Posted on 03/15/2016 6:35:41 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
The ROC Navy (Republic of China - Taiwan) has ordered three air defense catamaran corvettes based on the existing Tuo River-class. It is rumored the corvettes are expected to be fitted with Mk 41 VLS for a new naval variant of the Sky Bow III (Tien Kung III) surface to air missiles. It remains to be seen however if such large missiles can fit on a small platform like this catamaran corvette. Same thing goes for long range radar sensors.
The "Tuo River" Catamaran Corvette sailing under its own power. Picture: Internet/Lee Chung Wei
Other weapon system should include Sky Sword II (Tien Chen II) possily quad-packed in the VLS in a similar fashion to ESSM. Finally, the new air defense catamarans should be fitted with the Sea Oryx RAM-like weapon system which was unveiled last year, and which is set to be fitted on the Tuo River-class.
The Tuo River vessel project was first unveiled during TADTE 2013, the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition, in August 2013. The corvette was built by the Lung-De Shipbuilding Corporation under the "Swift Sea" program.
With a length of 60.4 meters this corvette size vessel is designed for littoral operations. A sign on display at the show indicated:
"In order to face the increasing threat across the Taiwan Strait, ROC Navy has developed a new type of Littoral Combat Ship, High Efficiency Wave Piercing Catamaran (WPC). This ship design increases ship mobility, and provides for greater stealth technology, larger capacity, and better adaptability to environmental conditions. This new class of ships is designed by Naval Shipbuilding Development Center (NSDC) and Ship Ocean Industries R&D Center (SOIC). The High Efficiency Wave Piercing Catamaran (WPC) is currently under construction by the Lund-De Shipbuilding Corporation."
(Excerpt) Read more at navyrecognition.com ...
Faster target?
LOL!
Who knew my Hobie Cat could have such a pretentious name!
The caption of the picture says it sailing under its own power but it looks like they’re backing into the tug boat/tender at the dock!
Sorry, just looked again. That black exhaust plume obscured the rear of the ship...
Outguns the LCS
Looks cool.
Hope it works better than our LCS.
A ‘wave piercing’ cat hull is a bit different than any Hobie.
Two possibilities "No" and "No way in hell"
An 8 cell VLS with Skybow comes to 50,000lb. The wnole ship is <600 ton.
I guess these make sense only if they are tied to a larger mothership.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.