REPUBLIC OF KOREA NAVY

The 'Republic of Korea Navy' (Hangul: 대한민국 해군; Hanja: 大韓民國 海軍; Revised Romanization: ''Dae-han-min-guk Hae-gun'') or 'ROK Navy' ('ROKN') is a branch of the South Korean armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations and amphibious landing operations.^[1] The ROK Navy includes the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, which is a quasi-autonomous organization.^[2] In 2005, the ROK Navy celebrated its 60th anniversary.
Since the Korean War, the ROK Navy concentrated its efforts to build naval forces against the North Korean navy, which has littoral naval capabilities. As South Korea's economy grew, the ROK Navy was able to build larger and better equipped fleets to deter aggression, to protect national maritime rights and to support the nation's foreign policies.^[3] As a part of its mission, the ROK Navy has engaged in several peacekeeping operations since the turn of the century.^[4] The ROK Navy aims to become a blue-water navy by 2020.^[5]
The ROK Navy had about 68,000 regular personnel including the 25,000 Republic of Korea Marine Corps personnel as of 2006. There are some 170 commissioned ships (total displacement of approx. 141,000 tons^[6]
) in the ROK Navy, including around 10 submarines, 75 patrol craft and 20 auxiliaries. The naval aviation force consists of about 10 fixed-wing and 50 rotary-wing aircraft.^[7]
The ship prefix for the ROK Navy ship is 'ROKS' (Republic of Korea Ship). The motto of the ROK Navy is "바다로, 세계로" (''Ba-da-ro, Se-gye-ro''; To the sea, to the world).
[Note on romanization: In the article, all South Korean ships' names are spelled accordingly with the Revised Romanization of Korean system and supplied with hull numbers in order to avoid confusions. Exceptions are ships named after a person's name (e.g. Chang Bo-go, Yi Sunshin, Sohn Won-yil) because the romanization of the personal name has already been established.]

Contents

History

Origins

Founding years

Korean War and 1950s

1960s

1970s and 1980s

1990s

Present: First decade of 21st century

Organization

Major operating units and shore establishments

Personnel

Commissioned officers

Warrant officers

Non-commissioned officers

Enlisted

Major international activities

Ships

Major commissioned ships

Surface combatant

Submarine

Patrol

Amphibious

Mine warfare

Auxiliary

Ships in progress (pre-commission)

Aircraft

Ongoing projects

Korean Destroyer Experimental (KDX) program

Frigate Experimental (FFX)

Korean Submarine (KSS) program

Patrol Killer Experimental (PKX)

Landing Platform Experimental (LPX)

Next amphibious ship project

Maritime patrol aircraft program phase II

See also

Notes

References

External links

History

Origins

Korea has a long history of naval activities. In the late 4th century during the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo defeated Baekjae by operating amphibious forces of 40,000 men. In the 9th century, Commissioner Chang Bo-go of the Unified Silla established a maritime base called Cheonghaejin in an island to foster trading with China and Japan; to cope with pirates. In 1380, the naval forces of the Goryeo Dynasty defeated 500 vessels of invading Japanese pirates by deploying shipboard guns, devised by Choi Moosun, which is claimed to be the first use of shipboard guns in the naval history. In 1389 and 1419, the Korean naval forces invaded Tsushima Island to suppress the Japanese pirate. In the early years of the Joseon Dynasty, the naval forces once reached its peak of 50,000 personnel due to the pirate issue. During the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598), the naval forces commanded by Admiral Yi Sunshin cut off the invaders' naval life line and defeated the Japanese fleet reversing the war in favor of Joseon.^[8] Admiral Yi is also accredited with the creation of the Turtle Ship, which is claimed to be an ironclad. Admiral Heihachiro Togo called Admiral Yi "the greatest naval commander of all."^[9] By the end of 19th century, the Joseon navy had no significant naval forces^[10] other than coastal defense forces. Although there was an attempt to modernize the navy by establishing a royal naval school with the assistance of the Royal Navy personnel, namely Lieutenant William Callwell of the Royal Marines, the Joseon navy (i.e. Commander-in-Chief Three-Provincial Fleet) was brought to an end in 1895. In 1903, the government of the Korean Empire purchased its first modern war ship, the ''Yangmu'' (양무; 揚武; aka ''Yang Moo''), from Japan. She was originally a cargo ship called the ''Kachidatemaru''.^[11] The Korean naval tradition was discontinued after Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan in 1910.

