Photo credit: Loren, ROC Coast Guard ships in Keelung Harbor, 1 January 2007
Earlier we saw this photo and comments indicated that Derecktor, which built nine of the USCG’s 270s had sold the design to Taiwan.
(Additional photos and discussion here.)
I ran across more specifics recently. There are two ships in the class, Ho Hsing (CG-101) and Wei Hsing (CG-102). They both entered service in 1992, two years after the last 270. Compared to the Bear Class, their reported dimensions are essentially identical. They have more than twice the horsepower of our 270s, 15,470 bhp from two MTU 16V1163 TB93 diesels, but still have a maximum speed of only 22 knots (I would have expected a knot or two more). They are slightly heavier than the Bear class at 1,823 tons full load (vice 1,780) resulting in a slightly deeper draft. They do not have a medium caliber gun, fire control system, or ESM system.
The interesting thing about these ships is that they replaced the helicopter capability with four “interceptor boats” each with its own set of davits.
According to Combat Fleets of the World, “The eight interceptor craft (four for each ship–Chuck) were delivered 7-91 from Hood Military Vessels of the U.S.: 12.19 m (40 foot) overall, six crew, two 300-php Cummins diesels driving Arneson outdrives for 35 knots, range 382 nautical miles at 35 kts, 466 nautical miles at 30 knots.
The result is perhaps unique among the world’s patrol ships. We might speculate that they may use these relatively large boats to extend the search horizon of the ship. They might launch two (or even all four) at dawn and use them to search until the approach of darkness on a parallel tracks with the mother ship. Or perhaps they see the problem as, not one of finding vessels to board, but of a very target rich environment, and this is their solution for making the maximum number of boardings.
On the other hand, the result does look a little like the High Speed Transport (APD) conversions of destroyers made during WWII.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
It looks like Taiwan copied our 270’s design and updated it. I would not be surprised if they Started copying the design for the NSC and possibly our Nuke submarines.
They didn’t copy anything, the design was sold to them. If you actually read Chuck’s post you would have known that. No, they won’t just copy our nuke sub designs like as if it’s such an easy thing to do, otherwise much more advanced naval powers than Taiwan would be doing it. We don’t sell our nuclear warship technology.
Since when did we start selling out our technology. Taiwan is still asking the US for SSK submarines. I wonder when were gona deliver on that one.
Derecktor apparently had the rights to the plans for the 270 and the Coast Guard certainly had no objection to Taiwan using the plans–no harm, no foul.
On the other hand, the US has not made any SSKs in decades, developing plans for new ones would be a major undertaking that the Navy has no incentive to support.
So In reality the USCG doesn’t own the rights to the 207 design. So what’s stopping Taiwan or from the Philippines for that matter to build knockoffs of our cutters.
I think either way the US Navy is gona finance the SSK for Taiwan, though they will build it in Taiwan under US guidance. I can imagine the US Navy buying kilo class SSK for Taiwan.
The French version Flottes de Combat confirms they are Bear Class.
The Irish naval service has a similar ship that is not a copy but was, I believe, inspired by the 270s, the Eithne (P31). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%89_Eithne_%28P31%29
It was commissioned less than two years after the Bear.
Comparing the specs (Combat Fleets of the World)
————————-Eithne (P31)/Bear Class
Displacement: 1915 / 1780 tons (fl)
Length: 81m / 82.3
Beam: 12m / 11.58
Draft: 4.3m / 4.11
Horsepower: 7,200bhp / 7,000
Speed: 19 / 19.5
Range: 7,000@15 / 6350@15
This is the only ship in the Irish Naval Service with a helicopter deck. I infer their experience with operating a helicopter from the ship was not good. Initially they operated a SA365 Dauphin, essentially very similar to USCG H-65s, but they have decommissioned the Dauphin and have stopped operating helicopters for the ship. They are currently building two slightly larger 2000 ton, 90 meter (295 ft), patrol vessels which will not be equipped to operate helicopters because they are considered “too small to effectively operate rotary wing aircraft.” Conditions in the waters around Ireland are far from benign, so perhaps, for their environment, that is true. They perhaps wisely sited their medium caliber gun (57mm) up a deck compared to the location on the Bear class.
imho any one who wants the 270′ design can have it. not a great sea boat. engineering plant is ok, but nothing to write home about. it was a huge stopgap compromise, and I liked my boat. Campbell was great
I’d say once the first OPC set’s sail away from the Shipyard, I would see if the Philippines are interested in a used 210 and 270. Selling the used 270 & 210’s would help finance the cost of the OPC and may help bring the cost down.
@Nicky,
While there is benefit in passing our replaced vessels to other nations, we don’t make any significant money selling old ships.
It wouldn’t hurt to offer the Philippines our used 210’s and 270’s when the OPC comes online
Luke sent me the link to a photo of a Taiwanese 270 launching their equivalent ASCM to our Harpoon.
http://s97.photobucket.com/user/RedFoxAce/media/Cutter_HF-2.jpg.html
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