View source for Ching Chiang-class patrol ship

{{Short description|Corvette class of the Republic of China Navy}}
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{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= Keelung Taiwan Ship-ROCN-Ching-Chiang-01.jpg
|Ship image size= 
|Ship caption= Two vessels of the ''Ching Chiang'' class at Keelung
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{{Infobox ship class overview
|Builders= [[CSBC Corporation, Taiwan]]
|Operators={{naval|Taiwan}}
|Class before=
|Class after={{sclass|Tuo Chiang|corvette|1}}
|Subclasses=
|Built range= 1994–2000
|In commission range= 1994–present
|Total ships planned= 12
|Total ships on order=
|Total ships building=
|Total ships completed= 12
|Total ships cancelled=
|Total ships active= 6
|Total ships laid up= 
|Total ships lost=
|Total ships retired= 6
|Total ships scrapped=
|Total ships preserved=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Ship type= [[Patrol ship]]/[[corvette]]
|Ship displacement= 580 tons 
|Ship length= {{convert|61.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|9.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught=
|Ship draft= {{convert|2.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=
|Ship speed= {{convert|25|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range= 
|Ship complement= 50
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
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[[File:中華民國海軍高江軍艦 PGG-609 20100831.jpg|thumb|PGG-609]]
[[File:ROCN Chih Yang (FFG-932) and Three Ching Chiang Class Patrol Ships Shipped at Keelung Naval Pier 20120526.jpg|thumb|ROCN ''Chih Yang'' (FFG-932) and three ''Ching Chiang''-class patrol ships at Keelung Naval Pier]]
[[File:ROCN PGG-608 in Port of Keelung 20100131.jpg|thumb|ROCN PGG-608 in Port of Keelung]]

The '''''Ching Chiang'' class''' ({{zh|c=錦江}}) is a class of [[patrol ship]]s/[[corvette]]s built by [[CSBC Corporation, Taiwan|CSBC]] for the [[Republic of China Navy]].<ref name= "Defense News 2016">{{cite web |last1=Minnick |first1=Wendell |title=Taiwan Anti-Ship Missile Destroys Fishing Boat |url=https://www.defensenews.com/air/2016/07/01/taiwan-anti-ship-missile-destroys-fishing-boat/ |website=www.defensenews.com |publisher=Defense News |accessdate=28 October 2019}}</ref>

==Overview==
Named after the Jingjiang river in Guangdong, China, this class of vessels were initially equipped with the [[Hsiung Feng I|HF-1]] anti-ship missile, one 40&nbsp;mm anti-aircraft gun, and one 20&nbsp;mm gun.<ref name= "Taipei Times 2012">{{cite web |last1=Cole |first1=J. Michael |title=Vessels being outfitted with HF-3s |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/05/15/2003532862 |website=www.taipeitimes.com |publisher=Taipei Times |accessdate=28 October 2019}}</ref>

Beginning in 2012 the ROCN began upgrading the ''Ching Chiang'' class to counter the increasing capabilities of the [[China|PRC]]. The primary improvements were the fitting of four [[HF-3]] supersonic anti-ship missile launchers <ref>{{cite web |last1=Hollingsbee |first1=Trevor |title=TAIWANESE WARSHIPS CARRY OUT MISSILE FIRINGS |url=https://www.bairdmaritime.com/work-boat-world/maritime-security-world/naval/ships-naval/taiwanese-warships-carry-out-missile-firings/ |website=www.bairdmaritime.com |publisher=Baird Maritime |accessdate=1 November 2019}}</ref> and the fitting of the [[OTO Melara 76 mm]] naval gun in place of the 40&nbsp;mm gun on certain vessels.<ref name= "Taipei Times 2012" />

==Operational history==
In 2020 one of the ''Ching Chiang''-class patrol ships outfitted with special [[electronic warfare]] equipment was used to interfere with the signals collection of Chinese spy ships during the annual [[Han Kuang Exercise]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Strong |first1=Matthew |title=Taiwan Navy chases Chinese spy ships away during war games |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3967201 |website=www.taiwannews.com.tw |publisher=Taiwan News |accessdate=15 July 2020}}</ref> 

The lead ship of the class, ''Ching Chiang'' (PGG-603), was retired on 1 February 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Kelvin |title=Taiwan Navy decommissions domestically produced patrol ship |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4117709 |website=www.taiwannews.com.tw |publisher=Taiwan Navy |access-date=2 February 2021}}</ref>

===HF-3 misfire===
{{main|Hsiung Feng III missile mishap}}
In 2016 ''Jin Chiang'' (PGG-610) accidentally launched an HF-3 missile during a dockside drill. While the warhead of the missile was unarmed the missile hit a fishing vessel and did considerable damage. The ship's captain was killed and three crew members were injured.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogoway |first1=Tyler |title=Fishing Boat Hit by Accidentally Fired Taiwanese Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/4238/fishing-boat-hit-by-accidentally-fired-taiwanese-supersonic-anti-ship-missile |website=www.thedrive.com |publisher=The Drive |accessdate=28 October 2019}}</ref><ref name= "Defense News 2016" />

==See also==
* [[Tuo Chiang-class corvette|Tuo Chiang-class]]
* {{sclass|Anping|offshore patrol vessel|1}}
*[[Type 037 corvette]]
* {{sclass|Cyclone|patrol ship|1}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Patrol vessels of the Republic of China Navy]]
[[Category:Corvettes of the Republic of China Navy]]
[[Category:Military history of Taiwan]]
[[Category:Ships built in the Republic of China]]
[[Category:Electronic warfare]]