- Yes
- No
History
In the mid 1970’s the Republic of China navy wanted a small and fast vessel to mount their newly built Hsiung Feng 1 missile. They first used their Japanese built PT-1 and 2 torpedo boats as the test platforms to see if the plan was feasible and after successful tests concluded it was the plan to build a fleet of these small vessels was approved. The hull however was changed from the PT-1 type to an Israeli Dvora class type of which Taiwan had ordered 2. They more or less copied the Dvora design (main difference is 3 propellor shafts instead of 2) and mounted 2 Hsiung Feng 1 missiles near the stern. Later in 1994 the missiles would be moved up slightly to make room for a T-75 25mm gun. The first Hai Ou class missile speedboats would be commissioned in 1979 and were incorporated into the Hai jiao Brigade. They replaced the former torpedo speedboat brigade made up of PT-1, 2, and 4 US PT boats.
Two original Dvora class boats were also incorporated as FABG-5 & 6, one way to identify them from others is their “A” shaped mast. The two prototypes FABG-1 & 2 had a tall rectangular mast with the missiles closer to the stern of the ship. They were given to Paraguay in 1994 and their original masts can still be seen on the boats.
Their main mission was to be a rapid strike force in case of war however they mainly did patrol duties and as aggressors in training exercises. In 2011 boats No. 53 and 59 participated in a stealth test where No. 53 was coated in stealth paint and cloth while No. 59 was the control. In the tests No.53 was located on radar much later than No.59 concluding the stealth technologies success.
They would continue their service until 2012 when the last of them were decommissioned due to extreme hull fatigue and replaced by the Kuang Hua VI missile boats which are more well suited to the rough seas near Taiwan.
Two of them were given to Paraguay and 4 to Gambia with their missile systems removed.
One of the first two prototype vessels. Note missiles are further back near the stern.
One of the original Dvora class with a short “A” shaped mast
Specifications
Crew: 8
Displacement: 47 tons
Length: 22.8 meters (75 feet)
Width: 5.48 meters (18 feet)
Waterline: 2 meters (6.6 feet)
Propulsion: 3 x MTU331TC92 diesel engines (7,815 HP total), 3 propeller shafts
Top speed: 36 knots
GS/UPS-60X Navigation radar
AN/SPG-21A Hai Ou type 2 fire control radar system
Mk35 Mod3 Optical director
Countermeasures
4 x AV-2 chaff rocket
Rocket explodes and releases chaff 1-2 minutes after launch. Chaff cloud is around 80 square meters and can last up to 15 minutes depending on wind conditions.
Mainly jams X, C, and S band radars
WD-2A ESM
Weapons
2 x Browning M2 0.50 cal
1 x T-75 25mm
2 x Hsiung Feng 1 missile
Spoiler
Weight: 537.5 kg
Length: 3.43 m
Width: 1.34 m
Diameter: 34 cm
Warhead weight: 150kg
Max speed: 0.68 Mach
Range: 40 km
Guidance: initial optical guidance, midway radar wave guidance, terminal semi active radar guidance
After launch it climbs to 70-100 m to receive radio guidance signals from the launching vessel. When reaching with 7.5 km of the target the fire control radar locks on and starts semi active radar guidance. The missile altitude is then lowered to 20 m then when it’s 1.2 km away from the enemy it can enter a sea skimming mode, dropping altitude to 3-5 m.
Chaff launchers and 0.50 cal location
T-75 20mm gun
Sources