Taiwan Military News Thread

[Jeff Head]

The Legislative Yuan passed an amendment changing the third article of the military service law (?), reducing the term of service from 40 years old to 36. In addition, article fifty was edited as well, expanded to include reserves or discharged soldiers, administration controlled by the Ministry of Defense.

The original wording for article three stated: Males 18 years of age begin military service January 1 of the next year (meaning of I turned 18 in 2000, my service would begin January 1 2001), up until the year in which they turn 40 years old, to be discharged December 31 of that year. Officers and Noncoms are not restricted by this rule.

The new wording basically just changes the 40 into 36.

Some pretty important new news from Taiwan:

Taiwan test-fires missile capable of attacking rival China
Posted on : Tue, 06 Mar 2007 12:36:00 GMT | Author : DPA
News Category : Asia (World)

Taipei - Taiwan has test-fired missiles capable of hitting major economic centres of rival China, local news media reported Tuesday, amid a new tension across the Taiwan Strait. Military-funded Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology test-fired the local-made Hsiung Feng 2E, which has a range of up to 1,000 kilometres, last month, Taipei-based United Daily News reported.

Quoting an unnamed institute source, the paper said the missile is able to hit Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shanghai - the economic centres of China in the south and central parts of the mainland.


It said President Chen Shui-bian inspected the test-firing along with Defence Minister Lee Jye.

The defence ministry, however, declined to comment on the report. The institute also refused to confirm whether it had test-fired the missile or not.

But parliamentarians of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said it explained why Chen was bold enough to say that Taiwan must declare independence.

They said the fact that Taiwan is capable of producing missiles that can threaten China has given Chen a strong boost.

If the ROC announces one day that it too has nuclear weapons, then a missile like this, particularly if available in any numbers, would level the playing field significantly as far as any invasion of Tawian goes. Just a thought.

 

[Clouded Leopard]

If the ROC announces one day that it too has nuclear weapons, then a missile like this, particularly if available in any numbers, would level the playing field significantly as far as any invasion of Tawian goes. Just a thought.

Yes, particularly so if CSIST modifies the HF-2Es so that Taiwan's 2 submarines can carry them. If the Taiwanese subs were in the Yellow Sea, they could strike Beijing with nuclear-tipped missiles.

 

[Deleted member 675]

Well Taiwan probably won't go nuclear - unless China gets very aggressive, or something - so let's not deal with such an unlikely scenario.

 

[The_Zergling]

Indeed. Taiwan has the technological capability to construct a nuke but doing so it self-destructive, especially considering that by doing so they lose the most important factor deterring an invasion: US support.

Keep in mind that it was the UNITED STATES that forced Taiwan to stop its nuclear program. They want to maintain the status quo and keep milking both sides as long as possible.

 

[hongkongpride]

"Yes, particularly so if CSIST modifies the HF-2Es so that Taiwan's 2 submarines can carry them. If the Taiwanese subs were in the Yellow Sea, they could strike Beijing with nuclear-tipped missiles."


I don't think the ROCN's two Hai Lungs would be used or could be modified for that purpose as it would probably be suicide to strike Beijing with a nuclear tipped HF-IIE and probably lose both the sub and world public opinion as well as US protection at the same time-suicide for the ROC.

The HF-IIE is a LACM and could not fit into a Hai Lung's torp tubes as a cruise missile with a range of 600-1000km is too big unless extensively modified-and that would degrade the sub's acoustic performance.

However, it might be used as a desperate last ditch resort although targeting Beijing is purely symbolic-wiping Beijing off the Earth might put a 0.5% dent in the PRC's GDP and nothing more-other than severely pissing off the world's nations as Beijing is where their ambassadors are.

So a nuclear strike is out of the question as the disavantages outweigh the benefits.

Hey guys,

what do you think about this:

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The new PLAN carrier is probably not for a Taiwan Straits conflict although I have no doubt that it will be used in one for sure.

Do you think an HF-III AShCM has enough range to destroy one and can anyone tell me the performance/specs of the HF-III.

I have read that it "outperforms the SN-22 SUNBURN" on the new Sovremmeny destroyers in PLAN service but nothing else other than the new Hazard Perry frigates in the ROCN have been modified to mount them,

Thanks

 

[The_Zergling]

Well you have to keep in mind that when trying to sink a carrier, the most important issue isn't range of the missile... it's carrier defenses, which involve finding it among other factors. There's a pretty discussion named "how to sink a carrier" which might give you some information here.

Suffice to say, I don't think the HF-2E would be useful against carriers, it's primarily for deterrence against vulnerable population centers.

 

[hongkongpride]

Well you have to keep in mind that when trying to sink a carrier, the most important issue isn't range of the missile... it's carrier defenses, which involve finding it among other factors. There's a pretty discussion named "how to sink a carrier" which might give you some information here.

Suffice to say, I don't think the HF-2E would be useful against carriers, it's primarily for deterrence against vulnerable population centers.

I'd just like the clarify things here.

The HF-III is a third generation antiship missile that is just been put into service while the HF-IIE is a cruise missile version of the HF-II anti ship missile.

I was asking about the range of the HF-III, thats all,

The most effective way of killing a carrier, particularly a PLAN carrier as the air defences (AEGIS knock off of stolen US technology has not been battle proven yet) have not matured yet is to simply fire off as many AshM at it as you can-like the Soviets did in the Cold War-smart!

1 carrier costs: A lot-c.$1.2 billion USD incl. nuclear reactor building costs and maintenance costs+personnel training (more money as the learning curve is significantly greater than the USN which has been operating carriers since around 1938.

500 Antiship missiles cost: $750, 000 USD each (not factoring economies of scale into account)

Do the Math.

 

[bd popeye]

Ligo & Hongkongpride I deleted your last few post. Why? >>> You fellows need to cease with the sensless argument about PRC Vs ROC and any other nationalistic chest beating you wish to express. Let us discuss the news without getting into personal arguments or PRC Vs ROC with the US mixed in.

Thank you.

bd popeye super moderator

 

[LIGO]

Ligo & Hongkongpride I deleted your last few post. Why? >>> You fellows need to cease with the sensless argument about PRC Vs ROC and any other nationalistic chest beating you wish to express. Let us discuss the news without getting into personal arguments or PRC Vs ROC with the US mixed in.

Thank you.

bd popeye super moderator

Sure. Thank you. Now I can start a day's work without worrying about an argument on SDF...

 

[crobato]

Do you think an HF-III AShCM has enough range to destroy one and can anyone tell me the performance/specs of the HF-III.

I have read that it "outperforms the SN-22 SUNBURN" on the new Sovremmeny destroyers in PLAN service but nothing else other than the new Hazard Perry frigates in the ROCN have been modified to mount them,

HF-III remains highly confidential. Sometimes I wonder if its some kind of bluff. My perception appears that the missile is roughly around the same performance envelope as the Brahmos. If the Perrys got them, they would be lethal. But they would be just as lethal to any invasion force if they are set on land using mobile truck launchers. That way, it would be much harder to preempt them by sinking the launching ship using air strike.

Sunburn in my view, is a bit overrated. The new ones are supposed to go as far as 240km. The HF-3 is alleged at 300km and over.

PLAN carrier is redundant for any Taiwan aimed offensive, especially when you have enough land bases close enough to do the job.