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| Taiwanese submarine (Image: Wiki Commons) |
Wendell Minnick
Upgrades Influence New Sub Builds
TAIPEI - Taiwan is moving forward with the life extension program (LEP) for its two Dutch-built Sea Dragon-class (Zwaardvis Mk 2) submarines. The decision will have direct implications for Taiwan’s Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) program to build eight attack submarines.
James Holmes, co-author of the book, "Red Star Over the Pacific" and a US Naval War College professor, said the LEP announcement and potential IDS was “good news, albeit the new-construction boats won't appear for some years.”
“Even with the Zwaardis upgrade of two submarines has great potential,” he said. “Remember how much mayhem a single Argentine boat gave the British task force during the Falklands War.” The British expended virtually all of their stock of war shots -- munitions it needed to police the North Atlantic against the Soviet Navy. “One boat can make a big difference if handled guilefully.”
“Assuming the new-construction boats work out, that will open up new tactical vistas. With a ten-boat fleet, the navy would have, what, maybe five ready for sea at any time,” Holmes said. “That makes modest wolfpack tactics possible...and will amplify the deterrent effect of subs on the PLA Navy, which emphatically does not excel at anti-submarine warfare. Taiwan is staging some access denial of its own in a bubble surrounding the island.”
The Sea Dragon’s have been in service since 1987/1988 and the objective of the LEP program is to extend the service life of the boats for at least another 15 years, local defense contractors and Taiwan military sources said. Contracts for the LEP design work was awarded in mid-March to two unidentified European marine engineering firms, with Taiwan’s Ship and Ocean Industries Research and Development Center (SOIC) playing a significant subcontractor role. Design work would take about two years, with actual modification and installation work to start in 2018. Completion is scheduled by 2020.
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