ROCS Kee Lung (DDG-1801)

Guided-Missile Destroyer Warship

Taiwan | 2005

"ROCS Kee Lung DDG-1801 began life with the USN as USS Scott DDG-995 before being retired and sold off to Taiwan to continue its ocean-going days."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/23/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

After its usefulness had run out for the United States Navy (USN), USS Scott (DDG-995), lead ship of the Kidd-class, was sold off to ally Taiwan to be operated as ROCS Kee Lung (DDG-1801). The Kidd-class, succeeding the old, aging Spruance-class ships, served the USN throughout the 1980s and 1990s in the guided-missile destroyer role until it was itself succeeded by the more potent / capable Arleigh Burke-class. In all, four warships were built to the Kidd standard and all four then became property of the Republic of China Navy (Taiwan). Refit work on the vessels before their transference to the ROCN was handled in North Charleston, South Carolina.

In its original guise, the destroyer was laid down on February 12th, 1979 and launched to sea on March 1st, 1980 as DDG-995. The ROCN took on the warship on May 30th, 2003 where it continues to serve in an active capacity today (2020). It was formally commissioned into service with its new owners on December 17th, 2005. Kee Lung (DDG-1801) represents the lead ship of the class joined by sisters ROCS Su Ao (DDG-1802), ROCS Tso Ying (DDG-1803), and ROCS Ma Kong (DDG-1805). Kee Lung is named after the port city of Keelung located in the north of the country. She was temporarily named "Chi-Teh" before taking on her official name.

As operated, ROCS Kee Lung showcases a displacement of 7,300 tons under standard loads and has a running length of 563 feet, a beam measuring 55 feet, and a draught down to 31.5 feet. Power is from 4 x General Electric LM2500-30 series gas turbine configuration developing 80,000 horsepower to drive 2 x Shafts under stern. This propels the warship to speeds of 33 knots under ideal conditions while ranging out to 6,000 nautical miles.

The warship carries SPS-48E air-search radar, two installations of the SPG-51D Missile Control Radar (MCR), SPS-55 surface-search radar, and the SPQ-9A gun Fire Control Radar (FCR). Additionally, the hull houses the SQS-53 sonar fit and the AN/SLQ-32(V)3 serves as the Electronic Warfare (EW) suite. Other systems include the Mark 36 SRBOC countermeasures system and AN/SLQ-25 "Nixie" towed sonar array.

Armament includes 2 x 5" (127mm) /54 caliber Mark 45 Dual-Purpose (DP) turreted deck guns, 2 x Mk 26 missile launchers supporting the RIM-66 SM-2MR Block IIIA (RIM-66K-2) Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) family, and 2 x 20mm Phalanx Mark 15 Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWSs). Beyond this are 2 x Mk 141 "Harpoon" anti-ship missile quadruple-cell launchers and 2 x Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes for the Mk 46 torpedo family.

A combination flightdeck /hangar arrangement is set over the stern that allows the ship to support up to 2 x Sikorsky SH-60/S-70C(M)-1/2 LAMPS III (or similar) navalized helicopters. These can be used for a plethora of overwater tasks including anti-ship / anti-submarine warfare, Search and Rescue (SAR), at-sea resupply, and general Over-the-Horizon (OtH) reconnaissance sorties.

The general profile of the vessel is typical of 1980s warship design including the hull lined with sections of rail and a slab-sided hull superstructure. Masts are of the exposed type with few stealth features seen throughout this aging arrangement (unlike those qualities see in modern warships around the world). Despite its age, the vessels serve a critical deterrent role in the Republic of China Navy and will continue to do so until better, more modern alternatives are found for the service.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for ROCS Kee Lung (DDG-1801).

4 x General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines developing 80,000 horsepower driving 2 x Shafts under stern.
Propulsion

33.0 kts
38.0 mph
Surface Speed

5,996 nm
6,900 miles | 11,104 km
Range

Structure
The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of ROCS Kee Lung (DDG-1801).

363
Personnel
Complement

563.0 ft
171.60 meters
O/A Length

55.0 ft
16.76 meters
Beam

31.5 ft
9.60 meters
Draught

7,300
tons
Displacement

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of ROCS Kee Lung (DDG-1801).

2 x 5" (127mm) Mark 45 "Dual-Purpose" (DP) turreted deck guns.
2 x Mark 26 Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) launchers (62 x SM-2 Block IIIA missiles).
8 x RGM-84 "Harpoon" anti-ship missiles in twin, quadruple-cell launcher units.
2 x 20mm Mark 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWSs).
2 x Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes (6 x Mark 46 torpedo series).

Air Arm
Available supported fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft featured in the design of ROCS Kee Lung (DDG-1801).

2 x Sikorsky SH-60 "Seahawk" medium-lift, LAMPS III-equipped, navy helicopters (or similar) supported from stern-based hangar/helipad section.

Ships-in-Class (4)
Notable series variants as part of the ROCS Kee Lung (DDG-1801) family line as relating to the Kee Lung-class (Kidd-class) group.

ROCS Tso Ying (DDG-1803) (fmr USS Kidd DDG-993); ROCS Su Ao (DDG-1802) (fmr USS Callaghan DDG-994); ROCS Kee Lung (DDG-1801) (fmr USS Scott DDG-995); ROCS Ma Kong (DDG-1805) (fmr USS Chandler DDG-996)

Operators
Global operator(s) of the ROCS Kee Lung (DDG-1801). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.

Shipbuilder(s): Ingalls Shipbuilding - USA

[ Taiwan ]

Going Further...
ROCS Kee Lung (DDG-1801) Guided-Missile Destroyer Warship appears in the following collections:

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