Founding years

Shortly after Korea was liberated from the Empire of Japan on August 15, 1945, a former merchant mariner and independence activist^[12] Sohn Won-yil led to form the Maritime Affairs Association. The Maritime Affairs Association evolved in the Marine Defense Group on November 11, 1945, and some 70 people proceeded to the former Imperial Japanese Navy's Chinkai Naval Station at Jinhae to establish a coast guard academy. Later the name of Marine Defense Group was changed to the Korean Coast Guard. The Korean Coast Guard was officially recognized by the US military government in 1946. Meanwhile the military government provided limited assistance through US Coast Guard personnel then in Korea.^[13] On August 15, 1948, after the new Republic of Korea government was established, the Korean Coast Guard was formally renamed the Republic of Korea Navy, and Sohn became the first Chief of Naval Operations of the ROK Navy.^[14] In October of 1949, the ROK Navy purchased a 600-ton submarine chaser, the former USS ''PC-823'' on the American civil market with funds raised among its personnel. She was renamed as ROKS ''Baekdusan'' (PC 701) and became "the first significant warship of the newly independent nation."^[15][16]
On April 15, 1949, the Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) was founded in Deoksan airfield in Jinhae. The Marine Corps carried out Suppression Operations against communist elements in Jinju and Jeju-do.^[17]

Korean War and 1950s

The Korean War started with the North Korean army's surprise attack on Sunday, June 25, 1950; the ROK Navy confronted threats from the stronger North Korean navy. With its UN allies, dominated by US forces, the ROK Navy was able to gain control in the seas surrounding the country; the ROK Navy secured the seas south of the 38th parallel. After the Incheon landing, the ROK Navy proceeded to take control of the entire seas surrounding the Korean peninsula. When UN troops withdrew from the north, due to the entry of Chinese troops, the ROK Navy conducted evacuation operations for the UN troops and Korean refugees with the UN allies. On July 27, 1953, the three year-long war was brought to an end when an armistice agreement was signed.
In September of the same year, Commander-in-Chief Republic of Korea Fleet was established. Fleet Aviation Unit was established in 1957.^[17]

1960s

Continuing from the 50s, the ROK Navy continued to build naval surface forces mainly with ships transferred from the US Navy.
In 1963, the ROK Navy acquired its first destroyer ROKS ''Chungmu'' (DD 91 and later DD 911), the former USS ''Erben'' (DD-631), a ''Fletcher'' class destroyer.
During the Vietnam War, the ROK Navy dispatched naval transportation units called ''Baekgu''; the ROKMC dispatched combat units called ''Cheongnyeong''.
In 1969, the ROK Navy began "Isolated Islands Visiting Program" to support people living in small and remote islands around the peninsula.^[17]
In January 1967, ROKS ''Dangpo'' (PCE 56), the former USS ''PCE-842'', was sunk by North Korean coastal artillery.^[20] In June 1970, a navy broadcast vessel (ROKS ''I-2'') was captured by North Korean patrol craft in the vicinity of Yeonpyeong Islands in the West Sea (Yellow Sea).^[21]

