Republic of Korea Navy

Republic of Korea Navy 대한민국 해군 (Daehanminguk Haegun)
Jack of the Republic of Korea Navy
Active	November 11, 1945 - present
Country	Republic of Korea
Type	Navy
Size	68,000 personnel 170 ships, 60 aircraft
Part of	Ministry of National Defense
Garrison/HQ	Gyeryong
Motto	바다로, 세계로 (To the sea, to the world)
March	해군가 (Navy anthem)
Mascot	해돌이 (Haedori)
Anniversaries	November 11 (Navy Foundation Day)
Engagements	Korean War Vietnam War War on Terrorism
Commanders
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)	Admiral Kim Sung-chan (28th)
Commander-in-Chief ROK Fleet	Vice Admiral Park Jung-hwa (20th)
Commandant of the ROK Marine Corps	Lieutenant General Lee Hong-hee (29th)
Notable commanders	Vice Admiral Sohn Won-yil (1st CNO)[1] Vice Admiral Hahm Myungsoo (7th CNO)[1]
Insignia
Official logo
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	Lynx, UH-60, UH-1
Patrol	P-3

Command structure Parent unit ROK Navy Headquarters Components Republic of Korea Fleet Republic of Korea Marine Corps Naval Logistics Command Naval Education and Training Command Naval Academy

The Republic of Korea Navy (Hangul: 대한민국 해군; Hanja: 大韓民國 海軍; Revised Romanization: Daehanminguk Haegun) or the ROK Navy (ROKN) is the branch of the South Korean armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations and amphibious landing operations.^[2] The ROK Navy includes the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, which is a quasi-autonomous organization.^[3] The oldest service in the ROK Armed Forces, the South Korean navy celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2005.

Since the Korean War, the ROK Navy concentrated its efforts to build naval forces to counteract 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.^[4] As a part of its mission, the ROK Navy has engaged in several peacekeeping operations since the turn of the century.^[5]

The ROK Navy has about 68,000 regular personnel including 27,000 Republic of Korea Marines (as of 2008). There are some 170 commissioned ships (with a total displacement of about 153,000 tons^[6] ) in the ROK Navy, including 20 destroyers and frigates, 12 submarines, 100 corvettes and fast attack craft and 20 auxiliaries as of 2009. The naval aviation force consists of about 10 fixed-wing and 50 rotary-wing aircraft. The ROK Marine Corps has about 400 tracked vehicles including self-propelled artillery.^[7] The ROK Navy aims to become a blue-water navy by 2020.^[8]

Contents 1 History 1.1 Origins 1.2 Founding years and Korean War 1.3 Building the ROK Navy 1.4 Modernizing the Navy 1.5 Present 2 Command and organization 2.1 Senior leadership 2.2 Republic of Korea Navy Headquarters 2.3 Republic of Korea Fleet 2.3.1 Gidong Budae 2.4 Republic of Korea Marine Corps 2.5 Relationship with the U.S. Navy 3 Personnel 3.1 Commissioned officers 3.2 Warrant officers 3.3 Non-commissioned officers 3.4 Enlisted 3.5 Ranks and rates 4 Naval engagements of the South Korean Navy 5 Major international activities 5.1 Anti-piracy operations 5.2 International fleet review 6 Ships 6.1 Major commissioned ships 6.1.1 Surface combatants (destroyers and frigates) 6.1.2 Submarines 6.1.3 Patrol ships (corvettes and patrol craft) 6.1.4 Amphibious warfare ships 6.1.5 Mine warfare ships 6.1.6 Auxiliary ships 6.2 Ships under construction 7 Aircraft 8 Weaponry 9 Ongoing projects 9.1 Korean Destroyer Experimental (KDX) program 9.2 Frigate Experimental (FFX) 9.3 Korean Submarine (KSS) program 9.4 Patrol Killer Experimental (PKX) 9.5 Landing Platform Experimental (LPX) 9.6 LST-II project 9.7 AOE-II Project 9.8 ATS-II project 9.9 Training Ship Experimental (ATX) 9.10 Maritime patrol aircraft program phase II 9.11 Mine countermeasure helicopter program 10 See also 11 Notes 12 References 13 External links

History

Origins

Korea has a long history of naval activity. In the late 4th century during the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo defeated Baekjae, fielding amphibious forces of 40,000 men in the process. In the 9th century, Commissioner Chang bogo of Unified Silla established a maritime base called Cheonghaejin on an island to foster trading with China and Japan, and to cope with pirates.

