Taiwan Navy launches third and fourth indigenous mine-laying ship


According to information published by Taiwan News on December 17, 2021, the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy took delivery of its third (FMLB-3) and fourth (FMLB-5) indigenous fast mine-laying ship at Suao Port in Yilan.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Indigenous fast mine-laying ship (Picture source: Taiwan government)


According to Lungteh Shipbuilding, the vessels have a full load displacement of 347 tons, a length of 41 meters, a width of 8.8 meters and a draft of 1.7 meters. The vessels can reach a maximum speed of 14 knots.

In addition to the sea mines (carrying capacity is unknown), the vessel is fitted with a 20mm T75 gun mount (as main gun) and two T74 machine guns (manned 7.62×51 mounts).

The vessel comes with an automatic mine-laying system and propulsion equipment that allows it to lay mines rapidly and with high accuracy.

The minelayers will also have a newly developed automatic mine-laying system built by the National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology, and propulsion equipment that allows them to lay mines speedily and precisely.

National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology is a Taiwanese state-owned corporation, formerly part of the Republic of China Ministry of National Defense's Armaments Bureau, which is active in the development, manufacturing, support, and sustainment of various weapons systems and dual-use technologies.