1970s and 1980s

In the 70s, the ROK Navy, through the Park Chung-hee Administration's "''Yulgok'' Plan" (an 8-year national defense plan "to build up self-reliant, national defense capability"^[22]), began to build naval forces with indigenous technologies; this initiated the ROK Navy to build fleets with locally built ships.
In 1972, the ROK Navy lauched its first domestically built patrol craft. The first 2,000-ton frigate ROKS ''Ulsan'' (FF 951) was launched in 1980 and the first 1,000-ton corvette ROKS ''Pohang'' (PCC 756) was launched in 1982 with indigenous technologies. In the following year, the lead ship of, secretly developed, the ''Golgorae'' class midget submarine was launched.^[23] The ROK Navy continued to carry out other new shipbuilding projects such as mine sweepers, logistic support ships and amphibious landing ships.
Fleet Aviation Unit became a fleet aviation group in 1977. The ROK Navy strengthened its naval aviation force by acquiring Grumman S-2E Tracker anti-submarine warfare aircraft and Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopters. In 1986, the fleet aviation group became Air Wing SIX.
In 1973 and 1974, the ROK Navy reorganized its fleets into five Naval Sectors. In 1986, the ROK Navy reorganized its fleets: First Fleet, Second Fleet, and Third Fleet.^[17]
In 1973, once a separate branch of the ROK Armed Forces, the ROKMC became a part of the ROK Navy. Headquarters Republic of Korea Marine Corps was established in 1987.

1990s

Since the 90s, the ROK Navy has been steadily upgrading its naval forces. In 1995, Admiral An Pyongtae, the 20th Chief of Naval Operations, presented the vision of building a "blue ocean navy" for the future of the ROK Navy in his inaugural address.^[25]
As a part of a plan to strengthen the surface combatant forces, ROKS ''Kwanggaeto the Great'' (DDH 971), the ROK Navy's first locally built destroyer, was launched in 1996; the ''Kwanggaeto the Great'' class destroyers replaced the aged former USN ''Allen M. Sumner'' class and ''Gearing'' class destroyer. For building submarines forces, the ROK Navy acquired its first submarine (excluding midget submarines) ROKS ''Chang Bo-go'' (SS 061) from Germany in 1992. The following eight ''Chang Bo-go'' class submarines were built in Korea. In order to replace the aged S-2E Trackers, Lockheed P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft were delivered to the ROK Navy from 1995.
In November 1999, the ROK Navy completed the construction of Pyeongtaek Naval Operations Base; Commander Second Fleet was relocated from Incheon Naval Base to the newly established base with an operational headquarters.
In October 1998, the ROK Navy hosted its first International Fleet Review in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Korea and its armed forces off coast of Busan and Jinhae. About 60 ships from 12 countries participated in the fleet review.^[26]
In June 1999, the ROK Navy forces engaged the North Korea naval forces near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the vicinity of Yeonpyeong Islands. In June 2002, the two Navies engaged again in the same vicinity resulting in the sinking of ROKS ''PKM 357''.

Present: First decade of 21st century

The ROK Navy continues to put its efforts to build a "blue ocean navy". In 2001, then President Kim Dae-jung announced a plan for building up the Strategic Mobile Fleet.^[27]
In 2002, the lead ship (DDH 975) of the 4,500-ton ''Chungmugong Yi Sunshin'' class destroyer was launched. In 2005, a new amphibious landing ship, the ''Dokdo'' (LPH 6111) was launched. In 2006, the ROK Navy launched the lead ship (SS 072) of the 1,800-ton ''Sohn Won-yil'' class submarine, which was named after the first Chief of Naval Operations, equipped with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system. In May 2007, the ROK Navy launched the lead ship (DDG 991) of the ''Sejong the Great'' class destroyer, built around the Aegis combat system and the SPY-1D multi-function phased array radar. In June 2007, the ROK Navy launched the lead ship (PKG 711) of the ''Yoon Young-ha'' class missile boat in honor of the late captain of ROKS ''PKM 357'', which was sunken after an engagement with the North Korean navy in 2002.
The ROK Navy completed the construction of Busan Naval Operations Base in 2006; Commander Third Fleet was relocated to the newly established base with an operational headquarters''.^[28]
As a part of its mission, the ROK Navy participated in several peacekeeping operations since the turn of the century.^[4] In 2004, the ROK Navy hosted a multilateral naval exercise - Pacific Reach 2004 - for the first time.^[30] The Cruise Training Fleet - ROKS ''Chungmugong Yi Sunshin'' (DDH 975) and ROKS ''Cheonji'' (AOE 57) - visited the United Kingdom in order to take part in the International Fleet Review for Trafalgar 200 in 2005.

