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All target ships destroyed in Penghu live-fire drill

ROC Central News Agency

2013/04/17 16:59:19

Taipei, April 17 (CNA) Military officials said Wednesday that all the target ships in a live-fire anti-landing drill held that day in outlying Penghu County to test Taiwan's ability to thwart a Chinese invasion were successfully destroyed.

All five of the target ships were destroyed in the drill, part of Taiwan's annual Han Kuang series of military exercises, Lt. Col. Ma Chao-jun told the media afterward.

The nearly 50-minute drill, which was inspected by President Ma Ying-jeou, also featured the indigenous Thunderbolt-2000 multiple rocket launcher system, seen in action publicly for the first time.

A total of 81 rockets were fired from nine truck-mounted launchers, the military said.

All the rockets successfully reached their targets, said Lt. Col. Edward Huang.

Although drill was carried out without major problems, one participating patrol vessel encountered a failure of its 76 mm naval gun just before the weapon was scheduled to fire, the Navy said.

The problem was resolved immediately, but the shelling was cancelled because the Chingchiang-class vessel had already passed through the designated area for the shelling, the Navy said.

Live ammunition was used in this year's Han Kuang exercises for the first time since 2008, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

Many other items in Taiwan's arsenal were used in the drill, including F-16A/B jet fighters, IDF fighters, F-5E fighters, a Chengkung-class frigate and Kuang Hua VI fast-attack boats.

AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters and OH-58D reconnaissance helicopters, M60A3 battle tanks, 155mm howitzers and 120-mm mortars were also deployed in the drill, which simulated an attack by Chinese forces.

In all, 21 types of weapons were deployed and 7,682 military personnel participated, the ministry said.

The Han Kuang exercises, Taiwan's most important war games, involve the Army, the Air Force and the Navy and are designed to test their joint combat capabilities.

Wednesday's drill was a part of the first round of this year's Han Kuang exercises being held around the clock for five consecutive days and concluding April 19.

A second round, slated for July, will consist of computer-aided war games, the ministry said.

Taiwan and China were intense rivals during the Cold War, but relations have thawed over time and ties have grown closer since 2008, when Ma came to office.

(By Elaine Hou)