Home Built Taiwanese Warships Set Sail

Sputnik News

15:38 31.03.2015

Taiwan launched its first two domestically built navy vessels on Tuesday.

The missile corvette and supply ship showed 'the government's determination to enhance our sea power' and improve shipbuilding capacity, President Ma Ying-jeou was quoted as saying by state-run Central News Agency.

The 500-ton twin-hulled corvette Tuo Jiang cost 2.1 billion Taiwanese dollars ($66.39 million USD) to build, the report said.

She is armed with the locally developed Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles, a 76-mm gun and Mark 46 torpedoes, the navy said, dpa reported.

The ship has a range of 2,000 nautical miles and can carry a crew of up to 41.

The supply ship Pan Shi cost four billion Taiwan dollars (130 million US dollars) to build. It can take a crew of up to 165 and has a range of 8,000 nautical miles. The supply ship can reach 22 knots and has a displacement of 20,000 tons.

The Taiwanese Navy has pledged to expand its combat capabilities.

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