Taiwan Navy Takes Delivery of the First Tuo Chiang-Class Batch 2 Catamaran Corvette
17th March 2026
A low-profile handover ceremony for ROCS Tan Chiang (PGG-627) was held at Lungteh Shipbuilding’s yard in Yilan. So far, neither the Ministry of National Defense, the ROC Navy, nor the shipbuilder has issued an official statement or press release regarding the delivery.
The Tuo Chiang-class corvette is designed to employ hit-and-run tactics to counter Chinese naval vessels and has been dubbed a “carrier killer” by some Taiwanese media outlets. It can reach a top speed of 44–45 knots and has an operational range of 1,800–2,000 nautical miles. The class is armed with Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles, an OTO Melara 76 mm main gun, and a Phalanx Close-In Weapon System.
The follow-on ships of the class incorporate a number of upgrades and modifications, including the addition of TC-2N surface-to-air missiles, which are not fitted on the prototype. These improved vessels have a displacement of 685 tons, slightly higher than the 600-ton prototype, and are the first small combatants in the Taiwanese Navy equipped with an air-defense capability.
And I’ll bet it doesn’t have the problems of the U.S. LCS class.