Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Taiwan Navy No. 792″ seal “their conventional submarine has reached 60 years of service time

newspaper freelance writer Han Wei

not available due to the long “fresh blood”, the Taiwan navy’s submarine force by the pain of aging equipment. According to the October issue of Hong Kong, “Asia-Pacific Defense” magazine revealed that recently, Taiwan a 60 “old” shell Jingxian submarine rift. According to international practice, should have sent this antique museum, but Taiwan has insisted on struggling, was labeled a “disregard for human life.”

World War II submarine “skin breakdown”

reported the accident the submarine was bought from the United States in 1973, Taiwan’s second-hand old boat “Sea Lion” was (No. 791), it also has a sister boat, called the “seal” (No. 792). Built in two boats during World War II, he participated in the war against Japan, sold to Taiwan before the already scarred.

Taiwan, “Naval Command,” admitted not long ago, Keelung shipyard on the left to create a “Sea Lion” was routine maintenance, we found the tail section of the boat balanced tank cracks, seepage and even spread to the passenger compartment. Familiar with the submarine will know, this shows the most important submarine pressure shell is a problem, once the dive depth is too large, the pressure in the shell of metal fatigue will be flattened, the entire submarine in an instant become a sailor “living coffin.”

“Sea Lion” in question, the “seal” was not much better. Reportedly, the “seal” in a dry-docking maintenance, operational errors due to the workers, resulting in the placement process of the submarine hit the ground out of balance, after the battery compartment and cabin are deformed. Since then, whenever the “seal” the sea, just a simple surface navigation will be a serious shock, so that officers and men on the boat getting scared.

the United States that repairs can not

“Sea Lion” and “seal” over the life of the already limited in other places, many younger than they were more submarines have been decommissioned, the Navy considered Taiwan to create the oldest submarine in service record. Today, many of the devices on the two boats have to repair the old was no longer the point. It was in the “ship to make the Department of” service of a military officer said, Taiwan has written to the U.S. military, asked about the two submarines shell the normal pressure the frequency of use and maintenance practices, the American response is simple: “do not answer as never seen diesel-electric submarines can be used for so long. “

Taiwan military officers who have retired, said,” Sea Lion “and” seal “was scrapped, is long overdue,” Every time have to spend NT $ 100 million overhaul, but not solve the problem of aging. “really can not imagine how a large number of soldiers in this” time bomb “continue to stay on,” What’s more, the military in order to accumulate enough hours submerged, each times are so overloaded submarines to sea, a hundred, that’s related to one hundred the family! “

submarine rescue Taiwan will not

Even more frightening is that Taiwan has no independent submarine rescue capability. Although Taiwan and the U.S. involved in submarine rescue between “Rui dolphin” program, but slow for emergency. Under the plan, when the Taiwan submarine were killed when the U.S. sent by the dive unit (DSU), to provide equipment to assist rescue, Taiwan with U.S. loading and unloading, transport and logistical support. Specific operating procedures, when Taiwan’s submarine accident, the U.S. military rescue equipment and personnel immediately closest to the crash site by transport to the airport, then transfer to the terminal equipment.

but there are a few of this agreement harsh restrictions, including: more than 1000 meters water depth of the crash site, the United States that can not rush to the rescue; and if there is the U.S. Pacific Fleet submarine sea trials, the United States prepared to rescue its own submarine-based consideration, it will not helps. Moreover, the deep waters surrounding Taiwan in general, only the central part of Taiwan Strait water depth less than 200 meters, the other are more than 1,000 meters water depth, so the practical effect of this program actually does not imagine big. Moreover, if the “Sea Lion” was one day run into trouble, it can hang on until the United States sent over from Hawaii or Guam? This is another a difficult problem.