Yushan-class landing platform dock

The Yushan-class landing platform dock (Chinese: 玉山級兩棲船塢運輸艦) is a class of landing platform dock built by CSBC Corporation, Taiwan for the Republic of China Navy (ROCN). Four ships are planned, with one ship launched in April 2021.[1]

ROCS Yushan docking at the Tsoying Naval Yard.
Class overview
NameYushan class
BuildersCSBC Corporation, Taiwan
Operators Republic of China Navy
Preceded byROCS Hsu Hai
In commission2023-Present
Planned4
Completed1
General characteristics
TypeLanding platform dock
Displacement10,600 t (10,400 long tons) standard
Length153 m (502 ft)
Beam23 m (75 ft)
Draught6.1 m (20 ft)
Speed21 knots (39 km/h)
Range7,000 mi (11,000 km)
CapacitySeveral AAV7 amphibious APCs
Troops673
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × Black Hawk or Seahawk helicopters
Aviation facilitiesFlight deck, two hangars

Description

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The Yushan class is heavily inspired by the San Antonio class shown here[2]

Yushan-class ships has a length of 153 m (502 ft), a beam of 23 m (75 ft), and their standard displacement is 10,000 t (9,800 long tons).[1] The class has a draught of 6.1 m (20 ft), maximum speed of 21 knots (39 km/h) and range of 7,000 mi (11,000 km).[3]

The ships are able to carry several AAV7 amphibious APCs along with 673 troops. The ships also has a single flight deck with two hangars able to accommodate Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk or the naval Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopters.[3]

The class is unusually well armed for a landing platform dock with a 76 mm gun, two Phalanx CIWS, and two modular missile launchers of either 8 Hsiung Feng II surface-to-surface missiles or 16 Hai Chien surface-to-air missiles.[3] They also have radar signature reducing features and electromagnetic pulse protection.[4]

The lead ship of the class cost $4.635 billion NTD ($163 million USD).[5][6]

The class is intended to fill both military and humanitarian roles,[7] as a command ship for amphibious operations, a mothership for the ROCN's small landing boats, and a general logistics transport capable of supplying islands without harbor facilities.[8]

History

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The Yushan class is intended to maintain the inventory of the ROCN's land platform docks at two ships. The lead ship of the class will fill the void left by the retirement of the ROCS Chung Cheng (formerly USS Comstock), while a planned second ship will replace the ROCS Hsu Hai (formerly USS Pensacola), which served in the Republic of China Navy since 1999.[1]

Design efforts began in early 2015 and were unveiled on 15 May 2016. The keel of the lead vessel was laid in June 2020.[9] Yushan was launched in April 2021, the launch ceremony was attended by President Tsai Ing-wen and Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng. President Tsai described the vessel as a “milestone” on Taiwan’s journey to naval shipbuilding self-sufficiency.[3]

The first ship of the class, Yushan, began her sea trials on 7 July 2022.[10] The ship was delivered on 30 September 2022 by CSBC Corporation, Taiwan.[11] Yushan was commissioned in June 2023.[12][13]

Ships of class

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 Pennant Number   Name   Builder   Launched   Commissioned   Status   Note 
LPD-1401 Yushan CSBC Corporation, Taiwan 12 April 2021 [14] 19 June 2023 Active
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBC Corporation launches first locally built LPD for RoCN". janes.com. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Taiwan's First LPD Launched by Local Shipbuilder CSBC". 13 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Yeo, Mike (13 April 2021). "Taiwan launches new amphibious vessel with anti-ship missiles". www.defensenews.com. Defense News. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Taiwan bolsters navy with unveiling of new amphibious warfare ship". www.reuters.com. Reuters. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  5. ^ Chung, Lawrence (13 April 2021). "Taiwan launches amphibious transport dock to meet defence needs in South China Sea". www.scmp.com. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  6. ^ Yu, Matt; Yeh, Joseph. "Navy holds mast-stepping ceremony for indigenous landing platform dock". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  7. ^ Chen, Kelvin. "Taiwan Navy's domestically produced transport ship to be launched this month". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  8. ^ "國艦國造「萬噸船塢登陸艦」玉山軍艦:登陸、攻擊、救災都能包辦的海上瑞士刀!". 戰略風格編輯部. 2021-04-13. Archived from the original on 2021-09-11. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
  9. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (13 April 2021). "Taiwan's First LPD Launched By Local Shipbuilder CSBC". www.navalnews.com. Naval News. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Taiwan launches new amphibious vessel with anti-ship missiles". www.navyrecognition.com. Navy Recognition. 7 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Taiwan takes delivery of locally built amphibious assault ship". Jane's.
  12. ^ Hetherington, William; Su-wei, Wu. "Navy launches Taiwan-made landing platform dock". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  13. ^ Sheng-hung, Wu; Yeh, Joseph; Kao, Evelyn. "Yushan amphibious transport dock commissioned into service". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBC Corporation launches first locally built LPD for RoCN". Jane's.
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