Organization

The Republic of Korea Navy includes the Republic of Korea Navy Headquarters, Republic of Korea Fleet, and Republic of Korea Marine Corps. The Republic of Korea Navy Headquarters, located within Gyeryongdae, includes the office of the Chief of Naval Operations and various agencies and staff functions. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is the highest-ranking officer of the ROK Navy. The CNO is an admiral (four-star) and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The CNO oversees the administration of recruiting, organizing, training, equipping, supplying, and mobilizing the ROK Navy.^[31] Commander-in-Chief Republic of Korea Fleet (CINCROKFLT) is responsible for naval operations. CINCROKFLT is based at Jinhae Naval Base with a command headquarters. The Republic of Korea Fleet comprises the three fleets each assigned to the East Sea (Sea of Japan), West Sea (Yellow Sea), and South Sea (Korea Strait) of South Korea; three flotillas, one naval aviation wing, and a special warfare (UDT/SEAL) brigade for naval component operations. As a part of "Defense Reform 2020," which was proposed by the Roh Moo-hyun Administration, the ROK Navy is required to simplify the command structure under CINCROKFLT by disestablishing two Combat Flotillas and three Defense Commands, and reform the organizations under CINCROKFLT by establishing a submarine operations command (fleet submarine force), a naval aviation operations command (fleet air arm), and some Mobile Flotillas.^[32][7] The ROK Navy plans to establish a new naval base on the southern coast of Jeju-do for hosting the Mobile Flotilla.
In July 2007, the ROK Navy revealed its plan to move CINCROKFLT from Jinhae to Busan, and relocate Commander Third Fleet from Busan to Mokpo while disestablishing Commander Mokpo Naval Sector Defense Command.^[34]

Major operating units and shore establishments

★ 'Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)'
:::
★ Naval Warfare Development Group
:::
★ Welfare and Service Support Group
:::
★ Central Accounting Group
:::
★ Jinhae Naval Base Command
:::
★ Pohang Naval Hospital
:::
★ Maritime Medical Center
:
★ 'Commander-in-Chief Republic of Korea Fleet (CINCROKFLT)' (homeport: Jinhae)
::
★ 'First Fleet' (homeport: Donghae)
:::
★ Destroyer Squadron 11
:::
★ Corvette Squadron 12
:::
★ Patrol Craft Squadron 13
:::
★ Patrol Craft Squadron 15
::
★ 'Second Fleet' (homeport: Pyeongtaek)
:::
★ Destroyer Squadron 21
:::
★ Corvette Squadron 22
:::
★ Patrol Craft Squadron 23
:::
★ Patrol Craft Squadron 25
:::
★ Incheon Naval Sector Defense Command
::
★ 'Third Fleet' (homeport: Busan)
:::
★ Destroyer Squadron 31
:::
★ Corvette Squadron 32
:::
★ Patrol Craft Squadron 33
:::
★ Patrol Craft Squadron 35
:::
★ Mokpo Naval Sector Defense Command
:::
★ Jeju Defense Command
::
★ 'Component Flotilla FIVE'
:::
★ Anti-Submarine Warfare Squadron 51
:::
★ Mine Warfare Squadron 52
:::
★ Amphibious Squadron 53
:::
★ Service Squadron 55
::::
★ Ship Salvage Unit
::
★ 'Air Wing SIX'
:::
★ Air Group 61
:::
★ Air Group 62
:::
★ Maintenance Group 63
:::
★ Base Group 65
::
★ 'Readiness Flotilla EIGHT'
:::
★ Readiness Squadron 81
:::
★ Readiness Squadron 82
::
★ 'Submarine Flotilla NINE'
:::
★ Submarine Squadron 91
:::
★ Submarine Squadron 92
:::
★ Submarine Squadron 93
:::
★ Submarine Squadron 99
::
★ 'Naval Special Warfare Brigade'
:
★ 'Naval Logistics Command'
:::
★ Naval Shipyard
:::
★ Naval Supply Center 1
:::
★ Naval Supply Center 2
:
★ 'Naval Education and Training Command'
:::
★ Naval War College
:::
★ Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps
:
★ 'Naval Academy'
:::
★ Officer Candidate School
:
★ 'Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC)'
:::
★ Yeonpyeong Unit
:::
★ Education and Training Group
:::
★ Amphibious Support Group
::
★ '1st Marine Division'
::
★ '2nd Marine Division'
::
★ '6th Marine Brigade'

