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Major Characteristics of Different Types of Ships

Types of Armies

China's Politico-Military Doctrines

Current Shape of China's Military

Military Spending Exercise for China

 

Joseph R. Morgan classifies navies like that of the US as large whales.  smaller navies such as those of Britain and France as small whales,  and still smaller navies as porpoises.  India, China, Japan are classified as porpoises which could become small whales.  Size is an element of the classification, but just as important is the composition of the navy as it relates to three main roles that navies play. The examples below are taken from his Porpoises Among the Whales: Small Navies in Asia and the Pacific, East-West Center Special Report No. 2, March 1994 (Honolulu: East-West Center, 1994), which he draws from Jane's.

Constabulary Navies in the Pacific:

New Zealand:  

  • 4 frigates
  • 4 in-shore patrol craft
  • 1 fleet supply ship

Philippines:

  • 2 old frigates
  • 10 obsolete corvettes
  • Plan to acquire 6 modern missile-armed fast attack craft.

 

 Coastal Defense Navies in the Pacific

Indonesia consists of over 200 islands;  the government needs to quell rebellion or secessionist efforts on different islands, control piracy, and protect the EEZ.  Sharpe in  Jane's Fighting Ships, 1993 (Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group Limited, 1992-93) analyzed the Indonesian navy components.  Economic distress  after 1993 may have delayed the planned expansion. 
  • 2 diesel-powered subs and 2 more planned
  • 17 frigates with another 19 more planned
  • 16 corvettes ordered
  • 4 fast attack craft with missiles
  • 5 fast-attack hydrofoils and 6 more planned
  • 18 large patrol craft with another ordered
  • 18 coastal patrol craft
  • 14 amphibious ships
  • 45 amphibious landing craft with 14 ordered
  • 4 minesweepers (ocean and coastal) with 9 more planned
Australia is a well-developed country economically, but has a coastal defense navy.  (Sharpe, 1993)   In 1999 when the country expressed willingness to send peace-keeping troops to East Timor, the Aussies had to ask other countries, including the US, for transportation to the island, and also asked the US to provide the communications for the effort.
  • 5 diesel-powered patrol submarines, with 6 more planned
  • 3 destroyers
  • 8 frigates with 8 more on order
  • 15 large patrol craft
  • 12 smaller patrol craft on order
  • 3 coastal patrol raft
  • 6 minesweepers planned

 
Taiwan navy is somewhat larger because of their mission to protect against a Chinese invasion.  Control of the Formosa Strait--or the ability to threaten the Chinese in the Strait--is important.  So is maintaining open sea lanes against a possible China blockade policy (China blockades the island, and permits one port--on the mainland--to receive goods destined for Taiwan).  In 1993, according to Sharpe, in Jane's this was the navy.  However, you might want to check out this Taiwanese site comparing the two forces in 2000:

Military Matchups: Republic of China - Peoples Republic of China 
  • 4 diesel subs, 16 planned
  • 22 destroyers
  • 12 frigates, with 16 more planned
  • 1 corvette with 10 planned
  • 52 fast-attack craft with missiles;  12 more planned
  • 70 coastal patrol craft with 6 more planned
  • 25 amphibious ships
  • 370 amphibious landing craft
  • 9 coastal minesweepers

 

Power Projection Navies:  Small and Large

North Korea (small) South Korea (small) US Pacific Fleet (large)
  • 24 diesel subs for patrol
  • 48+ diesel midget subs
  • 7 diesel subs and 6 planned
  • 8 nuclear powered ballistic-missile subs armed with nuclear missiles
  • 15 nuclear powered attack subs of the Los Angeles class and 
  • 13 of the older Sturgeon class
   
  • 3 Nimitz-class nuclear powered aircraft carriers and 
  • 3 carriers of the older Forrestal and Kitty Hawk class
   
  • 28 Cruisers of which 17 are nuclear powered
 
  • 9 destroyers
  • 2 anti-aircraft missile destroyers
  • 15 anti-submarine destroyers, some armed with Tomahawk missiles
  • 3 frigates
  • 7 frigates
  • 13 frigates, able to carry 2 helicopters
 
  • 26 corvettes
  
  • 33 fast-attack craft with missiles
  • 319 fast-attack craft with guns, torpedos
  • 55 patrol craft
  • 11 fast attack craft with missiles
  • 66 fast-attack patrol craft
  
 
  • 131 amphibious landing craft
  • 52 amphibious hovercraft
  • 14 amphibious ships and 2 planned
  • 16 amphibious landing craft
  • 1 Amphibious command ship
  • 7 Amphibious assault ships
  • 6 Amphibious transport docks
  • 4 Dock landing ships
  • 7 Tank Landing ships
  • 29 coastal minesweepers
  • 1 ocean minesweeper and 5 more planned
  • 8 coastal minesweepers
  • 1 advanced-design ocean minesweeper

 

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