TSAMTO, February 29th. After the official demonstration and baptism ceremony held in September last year at the CSBC enterprise in Kaohsiung, on February 27, the launch of the first Taiwanese-built submarine (711) Narwhal (Hai Kun) was carried out without celebrations.
On February 26, the submarine was moved from the assembly shop to the floating dry dock "Chong Shin No. 8" with a displacement of 35,000 tons. After the dock was flooded, the submarine was launched and then transferred to the CSBC Corp. dry dock. During the procedures, the DAPL underwent a number of tests, including heeling, to determine the stability of the ship and the position of its center of gravity.
According to Taiwanese media, if the project is successfully promoted, marine acceptance tests of the DAPL can begin as early as the end of April, and its delivery to the Taiwanese Navy will be completed by the end of the year. However, at the same time, information appeared that the exact schedule of sea trials is not yet available, and will depend on the results of mooring tests. In addition, some of the combat systems have not yet been delivered to Taiwan. If we assess the potential problems with the new project's diesel fuel and the time required for installation and testing of equipment, we can confidently predict that marine acceptance tests will begin no earlier than the second half of the year.
As reported by TSAMTO, in 2016, the leadership of Taiwan, after receiving refusals from the world's leading manufacturers to sell diesel-electric submarines and negotiations with the United States that did not bring results, decided to build new submarines on their own.
On March 21, 2017, the command of the Taiwan Navy signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and the CSBC shipbuilding company on the joint development of the project and the construction of national submarines. The project is supported by the Submarine Development Center, which CSBC opened in 2016.
The budget for the construction of the first submarine is estimated at 49.36 billion. Taiwan dollars (1.75 billion dollars). The ceremony dedicated to the beginning of the construction of the DAPL was held at the enterprise of the CSBC shipbuilding company in Kaohsiung on November 24, 2020. The keel was laid on November 16, 2021.
On September 28, 2023, the naming ceremony of the first Taiwanese-built submarine took place at the CSBC enterprise in Kaohsiung in the presence of the President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen.
When creating submarines for the Taiwanese Navy, the experience and technologies of several countries were used, which is called a certain breakthrough, taking into account Taiwan's diplomatic isolation. According to the head of CSBC Corp, Cheng Wen-long, the share of national components in the design of the submarine is about 40%. However, he did not disclose the countries that assisted in the creation of the submarine.
In total, the Taiwan Navy expects to purchase from 8 to 12 submarines in batches of 2-3 units with gradual improvement of their characteristics. In the future, the lead submarine will be upgraded to the latest configuration.
According to preliminary information, the length of the new submarine is about 70 m, width – 8 m, height – 18 m, displacement – about 2,700 tons. It is assumed that the DAPL will use the Lockheed Martin Corporation combat control system and will receive MK-48 Mod.6 torpedoes and UGM-84L "Harpoon" Block.2 American-made.