Taiwan upgrades old submarine ahead of new-build project
The Republic of China Navy (ROCN) showed its submarine ROCS Hai Shih to media at a Keelung naval base in late September after a significant refurbishment. This effort acted as a pilot programme as Taiwan gears up to build a fleet of Indigenous Defense Submarines (IDS).
Sitting in a dry-dock for 16 months, the modernisation was conducted by several contractors under the CSBC Corporation’s lead. The programme to extend the life of the submarine, which was commissioned into the USN in 1945, cost NTD700 million ($22.3 million). Hai Shih will celebrate its 75th birthday in March 2020.
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