From DefenseNews

 

Taiwan Plans To Buy Mini-Submarines from United Arab Emirates: MP

By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, TAIPEI

 

Taiwan plans to buy up to 12 mini-submarines from the United Arab Emirates for 1.6 billion Taiwan dollars ($50.96 million US), an opposition legislator said May 10.

Lin Yu-fang from the Kuomintang party said Deputy Defense Minister Chu Kai-sheng confirmed the plan to buy the twin-seat subs for the Marines during a closed meeting of parliament’s national defense committee.

The United Evening News said the deal was part of Taiwan’s efforts to secure approval for President Chen Shui-bian’s stopover in Abu Dhabi last week on his way to Latin America.

But the fate of the plan was uncertain as the opposition questioned its wisdom. “I will do everything I can to stop the deal,” said Lin, describing it as “stupid”.

The mini-submarines are designed to infiltrate enemy lines on sabotage missions, a military concept of the 1950s, he said.

The defense ministry had no comment.

During his outward journey last week Chen scrapped plans to stop over in Alaska or Hawaii after Washington restricted him to those destinations rather than New York or San Francisco as he requested.

Chen blamed the restrictions on pressure from China.

In an apparent rebuff, Chen made transit stops in Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam en route to Paraguay and Costa Rica, two of only 25 nations that recognize Taiwan diplomatically.

China opposes any overseas visits by top officials from Taiwan, which it sees as part of its territory awaiting reunification — by force if necessary.

And just how can this be considered defensive? Looks like someone is trying to carry the fight to the mainland.

And just how can this be considered defensive?  Looks like someone is trying to carry the fight to the mainland.

IMHO, the threat of this would be that when the bullets, er...missiles, start flying, the Republic of China will have a means, however small, to carry the fight to the aggressor. And by doing so, the hope would be that the effects of the actions carried out by these crewman/specops personnel will be operational/strategic in nature, far outweighing the cost.

 

Historically, have midget subs been too successful? On the history channel, so I know its true, didn't a midget sub secure explosives on the Tirpitz up in Norway? Don't the "experts" now think that a midget sub actually penetrated Pearl Harbor and attacked Battleship Row? On the other hand, 4/5 midget subs at Pearl Harbor sank or were sunk. South Korea tends to intercept most of North Korea's attempts at sea borne infiltration.

 

I guess it is the perceived threat that counts in Taiwan's case.

 

Thoughts...

A mini-sub doesn't have to be involved in carrying out a surprise attack in order to be acting defensively. Potential missions that immediately come to mind include:

 

(1) attacking PLAN ships in port before they embark upon "follow-on" assaults

 

(2) attacking PLAN ships as they stand offshore to support and deliver PRC amphibious troops

 

(3) deliver spec ops to retake Taiwanese islands in the Strait

 

etc etc

Historically, have midget subs been too successful?

I think that you forget about the Italian frogmen. They were pretty successful. Wish I could remember the exact case.

I think that you forget about the Italian frogmen.  They were pretty successful.  Wish I could remember the exact case. 

Since it was fresh in my mind, the image from one of the 007 Bond movies where two "teams" of frogmen duke it out with spearguns, and cutlasses (knives) while either swimming or riding underwater vehicles overtakes any historically true account by the Italian frogmen.

 

Thanks Herman, now I have to visit the library again!

It might be just my failing memory, but the name HMS Barham seems to strike a chord. I hope that you can prove / disprove my recollection. I know that I saw the discussion on one of the various fora. Airchair General, perhaps.

Can't speak to HMS Barham, BUT...

 

The Spring 2006 USNI Book Catalog offers a tile SEA DEVILS: Italian Navy Commandos in World War II by J. Valerio Borghese. "A facinating memoir of service with the 'human torpedoes' of the Italian Navy's Tenth Light Flotilla." 1995. 290 pages. 35 photos. 2 line drawings. 4 maps. ISBN: 1-55750-072-X. $34.95