Republic of China Navy Fleet Inventory 🇹🇼

The Republic of China Navy (ROCN), commonly referred to as the Taiwanese Navy, is the maritime branch of Taiwan's Armed Forces. Its primary mission is to defend Taiwan's territorial waters, safeguard its maritime interests, and contribute to the overall national defense strategy aimed at deterring aggression, particularly from the People’s Republic of China. The navy also plays a vital role in anti-piracy efforts, humanitarian missions, and disaster relief.

Taiwan’s naval assets are diverse, incorporating a mix of domestic designs and foreign acquisitions. The fleet comprises destroyers, frigates, corvettes, submarines, patrol boats, and auxiliary ships. Notable among these are the Kee Lung-class destroyers, which were formerly American Kidd-class vessels, and the Cheng Kung-class frigates, which are based on the U.S. Oliver Hazard Perry-class design. The navy also operates a modest fleet of submarines, which currently consists of two Dutch-built Hai Lung-class submarines and two older Hai Shih-class submarines.

The Taiwanese Navy possesses capabilities across a range of naval warfare areas, including anti-ship, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare. This is facilitated by a variety of weapon systems, such as the Hsiung Feng and Tien Kung missile families, which equip many of its surface vessels. While historically the ROCN's focus has been more on surface warfare, there is a concerted effort to improve its undersea and anti-submarine capabilities, given the evolving threat perceptions.

In terms of operational structure, the navy is organized into various fleets and flotillas. Key naval bases include Tsoying Naval Base in Kaohsiung, which is the primary base for the ROCN, and Suao Naval Base, among others. These bases support a variety of operational and logistical needs, including training, maintenance, and rapid deployment.

However, the navy faces several challenges, primarily arising from the ongoing military modernization of the People’s Republic of China and its increasing maritime assertiveness. The quantitative and qualitative gap between the two navies is widening, and Taiwan's navy faces an uphill battle to deter a well-funded and increasingly sophisticated opponent. The technological obsolescence of certain platforms, like the older submarines, also remains a concern.

Key facts

Official Name Republic of China Navy
Country🇹🇼 Taiwan
World rank#20
Ships in service95 (as of 2024)
Total ships95
Naval ensign

Ensign of Taiwan navy

Number of active ships by category

Ship category Active
Patrol boats 41
Frigates 21
Mine Warfare ships 11
Amphibious ships 8
Support ships 4
Submarines 4
Destroyers 4
Corvettes 2

Detailed inventory of Taiwanese Navy

Amphibious ships

Type Class Ship Name Hull Number Status Year
Tank Landing Ship Chung Hai ROCS Chung Chien LST-205 Active 1948
Chung Hai ROCS Chung Chie LST-218 Active 1955
Chung Hai ROCS Chung Ming LST-227 Active 1958
Chung Hai ROCS Chung Yeh LST-231 Active 1961
Chung He ROCS Chung Ho LST-232 Active 2000
Chung He ROCS Chung Ping LST-233 Active 1997
Dock Landing Ship Hsu Hai ROCS Hsu Hai LSD-193 Active 2000
Amphibious transport dock Yushan ROCS Yu Shan LPD-1401 Active -

Corvettes

Type Class Ship Name Hull Number Status Year
Corvette Tuo Chiang ROCS Tuo Chiang PGG-618 Active -
Tuo Chiang ROCS Ta Chiang PGG-619 Active -

Destroyers

Type Class Ship Name Hull Number Status Year
Destroyer Kee Lung ROCS Kee Lung DDG-1801 Active 2005
Kee Lung ROCS Su Ao DDG-1802 Active 2005
Kee Lung ROCS Tso Ying DDG-1803 Active 2006
Kee Lung ROCS Ma Kong DDG-1805 Active 2006

