The Type 025 torpedo boat, also known as the Huchuan or Hu Chwan class, was once the backbone of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in its confrontations with its much larger opponents in the Republic of China Navy. Although no longer serving in that capacity, this class is still active. While relatively unsophisticated, the class has enjoyed a longevity in active service thanks to a philosophy within PLAN which has continued to favor its use. Powered by Soviet-era engines, the hydrofoil-equipped boats are capable of and carry two torpedo tubes for torpedoes, with some known to be armed with naval mines. Description The Type 025 torpedo boats have a standard displacement of and are at full load. They are long with a beam and a hullborne draft of . The torpedo boats are powered by three Type M 50F diesel engines rated at driving three shafts. Equipped with hydrofoils, they are located forward while the stern planes are located on the surface. The maximum speed while on foils is and the vessels have a range of at . The torpedo boats are equipped with Soviet-made "Skin Head" radar operating on E band. The vessels are armed with two torpedo tubes and two twin heavy machine guns. In Romanian service, the Type 025 vessels had two rails for depth charges added and Chinese Type 753 radar operating on the I band. Type 026 torpedo boat The Type 026, a variant of the Type 025, are at full load, long with a beam of and a draft of . They have three Type L-12V-180 diesel engines rated at 3,600 horsepower driving three shafts. They also have hydrofoils and have similar speed and range to the Type 025. The Type 026 is also armed with two twin 14.5 mm machine guns and two 533 mm torpedo tubes. However, they have Chinese Type 753 surface search radar operating on the I band. Operational doctrine In an era of increasingly effective countermeasures against anti-ship missiles, the countermeasures against torpedoes are relatively few and less effective in comparison, so although ineffective in open waters, torpedo boats can still play a role in coastal defense given sufficient protection. Their stealthiness and high speed are useful for surprise attacks on an enemy from coastal hideouts, such as caves, if the boats are integrated into an overall system that includes a supporting C4ISR structure, as well as shore