Taiwan Commissions 20,000-Tonne Combat Support Ship.

The Republic of China Navy (RoCN) took delivery on 23 January of a newly completed fast combat support ship.

Taiwan Commissions 20,000-Tonne Combat Support Ship.

Panshih was built by state-owned Kaohsiung-based shipbuilder CSBC Corporation at a cost of USD130 million. Construction began in 2011 and the ship was launched in 2013.

According to the Ministry of National Defense (MND), Panshih is a multirole vessel and will be used as a transport, maritime rescue, and humanitarian assistance vessel.

Defence officials say the navy will begin training personnel this month and that the vessel will enter full operational service by March.

Taiwan Commissions 20,000-Tonne Combat Support Ship.

Panshih is 196 m long and 25.2 m wide and has a full load displacement of 20,000 tonnes. It can carry a crew of up to 165 and has a range of 8,000 n miles. Prior to its delivery, the RoCN had only one operational supply ship, Wuyi , which entered service in 1990.

The MND has not said what armaments Panshih will carry, but we notes that it is armed with an Oto Melara 76 mm gun, two Raytheon Vulcan Phalanx 20 mm close-in weapon systems, two Rheinmetall Millennium 35 mm guns, and two 30 mm machine guns. Wuyi is equipped with one Bofors dual 40 mm/70 anti-aircraft cannon and two T-75 20 mm anti-aircraft guns.