The Taiwanese Navy has conducted an anti-submarine warfare drill aimed at boosting its combat readiness and ability to respond to submarine attacks launched by enemy naval forces.
The exercise saw participation from the navy's latest minehunters and a frigate from Tsoying naval base in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, reports Central News Agency.
In order to locate the submarine, the navy deployed a Grumman-built S-2T anti-submarine warfare aircraft equipped with dipping sonar systems to identify the location of the enemy vessel.
During the drill, the Sikorsky S-70C Seahawk helicopter used its dipping sonar systems to confirm the vessel's location and launched a simulated attack by firing a torpedo.
In addition, the drill involved a Dyihuah multipurpose stealth frigate, two Cheng kung-class frigates, as well as two Northrop Grumman-built Osprey-class coastal minehunting ships, USS Oriole and USS Falcon.
Dyihuah frigate captain Peng Kuo-chou said the results determined the Taiwanese Navy's anti-submarine capabilities.
Osprey-class coastal minehunting ships have been refitted and reactivated to bolster the navy's minehunting and minesweeping capabilities to counter naval mines in the Taiwan Strait.
The Dyihuah frigate is one of six Lafayette-class ships that Taiwan purchased from France in the 1990s, while the Cheng Kung-class frigates are based on the US Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates.
The drill was also conducted to boost the force's preparedness in wake of the upcoming Lunar New Year break in February 2013.
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