Personnel

The Republic of Korea Navy had about 68,000 regular male and female personnel including the 25,000 Republic of Korea Marine Corps personnel as of 2006. Among them, about 11% is commissioned officers and about 32% is non-commissioned officers (including warrant officers).^[35] As a part of "Defense Reform 2020," which was proposed by the Roh Moo-hyun Administration, the ROK Navy is required to reduce its personnel to 64,000 regular personnel including the marines.^[7]
Military service is mandatory for all South Korean men. For the Navy, recruitment is volunteer-based: enlisted serving a 26-month term (the marines: 24-month term); commissioned officer, warrant officer, and non-commissioned officer serving as mandatory military service (longer than that of enlisted) or as career. In 2001, six female ensigns commissioned through the Officer Candidate School were assigned to serve on surface ships for the first time in the ROK Navy.^[37]
In the ROK Navy, as in the rest of the ROK Armed Forces, ranks fall into one of four categories: commissioned officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer, and enlisted, in decreasing order of authority. All three branches (the Army, Navy, and Air Force) of the Armed Forces share the same titles of ranks in Hangul.

Commissioned officers

There are several paths to becoming a commissioned officer in the ROK Navy, including the Naval Academy, Officer Candidate School (OCS), and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC). Commissioned officer ranks are subdivided into "''Janggwan''"-level officers (flag officers), "''Yeonggawan''"-level officers (Lieutenant Commander through Captain), and "''Wigwan''"-level officers (Ensign through Lieutenant).

'ROK Navy ranks'	'ROK Navy rank insignia (shoulder-board)'	'ROK Navy rank insignia '
''Won-su''¹(Fleet Admiral)	N/A	N/A
''Dae-jang''(Admiral)
''Jung-jang''(Vice Admiral)
''So-jang''(Rear Admiral (Upper Half))
''Jun-jang''(Rear Admiral (Lower Half))
''Dae-ryeong''(Captain²)
''Jung-ryeong''(Commander)
''So-ryeong''(Lieutenant Commander)
''Dae-wi''(Lieutenant)
''Jung-wi''(Lieutenant Junior Grade)
''So-wi''(Ensign)

¹: No one held the rank of ''Won-su'' in the history of the ROK Armed Forces yet.

²: Senior Captains in command of Squadrons can be referred to as “Commodore” verbally and in correspondence as in the US Navy.

Warrant officers

In the ROK Navy, warrant officers are mostly former non-commissioned officers who have attained the rating of ''Won-sa'' (Master Chief Petty Officer) and have been selected for and completed a warrant officer candidate program. Another way to become a warrant officer is by completing a naval aviation warrant officer candidate program.

'ROK Navy rank'	'ROK Navy rank insignia (shoulder-board)'	'ROK Navy rank insignia'
''Jun-wi''(Warrant Officer)		³

³: The WO's insignia is in gold color while the ones of Ensign and higher are in silver color.

