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.
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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) 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.
563.0 feet (171.60 meters) Length
55.0 feet (16.76 meters) Beam
31.5 feet (9.60 meters) Draught
7,300 tons Displacement
4 x General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines developing 80,000 horsepower driving 2 x Shafts under stern. Propulsion
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).
2 x Sikorsky SH-60 "Seahawk" medium-lift, LAMPS III-equipped, navy helicopters (or similar) supported from stern-based hangar/helipad section.
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