List of Republic of China Navy ships
The Republic of China Navy is the maritime branch of the Republic of China Armed Forces. The ROC Navy's primary mission is to defend ROC territories and the sea lanes that surround Taiwan against a blockade, attack, or possible invasion by the People's Liberation Army Navy of the People's Republic of China. Operations include maritime patrols in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, as well as counter-strike and counter-invasion operations during wartime. The Republic of China Marine Corps functions as a branch of the Navy. The ship prefix  for ROCN combatants is ROCS (Republic of China Ship); an older usage is CNS (Chinese Navy Ship). ROCN also avoids giving ships hull numbers that add up to or end at "4", as the Chinese pronunciation of the number 4 is close to the pronunciation of "death". This numbering scheme is more apparent on more newly acquired ships. Note: The ROCN generally uses hull classification symbols similar to the U.S. system with some changes. The proper classification is provided when known. Present fleet. In June 2016, two "Oliver Hazard Perry"-class frigates of the US Navy, ex-USS "Taylor" (FFG-50) and  ex-USS "Gary" (FFG-51), were handed over to the Government of Taiwan for the Republic of China Navy. The transfer cost was an estimated US$177 million. Following a reactivation period at Detyens Shipyard in Charleston SC, the ships sailed for Taiwan in March 2017 and arrived home in June 2017. The transfer of the ships includes the AN/SQR-19 Multi-Function Towed Array. Taiwan had previously been blocked from acquiring the AN/SQR-19, and the transfer of the system points to an anti-submarine focus in line with the "Knox"-class frigates they will likely replace. A new class of  eight (8) conventional attack submarines is planned. In November 2020, President Tsai Ing-wen officially opened the submarine construction facility in Kaohsiung, and it is reported (as of November 2021) that the lead submarine is under construction. The Taiwanese military's Indigenous Defense Submarine program anticipate having the first new 2,500-ton domestically produced submarines entering service in the 2023-25 time frame. Decommissioned ships. Section::::"Long Chiang"-class patrol boats. US designed; based on PSMM MK.5 SX-404-class submarine. Decommissioned in 1973. Ex United States Navy ships. "Chi Yang"-class frigate ("Knox" class) "Chao Yang"-class destroyer ("Gearing" class) World War II era  DDs later upgraded to DDGs in three batches, Wu Chin I, II and III. All ships in this class were retired by 2005. Wu Chin I Batch: (Retired in 1980s-1990s) Wu Chin II Batch: (Retired in late 1990s) Wu Chin III Batch: (Retired in 2003–2004) Benson-class destroyers Gleaves-class destroyers Fletcher-class destroyer Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers Ashland-class dock landing ship Casa Grande-class dock landing ships Evarts-class destroyer escorts Cannon-class destroyer escorts Rudderow-class destroyer escorts Yangtze Patrol gunboats PCE-842 class patrol craft Admirable-class minesweepers Crosley-class high speed transports Charles Lawrence-class  high speed transport Auk-class minesweeper PC-461-class submarine chaser PGM-9 class gunboat Infantry landing craft Medium Landing ships Tank landing ships Repair ships Ex Royal Navy Ships. Arethusa-class light cruiser Flower-class corvette Harbour Defence Motor Launches Castle-class corvettes Ex Royal Italian Navy Ships. Azio-class minelayer Ex Imperial Japanese Navy Ships. Akizuki-class destroyer Atami-class gunboat Etorofu-class escort ship Fushimi-class gunboat Hashidate-class gunboat Hiburi-class escort ships Kagerō-class destroyers Matsu-class destroyers Mikura-class escort ship Minekaze-class destroyer No.4-class submarine chaser No.13-class submarine chaser Seta-class gunboat Sokuten -class minelayer (1938) Sokuten-class auxiliary minelayer (1913) Type C escort ship Type D escort ship