TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The 12th Tuo Chiang-class vessel was completed last Thursday, marking the end of the Tuo Chiang program.
The program included a total of 12 ships: one prototype and 11 follow-on vessels. They were built in two batches, six in the first batch and five in the second, per Liberty Times.
The ships have a stealthy catamaran design. They are equipped with Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles, as well as Sea Sword II missiles.
All six ships in the first batch of production vessels have already been delivered and entered service, Liberty Times reported. In the second batch, the eighth ship, the Dan Chiang, and the ninth ship, the Liu Chiang, were delivered to the Navy in March and May, respectively.
The 10th ship is currently undergoing sea trials, while the 11th and 12th ships are expected to begin related sea testing in the near future.
As Tuo Chiang-class ships are commissioned, the Navy is retiring older vessels and reallocating personnel to the new ships, according to Liberty Times. Of the 12 aging Ching Chiang-class patrol ships, nine have already been decommissioned.
Another is scheduled to be retired on June 1.
