On September 29th, 1999, the Republic of China Navy (ROCN of Taiwan) received, through the Security Assistance Program (SAP) with the United States, USS Brewton (FF-1086), a Cold War-era frigate warship. The vessel was taken into extended service with Taiwan was ROCS Fong Yang (FFG-933) where she continues in active service today. The warship was originally ordered by the USN in August of 1966, laid down by Avondale Shipyard in Louisiana on October 2nd, 1970, and officially launched on July 24th, 1971. The USN took her into inventory in June of 1972 and she was formally commissioned on July 8th, 1972 - serving until decommissioned on July 2nd, 1992.
Her name was struck from the Naval Register on January 11th, 1995, preparing her way to the ROCN. Six warships of the Know-class now belong to the Chi Yang-class in the inventory of the ROCN. ROCS Fong Yang represents the lead ship.
Today the warship exists very much as she did in her final days with the USN. She is a Knox-class frigate of which 55 were originally planned and 46 completed (nine being cancelled while all 46 have been retired from USN service). The warship displaces 3,205 tons and has a length of 438 feet, a beam of 46.8 feet and a draught of 24.8 feet. Power is from 2 x CE boiler units developing 1,200psi feeding a single Westinghouse geared steam turbine driving 35,000 horsepower to a single shaft astern. The warship can make headway speeds just over 27 knots in ideal conditions.
Aboard is a typical operating crew of 285 including eighteen officers. The ship carries the AN/SPS-40 air-search radar, the AN/SPS-67 surface-search radar, and the AN/SQS-26 series sonar fit. An AN/SQR-18 towed sonar array is also fitted. Electronic Warfare (EW) is handled by the AN/SLQ-32 EWS suite.
Installed armament is 1 x 5" /54 caliber Mk 42 turreted deck gun over the forecastle, 1 x 8-cell Mk 16 missile launcher cleared to fire the "Harpoon" anti-ship missile as well as Anti-Submarine ROCkets (ASROCs) - this installed aft of the turret, and 4 x Mk 46 torpedo launchers. This broad array of solutions allows the warship to cover multiple mission sets along the Taiwanese coast, dealing with above-surface, surface, and undersea threats in short order.
Over the stern of the ship is a space for a single helicopter, typically a medium-class model equipped for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) sorties.
The ship's profile is conventional for a Cold War-era vessel: the bridge is installed aft and above the forecastle weapon systems with a commanding view of the sea ahead. Aft of the bridge section is the main mast capped with various sensors and communications systems. The smoke funnel is of a low-profile design and the helipad is seated over the stern end of the hull. The ship lacks any modern stealth design styling.
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ROCS Fong Yang (FFG-933); ROCS Fen Yang (FFG-934); ROCS Lan Yang (FFG-935); ROCS Hwai Yang (FFG-937); ROCS Ning Yang (FFG-938); ROCS Yi Yang (FFG-939) Ships-in-Class
Offshore Bombardment
Offshore bombardment / attack of surface targets / areas primarily through onboard ballistic weaponry.
Land-Attack
Offshore strike of surface targets primarily through onboard missile / rocket weaponry.
Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.
Airspace Denial / Deterrence
Neutralization or deterrence of airborne elements through onboard ballistic of missile weaponry.
Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.
OVER-THE-HORIZON
An Over-the-Horizon operational capability is granted to the vessel, typically through launched fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft.
MISSILE ARMAMENT
The vessel supports the launching of missiles against airborne, waterborne, or land-based targets at range; typical of modern designs.
TORPEDOES
Ability to launch torpedoes against ocean-going targets.
ANTI-SUBMARINE ROCKETS
Ability to launch salvo of rockets against submarine threats.
438.0 feet (133.50 meters) Length
46.8 feet (14.26 meters) Beam
24.8 feet (7.56 meters) Draught
3,205 tons Displacement
2 x CE boiler units feeding 1 x Westinghouse geared steam turbine developing 35,000 horsepower to 1 x Shaft astern. Propulsion
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