In 1380, naval forces of the Goryeo Dynasty defeated 500 invading Japanese pirate vessels by deploying shipboard guns, devised by Choi Moosun. This is reportly the first use of shipboard guns in naval history. In 1389 and 1419, Korean naval forces invaded Tsushima Island to suppress Japanese piracy. In the early years of the Joseon Dynasty, the naval force reached its peak of 50,000 personnel, in order to combat the ongoing pirate issue.^[10]

During the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598), the Korean naval force commanded by Admiral Yi Sunshin, who later became the head of the Navy, cut off the invaders' naval lifeline and defeated the Japanese fleet, reversing the war in favor of Joseon.^[11] Admiral Yi is also credited with the creation of the Turtle Ship.

By the end of 19th century, the Joseon Navy had no significant naval force^[12] other than coast defense fortresses. Although there was an attempt to modernize the navy by establishing a royal naval school, the Joseon Navy was brought to an end in 1895. In 1903, the government of the Korean Empire purchased its first modern war ship, the Yangmu.^[13] Korean naval tradition was disrupted after Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan in 1910.

Founding years and Korean War

Shortly after Korea was liberated from the Empire of Japan on August 15, 1945, a former merchant mariner and independence activist^[14] Sohn Won-yil led the Maritime Affairs Association, which evolved into the Marine Defense Group on November 11, 1945 (Navy Foundation Day) and later became the Korean Coast Guard. After the new Republic of Korea government was established on August 15, 1948, 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 on September 5, 1948.^[15] On April 15, 1949, the Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) was founded in Jinhae. In October 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 ROKS Baekdusan (PC 701) and became "the first significant warship of the newly independent nation".^[16][17]

The Korean War started with the North Korean army's surprise attack on Sunday, June 25, 1950. The ROK Navy confronted threats from the North Korean navy: "Perhaps the most aggressive and effective, if smallest, member of the South Korean armed services during the first year of the Korean War was the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN). At the outset of the conflict, the 6,956-man ROKN, with [33]^[18] naval vessels of various types, was outnumbered by the 13,700 men and 110 naval vessels of the North Korean navy."^[19] With its UN allies, dominated by U.S. forces, the ROK Navy was able to gain control in the seas surrounding the country. On July 27, 1953, the three year-long war was brought to an end when an armistice agreement was signed. During the war, Australia, Canada, Colombia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States contributed naval vessels as UN allies; Denmark sent the hospital ship Jutlandia.^[20]

In September 1953, Commander-in-Chief Republic of Korea Fleet was established.

Building the ROK Navy

Starting in the 1950s, the ROK Navy built up its surface fleet mainly with older warships transferred from the United States Navy.

During the Vietnam War, the ROK Navy dispatched a naval transport squadron called Baekgu, which was composed of 3 LSTs and 2 LSMs. The Republic of Korea Marine Corps sent into a combat brigade called Cheongnyong to Vietnam.

On January 19, 1967, ROKS Dangpo (PCEC 56), the former USS Marfa (PCE-842), was sunk by North Korean coastal artillery north of the demarcation line off the east coast of Korea^[21] 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).^[22]

In the 70s, the ROK Navy, through the Park Chung-hee Administration's "Yulgok Plan" (an eight-year national defense plan "to build up self-reliant, national defense capability"^[23]), began to build naval forces with indigenous technology; this initiated the ROK Navy effort to build a fleet of locally built ships. 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, both featuring indigenous technology. The ROK Navy continued to carry out other new shipbuilding projects such as mine sweepers, logistic support ships and amphibious landing ships in the 80s and 90s.

