Looks like Thales is having to pay up over the corrupt deal for Lafayette frigates, bribes were paid and now it has come full circle:
http://navaltoday.com/2011/07/13/taiwan-receives-usd-875-million-from-french-frigate-deal/
Be interesting to see if Taiwan ever fits them out with decent systems now.
By: Bager1968 - 31st July 2011 at 23:54
The frigates Taiwan bought from France were new-construction, to be outfitted with weapons in Taiwan (some weapons systems are different from those on the ones built for France).
The Kang Ding Class are La Fayette Class frigates built for the Taiwanese Navy. In 1992, the Taiwanese government contracted with prime contractor Thales (formerly Thomson CSF), arranging for the construction of six ships. Weapons assembly was to take place in Taiwan, carried out by the China SB Corporation at Kaohsiung.
The frigates were constructed at French state shipbuilder DCN’s Lorient Naval Dockyard. The first ship, the Kang Ding, arrived at Taiwan’s Tsoyng naval base in May 1996; the final frigate of the six, Chan Te, was launched in August 1996, and was commissioned for service with the Republic of China Navy in January 1998.
Hulls include: Kang Ding (1202), which was commissioned in June 1996, Si Ning (1203), in September 1996, Wu Chang (1205), in December 1997, Di Hua (1206), in August 1997, Kun Ming (1207), in August 1998 and Chen Te (1209), in January 1998.
KANG DING DESIGN
The Kang Ding Class frigates are modelled on the French La Fayette Class design, but differ in both structure and weapons systems. Its anti-submarine capability has been considerably enhanced and additional guns have also been fitted. The ship is designed to carry one Sikorsky S-70C(M)1 ASW helicopter.
By: Wanshan - 31st July 2011 at 11:17
about 1997 my partner and I took in language students.One was a mature french guy from one of the major french naval bases.He was on a english refresher course and was pretty good,hower as his leaving date drew near he became very anxious and worried looking so I asked hom what the problem was.He replied”when I start work next week I have to train Taiwanese sailors on ship systems on some second hand frigates we are selling to them,problem is only the officers speak english so I have to translate from French to english and they tell the sailors in chinese”!!!Wonder if the frigates ever got there!!!
Taiwan has not obtained any ships second hand from France, frigates or otherwise.
By: Levsha - 25th July 2011 at 11:28
You should try translating a software manual from German into English…:(
By: J Boyle - 21st July 2011 at 02:31
…. only the officers speak english so I have to translate from French to english and they tell the sailors in chinese”!!!Wonder if the frigates ever got there!!!
Very funny!:D:diablo::D
I was recently speaking to a Canadian mechanic for a large Canadian airline.
He said reading Airbus service manuals was fun…
“It looks like they were written in German and tranlated into Engish by an Italian”.
By: wl745 - 21st July 2011 at 02:03
frigate language.
about 1997 my partner and I took in language students.One was a mature french guy from one of the major french naval bases.He was on a english refresher course and was pretty good,hower as his leaving date drew near he became very anxious and worried looking so I asked hom what the problem was.He replied”when I start work next week I have to train Taiwanese sailors on ship systems on some second hand frigates we are selling to them,problem is only the officers speak english so I have to translate from French to english and they tell the sailors in chinese”!!!Wonder if the frigates ever got there!!!
By: leon - 20th July 2011 at 18:18
They were also rumours that also the French government was bribed – obviously successful, if they pay 72.5% of the bill…
The Kang Ding class has not only obsolete AAW weapons, but there were also reports that the software does not fit to the non-French weapons.
By: J33Nelson - 19th July 2011 at 05:19
Be interesting to see if Taiwan ever fits them out with decent systems now.
Now
One 76mm cannon, Two 40mm cannons, One 20mm CIWS, Eight HF-II launchers, One 4-cell Sea Chaparral launcher, six 324mm torpedo launchers, & one S-70 ASW helicopter.
Near Future
One 76mm cannon, Two 40mm cannons, One 20mm CIWS, Eight HF-III launchers, One 21-cell RAM launcher, six 324mm torpedo launchers, & one S-70 ASW helicopter.
Looks like decent systems to me.
By: glitter - 18th July 2011 at 16:24
Looks like Thales is having to pay up over the corrupt deal for Lafayette frigates
No, it’s more like me
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon‘s office announced last month that the state would have to cover 72.5 percent of the massive bill the group now faces after an appeal court threw out its challenge to an arbitration panel’s ruling.
Be interesting to see if Taiwan ever fits them out with decent systems now.
After the turmoil around the deal for Mirage, the governement said they won’t do anymore transaction with Taiwan, so I don’t even think they could do it.
By: flanker30 - 18th July 2011 at 16:12
Just as well Tony Blair stopped the investigation of the BAE bribes to the Saudis…. 😡
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July 18, 2011 at 1:40 pm