Non-commissioned officers

In the ROK Navy, personnel with ratings of ''Ha-sa'' and higher are considered non-commissioned officers (NCOs) while those at ''Sang-sa'' and higher are further referred to as “CPO” (chief petty officer). Non-commissioned officers originate from a non-commissioned officer candidate program. There are the appointments of ''Ju-im Wo-sa'' and ''Ju-im Sang-sa'' equivalent to that of the US Navy's Command Master Chief Petty Officer (CMCPO). The positions are filled by senior ''Wo-sa'' and '' Sang-sa'' respectively and unlike their US Navy counterparts, the ROK Navy ''Ju-im Wo-sa'' and ''Ju-im Sang-sa'' wear the same standard rate insignia of ''Wo-sa'' or '' Sang-sa'' and wear only a badge. Every ROK Navy establishment and ship has either ''Ju-im Wo-sa'' or ''Ju-im Sang-sa''.

'ROK Navy ratings'	'ROK Navy rate insignia'
''Won-sa''(Master Chief Petty Officer)
''Sang-sa''(Chief Petty Officer)
''Jung-sa''(Senior Petty Officer)
''Ha-sa''(Petty Officer)

Enlisted

In the ROK Navy, enlisted sailors are referred to as "''Su-byeong''" (수병; 水兵). Normally the enlisted sailors serve in the Navy for 26 months; after that they will be transferred from the active list to the reserve list.

'ROK Navy ratings'	'ROK Navy rate insignia'
''Byeong-jang''(Leading Seaman)
''Sang-deung-byeong''(Able Seaman)
''Il-deung-byeong''(Seaman First Class)
''I-deung-byeong''(Seaman Second Class)

Major international activities

Pacific Reach: The ROK Navy has participated in the biannual submarine rescue exercise since 2000. In 2004, the ROK Navy hosted the exercise, which was the first multinational naval exercise the ROK Navy ever hosted.
RIMPAC: The ROK Naval forces have participated in the biannual multilateral naval exercise since 1990.
ROK-US combined amphibious landing exercise: The ROK Navy and ROKMC together with the US Navy and US Marine Corps conduct the exercise annually in Korea.
ROKN-JMSDF SAREX: The ROK Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) conducted the search and rescue exercise biannually since 1999.
WP MCMEX/DIVEX: The mine warfare forces of the ROK Navy have participated in the Western Pacific Mine Counter Measure Exercise/Diving Exercise since 2004.
Cruise Training: Since 1954, the ROK Navy has conducted the annual oceangoing training with the fourth year midshipmen (naval cadets) of the Naval Academy to provide on the job training before commissioning them and to foster relations with other navies around the world.
Navy to Navy Talks: The ROK Navy holds regular naval conferences with its counterparts of Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and United States.^[38]

Ships

The ROK Navy employs the US Navy-style letter based hull classification symbols to designate the types of its ships and hull numbers to uniquely identify its vessels (e.g. DDH 975). The names are that of the historical figures, provinces, cities, counties, peaks, lakes, islands, and birds. The Chief of Naval Operations selects the names of ships.^[39]
There are four ship rates. The first rate ship (DDH, FF, MLS, AOE, and ASR) is commanded by Captain; second rate ship (PCC, SS, LST, and ATS) by Commander; third rate ship (SSM, PKG, MSH, and MHC) by Lieutenant Commander. The fourth rate (PKM and LSF) is commanded by Lieutenant.

Major commissioned ships

In the Republic of Korea Navy, there are some 170 commissioned ships (total displacement of approx. 135,000 tons) including about 10 submarines, 75 patrol craft and 20 auxiliaries as of 2006. The names of ships of the Republic of Korea Navy start with 'ROKS' (Republic of Korea Ship) when the names are written in English.

