What if:- The US never breaks with Taiwan

[1bigrich]

Feb 7, 2020 16:16:30 GMT lordroel said:

Feb 7, 2020 16:12:19 GMT 1bigrich said:

Of course the Netherlands would be willing to sell more Hai Lung-class submarines if it knew it had the backing of the United States instead of mainland China pressuring the Dutch government to cancel the sub deal after only two subs.

 The ROCN has gotten great service out of those Dutch submarines.   They're also a direct descendant of the Barbel design.    Unfortunately they're the only modern submarines they have.  

Taiwan is  in a bad spot with respect to Submarines.   They're still using World War II-era US subs.  


Hai Shih (Sea Lion, ex-USS Cutlass) is getting her service life extended to 2026 and is supposed to be combat capable.  

Hai Pao (Seal, ex-USS Tusk) is still afloat and used for training. 

There is an effort to build submarines domestically, and supposedly a number of US and European firms want to help the ROCN in the effort.   

In the longer term, if/when the ROCN does build its own submarines, they can equip them however they wish.   So the PRCs efforts to block arms sales could backfire. with the ROCN having a submarine launched land attack missile as part of the armament....
 

Regards,

Edit -- Apologies for sidetracking the hypothetical into current events....

[lordroel]

Feb 14, 2020 12:54:10 GMT 1bigrich said:

Edit -- Apologies for sidetracking the hypothetical into current events....

No problem, 1bigrich , can happen.