Cheng Kung-class frigate

ROCS Cheng Kung (1101) and ROCS Chi Kuang (1105)
Class overview
Name	Cheng Kung
Builders	China Shipbuilding Corporation
Operators	Republic of China Navy
In commission	1993–Present
Completed	8
General characteristics
Type	Patrol Frigate, Guided Missile
Displacement	4,103 long tons (4,169 t) full load
Length	453 ft (138 m)
Beam	46.95 ft (14.31 m)
Propulsion	2 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, 41,000 shp (31 MW); 2 × Auxiliary Propulsion Units, 350 hp (.25 MW)
Speed	over 29 knots (54 km/h)
Complement	235
Sensors and processing systems	Radar: AN/SPS-49, AN/SPS-55, Mk 92 fire control system Sonar: SQS-56
Electronic warfare & decoys	SLQ-32(V)2 Mark 36 SRBOC
Armament	1 x Mk 13 Launcher for 40 RIM-66 Standard MR missiles 2 × triple Mark 32 torpedo tubes with Mark 46 anti-submarine torpedoes 1 × OTO Melara 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun 2 × Bofors 40mm/L70 guns (except Tian Dan (田單, PFG-1110)) 1 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS point defense cannon 4 × Hsiung Feng II and 4 × Hsiung Feng III SSM On PFG-1101 and PFG-1105 only, others still have 8 HF-2 SSM until major refit/overhaul. Sky Bow air defense missiles may replace SM-1 missiles and Mk 13 launcher in due course
Aircraft carried	2 × S-70C(M)-1/2

The Cheng Kung class frigates are based upon the U.S. Oliver Hazard Perry class and are currently serving in the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy (ROCN). The frigates were produced under license by China Shipbuilding Corporation in Kaohsiung, Taiwan throughout the 1990s as part of the "Kuang Hua 1" Patrol Frigate, Guided project and served as the mainstay of the ROCN's theater air defense prior to the ROCN's acquisition of Keelung (Kidd) class destroyers in 2005.

In order to control new weapon systems on the frigate, which Mk 92 can't integrate at the time, a second CDS, H930 MCS was installed in order to control the 8 HF-2 (or four HF-2 and four HF-3 on certain ships) and the two Bofors 40mm/L70 guns. But Mk 92's Harpoon mode was deleted due to US government refused to sell Harpoon to Taiwan at the time. Also deleted were some of Mk 92's ASW modes, plus refusing to sell SQR-19 Towed Array sonar system.

Originally only two lead ships were going to be built to this standard, the rest of the six ships in the class were going to be built under ACS (Advance Combat System) project with a lighter AEGIS (that later became SPY-1F), 48-64 cell Mark 41 Vertical Launch System and other systems, and a 15-meter plug-in section. Delay in design and budget changed the project to four ships in PFG-1101 configuration and last 4 ships in ACS configuration, then more delays changed to 6+2, then 7+1. By mid 1990s, ROCN decided ACS project was too risky, too long and too over budget, finally canceling it after the 7th ship was built to the PFG-1101 standard. However, enough of the long lead items were already purchased that in late 2000 ROCN decided to go ahead with the 8th ship's construction with PFG-1101 configuration—minus the two Bofors 40mm/L70 guns, after getting necessary funding.

Upgrades

The Cheng Kung class was initially fitted with 8 × Hsiung Feng II ship-to-ship missiles, instead of the Harpoon missiles that the Oliver Hazard Perry class use. In 2001, ROCS Cheng Kung (成功, PFG-1101) was refitted with four Hsiung Feng III missiles, replacing four of the Hsiung Feng II missiles. In 2009 ROCS Chi Kuang (繼光, PFG-1105) was seen with same configuration. All the other ships in the class will received the new missile upon their major overhaul.

Originally, all HF-2 missiles were to be removed, while 4-8 Harpoon to be carried in Mk 13 launcher's magazine (with necessary upgrade to the ship's Mk 92 CDS which had Harpoon control mode and functionality deleted when ship was built), and 8 HF-3 supersonic AShM to put in place of 8 HF-2 AShM, giving these ships total of 12-16 anti-ship missiles. But the Legislative Yuan refused to release funding for the CDS upgrade, and ROCN had to settle for just 4 HF-2 and 4 HF-3 configuration. Also all ships being installed with Link 16 datalink.

In 2014, the Republic of China Navy revealed plan to develop a naval air defense missile system derived from the land-based Sky Bow system. The Cheng Kung class frigates are speculated to be one of the potential platforms to carry the system.

Ships

Ships in class
Name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Home port	Status
ROCS Cheng Kung (成功, PFG-1101)	December 21, 1990	October 5, 1991	May 7, 1993	Pescadores	Active
ROCS Cheng Ho (鄭和, PFG-1103)	October 29, 1991	October 15, 1992	March 28, 1994	Pescadores	Active
ROCS Chi Kuang (繼光, PFG-1105)	October 30, 1992	October 3, 1993	March 4, 1995	Pescadores	Active
ROCS Yueh Fei (岳飛, PFG-1106)	September 5, 1993	August 28, 1994	February 26, 1996	Pescadores	Active
ROCS Tzu I (子儀, PFG-1107)	August 7, 1994	July 13, 1995	January 9, 1997	Pescadores	Active
ROCS Pan Chao (班超, PFG-1108)	July 25, 1995	July 3, 1997	December 16, 1997	Pescadores	Active
ROCS Chang Chien (張騫, PFG-1109)	December 4, 1995	May 14, 1997	December 1, 1998	Pescadores	Active
ROCS Tian Dan (田單, PFG-1110)	February 22, 2001	October 17, 2002	March 11, 2004	Pescadores	Active

See also

•   - Frigate
  • - Absalon-class frigate
  • - F100-class frigate
  • - Thetis-class ocean patrol vessel

External links

• Globalsecurity.org Article
• Cheng Kung Class Frigates, Taiwan