ROCS Tian Dan

The Cheng Kung class are based on the long-hulled version of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates of the United States Navy but with modifications. The class was intended to be built in two batches, with Batch I built to the standard design, and Batch II constructed to an improved design, incorporating new technologies.[1] The standard initially had a light displacement of 3,100 long tons (3,100 t) and a full load displacement of 4,200 long tons (4,300 t). They initially measured 455 feet 5 inches (138.81 m) long overall and 413 ft 1 in (125.91 m) at the waterline with a beam of 45 ft (14 m) and a maximum draft of 18 ft 8 in (5.69 m). They are powered by two General Motors LM-2500 gas turbines turning one shaft connected to a controllable pitch propeller, creating 41,000 shaft horsepower (31,000 kW). They also have two drop-down auxiliary propulsion units that create 720 hp (540 kW). This gives them a maximum speed of 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph).[1] They carry 587 long tons (596 t)[2] of fuel giving them a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).[1] The ships have four 1,000 kW diesel alternator sets for generating electricity. For additional stability in heavy seas, the ships have fin stabilizers. The frigates have a crew of 206 including 13 officers and an air group of 19.[2]

The frigates were initially armed with eight Hsiung Feng II SSMs placed in two box launchers located atop the superstructure aft of the bridge. They also mounted a Mark 13 launcher for 40 RIM-66 Standard MR surface-to-air missiles.[1] They have an OTO Melara 76-millimetre (3 in)/62 dual-purpose naval gun situated forward and two single-mounted Bofors 40 mm (1.6 in)/L70 guns. the 40 mm guns cannot be crewed while the 76 mm gun is firing due to blast effects.[2][lower-alpha 1] The Cheng Kung class mounts a 20 mm (0.79 in)/76 Phalanx close-in weapon system (CIWS) atop the hangar. Flanking the CIWS atop the hangar are two Type 75 20 mm/75 guns. For ASW, the frigates are armed with two triple-mounted 324 mm (12.8 in) Mk 32 torpedo tubes for Mark 46 torpedoes.[2]

The ships mount SPS-55 surface search radar, SPS-49(V)5 air search, Mark 92 fire control radar, STIR 24 missile fire control radar and Mark 90 Phalanx fire control radar. They are also equipped with DE 1160B hull-mounted sonar and are capable of using the ATAS towed passive sonar or the SQR-18A towed sonar. For electronic countermeasures, they mount the Chang Feng IV suite, which consists of the SLQ-32(V)5 radar warning system and the Sidekick radar jammer, and the SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo decoy system. The ships are equipped with the Prairie-Masker acoustic signature reduction system.[2] The ships came designed with a hangar and aft helicopter deck capable of operating two helicopters.[3] However, the ROCN had difficulty acquiring helicopters capable of operating from the class until they obtained the S-70C Thunderhawk helicopters from the United States. Though capable of operating two, only one is kept housed aboard the frigates. The ships use the Recovery Assist, Secure and Traverse (RAST) haul-down system for their helicopters.[1][3]

Tian Dan was initially ordered as the first ship of the second batch of the Cheng Kung class. However, the second batch was cancelled in October 1994. The ship was re-ordered from the China Shipbuilding Corporation at Kaoshuing, Taiwan, as a continuation of Batch I in January 1999, but funding for the vessel did not become available until December 2000.[8] The frigate was laid down on 21 December 2001 and was launched on 15 October 2002. Named for a famous Chinese commander, the ship was commissioned on 11 March 2004.[3] The Cheng Kung-class frigates make up the ROCN 146th Frigate Squadron.[8]

On 14 March 2014, Tian Dan, along with two of Taiwan's Coastguard patrol vessels, arrived in the South China Sea between Malaysia and Vietnam to join the multi-national search and rescue operation for the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 flight.[9]

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  ROCS Yueh Fei and ROCS Tian Dan on 24 October 2015
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  ROCS Pan Chao and ROCS Tian Dan on 23 November 2014
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  ROCS Tian Dan's Mark 32 torpedo tubes
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  ROCS Tian Dan's Mark 13 launchers
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  ROCS Tian Dan's Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III
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  ROCS Tian Dan's nameplate
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  ROCS Tian Dan's bulletin board

• Republic of China Navy

• Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
• Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 978-0-7106-2888-6.
• Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World (16th ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9-7-815911-4954-5.