ROCS Pan Chao (FFG-1108)

ROCS "Pan Chao" (班超, FFG-1108) is the sixth of eight Taiwanese-built frigates based on the USN Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7) design. Laid down in July, 1995 and launched in May, 1996, "Pan Chao" was commissioned in service in December, 1997. All of these Taiwanese FFG's have the length of the later Oliver Hazard Perry FFG's, but have a different weapon and electronics fit.

Like her sister ships, "Pan Chao" was built under license by China SB Corp. at Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, ROC.

As of 2005, "Pan Chao" is homeported at Tso-Ying naval base.

Namesake

"Pan Chao" is named after Pan Chao (班超) (32 - 102), who was a Chinese general and cavalry commander in charge of the administration of the "Western Regions" (Central Asia) during the Eastern Han Dynasty. He was famous for repelling the Xiongnu and secured Chinese control on the Tarim Basin region, and led a military expedition to the doorstep of Europe, as far as Parthia and the Caspian Sea.

Other units of class

"Cheng Kung" class frigates are all named after famous generals in Chinese history:

*ROCS "Cheng Kung" (成功, FFG-1101)
*ROCS "Cheng Ho" (鄭和, FFG-1103)
*ROCS "Chi Kuang" (繼光, FFG-1105)
*ROCS "Yueh Fei" (岳飛, FFG-1106)
*ROCS "Tzu I" (子儀, FFG-1107)
*ROCS "Chang Chien" (張騫, FFG-1109)
*ROCS "Tian Dan" (田單, FFG-1110)

Specifications

*Displacement: 2851 ton lightship, 3610 ton standard
*Length: 138.8 metres
*Beam: 13.72 metres
*Draught: 8.6 metres
*Armament::*Mk 13 Missile Launcher for the Hsiung Feng II SSM and the SM-1MR Standard SAM:*Mk 75 Oto Melara 76 mm Compact Gun:*Mk 15 Phalanx 20 mm CIWS:*Mk 32 SVTT for Mk 46 Lightweight Torpedoes:*Hangar capacity for two Sikorsky S-70C(M)2 Seahawk helicopters
*Propulsion: Two LM2500 Gas Turbines coupled to a single shaft and controllable pitch propellor
*Speed: 30+