The Republic of China (ROC) Navy (Taiwan’s Navy), took delivery of its first Tuo Chiang-class batch 2 catamaran corvette on March 11, 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.
Tuo Chiang-class batch 1 and batch 2
There are two sub-batches among the follow-on Tuo Chiang-class corvettes. The first sub-batch—ROCS Ta Chiang (PGG-619), Fu Chiang (PGG-620), Hsu Chiang (PGG-621), Wu Chiang (PGG-623), An Chiang (PGG-625), and Wan Chiang (PGG-626)—is fitted with the STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 fire-control radar. The second sub-batch, beginning with Tan Chiang, features the Leonardo NA-30S Mk2 fire-control radar. Construction of the five ships in the second sub-batch began in 2024, and they are scheduled for delivery between March and December 2026.
Because the pronunciation of the number “4” in Taiwanese Mandarin is similar to that of the word “death,” it is widely regarded as unlucky. As a result, the ROC Navy and Coast Guard tend to avoid assigning hull numbers that end in 4, although there are several exceptions.
Coast Guard variant of the Tuo Chiang class
The Tuo Chiang-class also has a Coast Guard variant known as the Anping-class. The Anping-class is based on the upgraded and modified design of the Tuo Chiang-class.
The Anping-class is fitted with 2.75-inch rockets, a 20 mm gun, and a remote weapon station. In wartime, the ships can also be equipped with a Phalanx Close-In Weapon System, Stinger surface-to-air missiles, and up to 16 Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles. Since 2022, Anping-class ships have launched Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III missiles multiple times during tests and during Han Kuang, Taiwan’s annual large-scale military exercise.