Surface combatant

★ ''Chungmugong Yi Sunshin'' class (DDH: Destroyer Helicopter; 4 in service)

★ ''Kwanggaeto the Great'' class (DDH; 3 in service)

★ ''Ulsan'' class (FF: Frigate; 9 in service)

★ ''Pohang'' class (PCC: Patrol Combat Corvette; 24 in service)

★ ''Donghae'' (aka ''Tonghae'') class (PCC; 4 in service)

Submarine

★ ''Chang Bo-go'' class (SS: Submarine; 9 in service)

★ ''Dolgorae'' class (SSM: Midget Submarine; 2 in service)

Patrol

★ ''Chamsuri'' class (PKM: Patrol Killer Medium; approx. 75 in service)

Amphibious

★ ''Dokdo'' class (LPH: Landing Transport Helicopter^[40]; 1 in service)

★ ''Gojunbong'' class (LST: Landing Ship Tank; 4 in service)

★ ''Solgae 621'' class (LSF: Landing Ship Fast; aka Project 12061E Murena-E; transferred from Russia; 3 in service)^[41][42][43]

★ ''Solgae 631'' class (LSF; aka LSF-II; 1 in service)^[44]

Mine warfare

★ ''Wonsan'' class (MLS: Minelayer Ship; 1 in service)

★ ''Yang-yang'' class (MSH: Minesweeper Hunter; 3 in service)^[45]

★ ''Ganggyeong'' class (MHC: Minehunter Coastal; 6 in service)

Auxiliary

★ ''Cheonji'' class (AOE: Fast Combat Support Ship; 3 in service)

★ ''Cheonghaejin'' class (ASR: Submarine Rescue Ship; 1 in service)

★ ''Pyeongtaek'' class (ATS: Salvage and Rescue Ship; ex-USN ''Edenton'' class; 2 in service)

Ships in progress (pre-commission)

★ ''Sejong the Great'' class destroyer (DDG: Destroyer Guided-missile; 3 ships in class: 1 launched; 1 under construction; 1 more planned)

★ ''Chungmugong Yi Sunshin'' class (DDH; 6 ships in class: 4 in service; 2 launched)

★ ''Sohn Won-yil'' class (SS; Type 214 submarine; 9 ships in class: 2 launched; 1 under construction; 6 more planned)^[46]

★ ''Yoon Young-ha'' class missile boat (PKG: Patrol Killer Guided-missile; 24 ships in class: 1 launched; 23 more planned)

★ ''Geomdoksuri'' class patrol craft (aka PKX; expected to enter in service by 2015; 18 ships planned)

★ ''Solgae 631'' class (LSF; aka LSF-II; ? ships in class: 1 in service; 1+? more planned)^[44]

Aircraft

The naval air consists of about 10 fixed-wing and 50 rotary-wing aircraft as of 2006.

★ Lockheed P-3C Orion

★ Reims-Cessna 406 Caravan II

★ AgustaWestland Lynx Mk.99

★ AgustaWestland Super Lynx Mk.99A

★ Aérospatiale Alouette III

★ Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

★ Bell Helicopter Textron UH-1 Iroquois

★ 500MD (Korean license version of Hughes 500D)

★ Bell Helicopter Model 206 JetRanger

Ongoing projects

Korean Destroyer Experimental (KDX) program

Main articles: Korean Destroyer eXperimental

Korean Destroyer Experimental was a three-phase program aimed at modernizing surface combatants by building new destroyers with advanced technology and weaponry. The proponents of the program includes the KDX-I destroyers (''Kwanggaeto the Great'' class), which were first Korean destroyers armed with organic anti-air missiles and replaced aged destroyers transferred from the US Navy; the KDX-II destroyers (''Chungmugong Yi Sunshin'' class); KDX-III destroyers (''Sejong the Great'' class), which features Aegis combat system.

