    The naval personnel aboard the two destroyers have taken part in the vessels' demothballing and received rigorous training in equipment maintenance and weaponry systems operations during their nearly two-year stay at a shipyard in Charleston, South Carolina, Pu noted.

(By Deborah Kuo)

ENDITEM/Li