Frigates

Type Class Ship Name Hull Number Status Year
Frigate Cheng Kung ROCS Cheng Kung PFG-1101 Active 1993
Cheng Kung ROCS Cheng Ho PFG-1103 Active 1994
Cheng Kung ROCS Yueh Fei PFG-1106 Active 1996
Cheng Kung ROCS Tzu I PFG-1107 Active 1997
Cheng Kung ROCS Pan Chao PFG-1108 Active 1997
Cheng Kung ROCS Chang Chien PFG-1109 Active 1998
Cheng Kung ROCS Tian Dan PFG-1110 Active 2004
Cheng Kung ROCS Ming Chuan PFG-1112 Active 2018
Cheng Kung ROCS Feng Jia PFG-1115 Active 2018
Chi Yang ROCS Fong Yang FFG-933 Active 1999
Chi Yang ROCS Fen Yang FFG-934 Active 1993
Chi Yang ROCS Lan Yang FFG-935 Active 1995
Chi Yang ROCS Hwai Yang FFG-937 Active 1999
Chi Yang ROCS Ning Yang FFG-938 Active 1998
Chi Yang ROCS Yi Yang FFG-939 Active 1999
Kang Ding ROCS Kang Ding PFG-1202 Active 1996
Kang Ding ROCS Si Ning PFG-1203 Active 1996
Kang Ding ROCS Kun Ming PFG-1205 Active 1997
Kang Ding ROCS Di Hua PFG-1206 Active 1997
Kang Ding ROCS Wu Chang PFG-1207 Active 1997
Kang Ding ROCS Chen De PFG-1208 Active 1998

Mine Warfare ships

Type Class Ship Name Hull Number Status Year
Costal minelayer Min Jiang-class (4 ships) Active -
Costal Minehunter Yung Feng ROCS Yung Feng MHC-1301 Active -
Yung Feng ROCS Yung Chia MHC-1302 Active -
Yung Feng ROCS Yung Nien MHC-1303 Active -
Yung Feng ROCS Yung Shun MHC-1305 Active -
Minehunter Yung Jin ROCS Yung Jin MHC-1310 Active 2012
Yung Jin ROCS Yung An MHC-1311 Active 2012
Minesweepers Yung Yang (Yeong Yang) ROCS Yung Yang MSO-1306 Active 1994

Patrol boats

Type Class Ship Name Hull Number Status Year
Patrol Ships Ching Chiang ROCS Dan Chiang (淡江艦) PGG-605 Active 1994
Ching Chiang ROCS Sing Chiang (新江艦) PGG-606 Active 1994
Ching Chiang ROCS Feng Chiang (鳳江艦) PGG-607 Active 1994
Ching Chiang ROCS Tzeng Chiang (曾江艦) PGG-608 Active 1994
Ching Chiang ROCS Kao Chiang (高江艦) PGG-609 Active 1994
Ching Chiang ROCS Jin Chiang (金江艦) PGG-610 Active 1994
Ching Chiang ROCS Hsiang Chiang (湘江艦) PGG-611 Active 1994
Ching Chiang ROCS Tze Chiang (資江艦) PGG-612 Active 1994
Ching Chiang ROCS Po Chiang (鄱江艦) PGG-614 Active 1994
Ching Chiang ROCS Chang Chiang (昌江艦) PGG-615 Active 1994
Ching Chiang ROCS Chu Chiang (珠江艦) PGG-617 Active 1994
Missile Boats Kung Hua VI (Kwang-Hwa) (30 ships) Active -

Submarines

Type Class Ship Name Hull Number Status Year
Attack Submarine Hai Lung (Sea Dragon) ROCS Hai Lung SS-793 Active 1987
Hai Lung (Sea Dragon) ROCS Hai Hu SS-794 Active 1988
Hai Shih ROCS Hai Shih SS-791 Active 1973
Hai Shih ROCS Hai Bao SS-792 Active 1973

Support ships

Type Class Ship Name Hull Number Status Year
Survey ship Da-Quan ROCS Ta Kuan AGS-1601 Active 1995
Auxiliary General Communications Ship Kao Hsiang ROCS Kao Hsiung AGC-1 Active 1957
Fast Combat Support Ship Pan Shi ROCS Pan Shi AOE-532 Active -
Wu Yi ROCS Wu Yi AOE-530 Active 1990