Frigate Experimental (FFX)

The FFX project aims to replace the ''Ulsan'' class frigates and ''Donghae''/''Pohang'' class corvettes with new 2,300-ton frigates. The total number of the ships to be built is not clear, but it is speculated that the first batch of six new frigates are to be built by 2015.^[48]

Korean Submarine (KSS) program

Main articles: Korean Attack Submarine program

The KSS program was a three-phased project to build up the ROK Navy's submarine forces. Before the KSS program, the submarine fleet of the ROK Navy consisted of midget submarines, such as the ''Dolgorae'' class submarine and ''SX 756 Dolphin'' class submarine, which had limited capabilities for inshore operations.
Through the first phase, 'KSS-I', the ROK Navy acquired nine 1,200-ton ''Chang Bo-go'' class submarines. For the second phase, 'KSS-II', the ROK Navy plans to acquire nine 1,800-ton Type 214 submarines with Air-Independent propulsion (AIP) system^[46]; the lead ship of her class, the ''Sohn Won-yil'' (SS 072) was launched at a shipyard of Hyundai Heavy Industries on June 9, 2006. In June 2007, the ROK Navy launched its second 1,800-ton submarine named Jeong Ji, after a military general of the Goryeo Kingdom who defeated Japanese invaders. The Type 214 submarine is expected to play a key role in safeguarding the country's maritime interests as a part of the Navy's Mobile Flotilla. The third phase of the program, 'KSS-III' is scheduled to begin in 2007 and to build the lead ship of her class in 2017. A total of nine 3,000-ton 'KSS-III' submarines are expected to be built in South Korea with indigenous technologies (i.e. not going under license as the previous 'KSS-I' and 'KSS-II' submarines).^[50]

Patrol Killer Experimental (PKX)

Main articles: Patrol Killer eXperimental

Through the PKX program, the ROK Navy plans to build a feet of a next generation patrol craft with ''Cooperative Engagement Capability'' and enhanced weaponry such as 76 mm guns and the KSSM anti-ship missiles. There are two variations of ''Geomdoksuri'' class patrol craft: ''Geomdoksuri''-A and ''Geomdoksuri''-B. The ''Geomdoksuri''-A will be a 400-ton patrol craft with anti-ship missiles; ''Geomdoksuri''-B will be a 200-ton patrol craft serving as the platform design for the ''Geomdoksuri''-A variation. It is speculated that 24 ''Geomdoksuri''-As and 18 ''Geomdoksuri''-Bs are planned. The first batch of nine ''Geomdoksuri''-As are expected to enter in service by 2015 and to replace the aging ''Chamsuri'' class patrol craft.^[51][52]
On 28 June 2007, the ''Yoon Young-ha'' (PKG 711), the lead ship of her class, was launched at the shipyard of Hanjin Heavy Industries in Busan. She is scheduled to be delivered to the South Korean navy in 2008.

Landing Platform Experimental (LPX)

Main articles: Dokdo class landing platform experimental

The LPX project was the ROK Navy's new amphibious landing ship project for which Hanjin Heavy Industries & Constructions Co. has provided the general design package. The ROK Navy's requirements for the new amphibious landing ships were to enhance Korea's current amphibious operation capability, both in terms of assault and military operations other than war (MOOTW) type operations.
On 12 July 2005, the ''Dokdo'' (LPH 6111), the lead ship of her class, was launched at the shipyard of Hanjin Heavy Industries in Busan. She was delivered to the South Korean navy in July, 2007. The first air cushion landing craft (ROKS ''LSF 631'') of LSF-II project was delivered for the ''Dokdo'' in April, 2007.

Next amphibious ship project

The ROK Navy plans to acqire four new 4,500-ton amphibious ships between 2013 and 2016.

Maritime patrol aircraft program phase II

Eight ex-USN P-3 maritime patrol aircraft will be delivered to the ROK Navy by 2010 after completing upgrades. The ROK Navy has acquired eight Lockheed P-3C Orion aircraft through the maritime patrol aircraft program phase I.^[53]

See also

★ Dokdo

★ Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo

★ Jinhae

★ Joseon Navy

★ Korean War

★ Naval history of Korea

★ North Korean Navy

★ Republic of Korea

★ Yi Sun-sin

Notes

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References

★ Republic of Korea Navy official website

★ Navy - South Korea GlobalSecurity.org

External links

★ Republic of Korea Navy official website (Korean) (English)

★ MaritimeQuest ROK Navy Index