Taiwan contracts for 11 Catamaran Style Corvettes...

via Shepard Media.

Taiwan awarded a TWD16.4 billion ($541 million) contract for 11 ‘High-Performance Ships’, otherwise known as the Tuo Chiang-class corvette, to Lung Teh Shipbuilding earlier this month.

With construction commencing next year, the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) will receive all 11 wave-piercing catamaran hulls before 2026 via two build phases. The first ship will launch in 2021.

Based on evaluations with the sole Tuo Chiang-class corvette, the displacement of these new corvettes will increase from 600t to 700t, with a lengthened hull to improve buoyancy. The propulsion system will be replaced by a new model, and the inappropriate waterline funnel will be relocated to a higher position.

The armament will consist of 16 TC-2N surface-to-air missiles, working in conjunction with a 3D search radar to increase the type’s antiaircraft capability. An enclosed mast/sensor will appear for the first time, replacing the current ship’s mast. A complement of 16 Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III subsonic anti-ship missiles will be retained.

The navy had proposed building the High-Performance Ship in two variants: air defence and surface warfare versions. However, the Legislative Department rejected this proposal. Furthermore, series production will commence only after the ship passes formal tests and evaluations.

The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology will act as system integrator, and take part in the combat system development.

The same High-Performance Ship design has been provided to Jong Shyn Shipbuilding, which will build 12 600t catamaran-type cutters for the Coast Guard Administration. The first ship in this TWD12.83 billion ($423 million) programme will launch in 2020.

Meanwhile, Lung Teh was also awarded a contract to build four ‘High-Speed Minelayers’ for the navy. Worth TWD703.31 million ($23.2 million), the project should be completed by November 2021.

Have you noticed that high speed vessels of this type are all the hotness in the Pacific lately?  Could this have been the thinking behind the LCS class?

I've read a few "Naval Centric" type blogs and they've all been critical of that concept (high speed) but it really seems to be the way forward for that region.

What am I (and those bubbas) missing?