Yushan-class landing platform dock
The Yushan-class landing platform dock (Chinese: 玉山級兩棲船塢運輸艦) is a class of landing platform dock built by CSBC Corporation, Taiwan for the Republic of China Navy (ROCN). Four ships are planned, with one ship launched in April 2021.[1]
ROCS Yushan docking at the Tsoying Naval Yard. | |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | Yushan class |
Builders | CSBC Corporation, Taiwan |
Operators | Republic of China Navy |
Preceded by | ROCS Hsu Hai |
In commission | 2023-Present |
Planned | 4 |
Completed | 1 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Landing platform dock |
Displacement | 10,600 t (10,400 long tons) standard |
Length | 153 m (502 ft) |
Beam | 23 m (75 ft) |
Draught | 6.1 m (20 ft) |
Speed | 21 knots (39 km/h) |
Range | 7,000 mi (11,000 km) |
Capacity | Several AAV7 amphibious APCs |
Troops | 673 |
Armament |
|
Aircraft carried | 2 × Black Hawk or Seahawk helicopters |
Aviation facilities | Flight deck, two hangars |
Description
Yushan-class ships has a length of 153 m (502 ft), a beam of 23 m (75 ft), and their standard displacement is 10,000 t (9,800 long tons).[1] The class has a draught of 6.1 m (20 ft), maximum speed of 21 knots (39 km/h) and range of 7,000 mi (11,000 km).[3]
The ships are able to carry several AAV7 amphibious APCs along with 673 troops. The ships also has a single flight deck with two hangars able to accommodate Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk or the naval Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopters.[3]
The class is unusually well armed for a landing platform dock with a 76 mm gun, two Phalanx CIWS, and two modular missile launchers of either 8 Hsiung Feng II surface-to-surface missiles or 16 Hai Chien surface-to-air missiles.[3] They also have radar signature reducing features and electromagnetic pulse protection.[4]
The lead ship of the class cost $4.635 billion NTD ($163 million USD).[5][6]
The class is intended to fill both military and humanitarian roles,[7] as a command ship for amphibious operations, a mothership for the ROCN's small minelayers, and a general logistics transport capable of supplying islands without harbor facilities.
History
The Yushan class is intended to maintain the inventory of the ROCN's land platform docks at two ships. The lead ship of the class will fill the void left by the retirement of the ROCS Chung Cheng (formerly USS Comstock), while a planned second ship will replace the ROCS Hsu Hai (formerly USS Pensacola), which served in the Republic of China Navy since 1999.[1]
Design efforts began in early 2015 and were unveiled on 15 May 2016. The keel of the lead vessel was laid in June 2020.[8] Yushan was launched in April 2021, the launch ceremony was attended by President Tsai Ing-wen and Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng. President Tsai described the vessel as a “milestone” on Taiwan’s journey to naval shipbuilding self-sufficiency.[3]
The first ship of the class, Yushan, began her sea trials on 7 July 2022.[10] Yushan was commissioned in June 2023.[11][12]
The ship was delivered on 30 September 2022 by CSBC Corporation, Taiwan.Ships of class
Pennant Number | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Status | Note |
LPD-1401 | Yushan | CSBC Corporation, Taiwan | 12 April 2021 [13] | 19 June 2023 | Active |
Gallery
- ROCS Yushan during her launching ceremony
- Sky Sword 2 air defense missiles
- Well deck of Yushan
- Heads on Yushan
- Bunks on Yushan
- Operating theater on Yushan
References
- "Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBC Corporation launches first locally built LPD for RoCN". janes.com. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- "Taiwan's First LPD Launched by Local Shipbuilder CSBC". 13 April 2021.
- Yeo, Mike (13 April 2021). "Taiwan launches new amphibious vessel with anti-ship missiles". www.defensenews.com. Defense News. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- "Taiwan bolsters navy with unveiling of new amphibious warfare ship". www.reuters.com. Reuters. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- Chung, Lawrence (13 April 2021). "Taiwan launches amphibious transport dock to meet defence needs in South China Sea". www.scmp.com. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- Yu, Matt; Yeh, Joseph. "Navy holds mast-stepping ceremony for indigenous landing platform dock". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- Chen, Kelvin. "Taiwan Navy's domestically produced transport ship to be launched this month". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- Vavasseur, Xavier (13 April 2021). "Taiwan's First LPD Launched By Local Shipbuilder CSBC". www.navalnews.com. Naval News. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- "Taiwan takes delivery of locally built amphibious assault ship". Jane's.
- Hetherington, William; Su-wei, Wu. "Navy launches Taiwan-made landing platform dock". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- Sheng-hung, Wu; Yeh, Joseph; Kao, Evelyn. "Yushan amphibious transport dock commissioned into service". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- "Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBC Corporation launches first locally built LPD for RoCN". Jane's.