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Taipei, Aug. 4 (CNA) The Navy on Tuesday held a launch ceremony for Taiwan's first domestically-built rapid mine-laying ship as well as a keel-laying ceremony for the second of four minelayers that are part of the government's indigenous ship-building project.
The event indicates the expansion of the military's swift underwater mine-laying and joint defense capabilities, the Navy said in a statement.
The minelayer project was developed based on enemy threat and combat needs after integrating the military's mine-laying combat plans, the Navy said. It will make it easier to prevent enemy vessels from sailing near Taiwan, the statement said.
Navy Admiral Liu Chih-pin (劉志斌) and Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co. Chairman Huang Shou-chen (黃守真) jointly hosted the event at Lung Teh shipyard in Yilan County.
In terms of rapid mine-laying ships, the Navy said last year, when construction began, that the vessels will be equipped with T-75 20-millimeter automatic cannons and T-74 machine guns.
The minelayers will also have a newly developed automatic mine-laying system and propulsion equipment that allows them to lay mines speedily and precisely, the Navy said.
Delivery of the third and fourth mine-laying ships is scheduled to be made by the end of 2021, according to the Navy.
(By Chen Yun-yu and Elizabeth Hsu)
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