The Republic of China Navy (中華民國海軍; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó Hǎijūn) is the maritime branch of the Armed forces of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The ROC Navy's primary mission is to defend ROC territories and the sea lanes that surround Taiwan against a blockade, attack, or possible invasion by forces of the People's Republic of China. Operations include maritime patrols in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, as well as counter-strike and counter-invasion operations during wartime. The Republic of China Marine Corps functions as a branch of the Navy.

The ship prefix for ROCN combatants is ROCS (Republic of China Ship); an older usage is CNS (Chinese Navy Ship).

Organization

• Navy General Headquarters (海軍總司令部)

Sources:

History

1911–1949

See also Naval history of China.The precursor to the modern ROC Navy was established as the Ministry of the Navy in the Provisional Government of the Republic of China in 1911 following the overthrow of the Qing dynasty. During the period of warlordism that scarred China in the 1920s and 1930s the ROCN remained loyal to the Kuomintang government of Sun Yat-sen instead of the warlord government in Beijing. During that time and throughout World War II, the ROCN concentrated mainly on riverine warfare as the poorly equipped ROCN was not even close to Japan over ocean or coast.

Following World War II, a number of Japanese destroyers and scrapped US ships were transferred to the ROC Navy. During the Chinese Civil War, the ROCN was involved in the protection of supply convoys and the ultimate withdrawal of the ROC Government and over 1+ million refugees to Taiwan in 1949. The subsequent reorganization and reestablishment of the Navy after evacuation to Taiwan is referenced in the lyrics of the post 1949 ROC Navy Song "The New Navy" (新海軍).

1949–Present

Following the relocation of the ROC government to Taiwan, the ROCN was involved in a number of commando attack escorts, evacuation and transport more soldiers displaced and later to provide patrols and resupply operations to Kinmen and Matsu in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea offshore islands.

Since the 1990s the Navy has grown in importance as the emphasis of the ROC's military doctrine moves towards countering a possible PRC blockade, as well as offshore engagement. The ROCN has been working hard to expand its capability in electronic and anti-submarine warfare, as well as the replacement of its current antiquated fleet.

Equipment

See also: List of ships of the Republic of China Navy

ROC Navy Kang Ding-class (Lafayette-class) frigate with S-70C helicopter

Traditionally, most ROCN equipment is purchased from the United States, though several ships have been built domestically under licence or through domestic development. The ROCN has also purchased Lafayette class frigates from France and Zwaardvis class submarines from the Netherlands as well as well as four US Kidd class (renamed Keelung) destroyers originally intended for Iran.

Despite the ROCN refurbishing and extending the service life of its vessels and equipment, it has suffered from procurement difficulties due to pressures exerted from the Chinese Government. It has only two useful submarines. The US has approved sales of eight new diesel powered submarines but lacks the manufacturing capability to make the engines; at the same time, threats from China prevent the necessary technology transfer from other countries. Furthermore, the Taiwanese legislature did not approve the budget and thereby slowed the opportunity to procure the badly needed underwater defense capability.

On 2007-09-12, an arms notification was sent to Congress concerning an order for 12 P-3C Orion patrol aircraft and 3 "spare aircraft", along with an order for 144 SM-2 Block IIIA surface-to-air missiles. A contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin to refurbish the 12 P-3C Orion aircraft for Taiwan on 2009-03-13, with deliveries to start in 2012.

On 2008-10-03, an arms notification was sent to Congress for an order for 32 submarine launched Harpoon Block II missiles. At least a portion of these missiles will be installed on the navy's Hai-Lung class submarines.

Surface Combatants

ROCS Kee Lung (DDG-1801), During National Day 2007 Celebrations

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|Kee Lung class destroyer (Kidd class)|| 4 || Ingalls Shipbuilding ||
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| Cheng Kung class frigate (Oliver Hazard Perry class) || 8 || CSBC Corporation, Taiwan ||
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| Chi Yang class frigate (Knox class) || 8 || Lockheed Shipbuilding/Avondale Shipyard ||
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| Kang Ding class frigate (La Fayette class) || 6 || DCNS ||
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ROCN Cheng Kung-class frigate

Submarines

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| Hai Lung class submarine (Zwaardvis class) || 2 || Rotterdam Dockyard Company Submarines ||
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| Hai Shih class submarine (Tench class) || 2 || Portsmouth Naval Shipyard ||
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Fast Attack Missile Craft

ROC Navy Hai Lung class submarine submarine

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| Ching Chiang class patrol ship|Ching Chiang class patrol ship || 12 || CSBC Corporation, Taiwan ||
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| Kuang Hua VI class missile boat || 30 (class completed by 2011) || CSBC Corporation, Taiwan ||
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| Hai Ou class missile boat|Hai Ou class missile boat (Dvora class) || 50 most built in Taiwan || CSBC Corporation, Taiwan ||
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Minesweepers

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|Yung Yang class minesweeper (Aggressive class) || 4 || JM Martinac Shipbuilding Corp ||
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|Yung Feng class (MMW50 class) || 4 || Abeking & Rasmussen ||
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Amphibious

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| Hsuhai class (Anchorage class) || 1 || General Dynamics-Quincy ||
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| Chung Ho class (Newport class) || 2 || Philadelphia Naval Shipyard ||
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| Chung Hai class (LST-1) || 10 || Newport News Shipbuilding ||
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|Mei Chin class (LSM-1) || 4 || Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. ||
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Support

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| Wu Yi class fleet oiler || 1 || CSBC Corporation, Taiwan ||
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| Ta De (Bolster class) ARS-556 salvage tug - ex-USS Recovery (ARS-43)|| 1 || Basalt Rock Inc. ||
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| Tai Hu (Diver class) salvage tug ex-USS Grapple (ARS-7) || 1 ||Basalt Rock Inc. ||
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| Ta Tung (Cherokee class) fleet tug || 1 || Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. ||
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| Ta Kuan oceanographic research ship || 1 || Fincantieri, Muggiano, La Spezia, Italy ||
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| Chung Bai (Patapsco class) coastal logistics tankers || 2 || Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. ||
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| Wu Kang class coastal transports || 6 || CSBC Corporation, Taiwan ||
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| Wan An coastal transport || 1 || CSBC Corporation, Taiwan ||
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| Tai Wu coastal transport || 1 || CSBC Corporation, Taiwan ||
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Aircraft

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| Grumman S-2 Tracker || || Maritime patrol aircraft || S-2T Turbo Tracker || 26, half operational || Originally 32 to were upgraded to T version, but only 27 converted
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| Lockheed P-3C Orion || || Maritime patrol aircraft || P-3C Orion || 12 || Ordered, plus 3 spare airframes
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| Sikorsky S-70 Seahawk || || Naval utility/ASW helicopter || S-70C(M)-1/2 Thunderhawk || 19 || Out of 10+11 ordered
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| Hughes 500MD/ASW Defender || || ASW helicopter|| Hughes 500MD/ASW Defender || 9 || Out of original 13 ordered
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See also

• People's Liberation Army Navy

• Political status of Taiwan

References & notes