Navy maneuvers ahead of Lunar New Year
ROC Central News Agency
2012/01/18 18:01:37
By Chen Pei-huang and Jamie Wang
Taipei, Jan. 18 (CNA) The Navy dispatched two of its four Kidd-class destroyers and anti-submarine warfare helicopters Wednesday to take part in a maneuver off the coast of Yilan, northeastern Taiwan, ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday that begins Jan. 22.
Four Kuang Hua VI-class missile boats opened the drill with an anti-ship exercise off the coast of Suao Township, followed by a demonstration of S-70C ASW search and rescue helicopters.
A close-quarters showing by the two Kidd-class destroyers -- the Keelung and the Suao -- was the highlight of the exercise. The Navy said the close distance between the two ships increased the difficulty of the operation and required instant and sensitive responses from the officers and crew.
They used colored hats and signal flags to communicate, using 82 separate types of signals.
Taiwan purchased the four destroyers from the United States in 2001. The Keelung and the Suao were commissioned in December 2005, while the Tsoying and the Makung joined the fleet in November 2006.
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