In 1973, the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, once a separate branch of the armed forces, became a part of the Navy.

Modernizing the Navy

Since the 90s, the ROK Navy has been steadily upgrading its naval forces. In 1995, Admiral An Pyongtae, the Chief of Naval Operations, presented his plan for the future of the ROK Navy, which included building a blue-water navy.^[24]

As a part of a plan to strengthen the surface combatant forces, the ROK Navy launched the lead ship of the Kwanggaeto the Great class destroyer in 1996 to replace the former U.S. Navy destroyers. For building up a submarine force, the ROK Navy purchased its first submarine (other than midget submarines), the Chang Bogo (SS 061), from Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft of Germany in 1992. In order to replace its antiquated S-2 Tracker anti-submarine warfare airplanes, South Korea purchased a squadron of P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft. These were delivered to the ROK Navy starting in 1995.

Present

The ROK Navy continues to put its efforts to build a blue-water navy. In 2001, then-President Kim Dae-jung announced a plan for building up the Strategic Mobile Fleet.^[25]

In 2002, the lead ship (DDH 975) of the 4,500-ton Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyer was launched. In 2005, the 14,000-ton amphibious landing ship, ROKS Dokdo (LPH 6111) was launched. In 2006, the ROK Navy launched the lead ship (SS 072) of the 1,800-ton Sohn Wonyil class submarine, which was named after the first Chief of Naval Operations, equipped with an 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 American-made AEGIS combat system and the SPY-1D(v) multi-function phased array radar.

As a part of its mission, the ROK Navy participated in several peacekeeping operations since the turn of the century. ^[5]

On March 26, 2010, ROKS Cheonan, a Pohang class corvette was sunk by a North Korean torpedo, resulting in death of 46 sailors near Baengnyeong Island, in the vicinity of the Northern Limit Line (NLL).^[26][27]

Command and organization

The Republic of Korea Navy includes the Republic of Korea Navy Headquarters, Republic of Korea Fleet, Republic of Korea Marine Corps, Naval Logistics Command, Naval Education and Training Command, and Naval Academy. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is the highest-ranking officer of the ROK Navy. The ROK Navy operates several naval bases in South Korea: Jinhae, Busan, Donghae, Pyeongtaek, Mokpo, Incheon, Jeju, Pohang.

Senior leadership

As of March 2010, the following people were in office:

• Chief of Naval Operations (CNO): Admiral Kim Sung-chan (based in Republic of Korea Navy Headquarters, Gyeryong)
• Commander-in-Chief Republic of Korea Fleet: Vice Admiral Park Jung-hwa (based in Republic of Korea Fleet command headquarters, Busan)
• Commandant of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps: Lieutenant General Lee Hong-hee (based in Headquarters Republic of Korea Marine Corps, Hwaseong)

Republic of Korea Navy Headquarters

The Republic of Korea Navy Headquarters, located within Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, includes the office of the Chief of Naval Operations and various agencies and staff functions. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is a four-star admiral 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.^[28]

Republic of Korea Fleet

Commander-in-Chief Republic of Korea Fleet (CINCROKFLT) is responsible for naval operations, and based at Busan Naval Operations Base with a command headquarters. CINCROKFLT also serves as Commander Naval Component Command (CNCC) of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command (CFC) in peacetime, or as the Deputy Commander Combined Naval Component Command (DCCNCC) in wartime. The Republic of Korea Fleet has three numbered fleets each assigned to the Sea of Japan (or East Sea ), the West Sea (the Yellow Sea), and the South Sea (the Korea Strait) around South Korea:

• Commander First Fleet (base: Donghae)
• Commander Second Fleet (base: Pyeongtaek)

• Incheon Naval Sector Defense Command

• Commander Third Fleet (base: Mokpo)

• Jeju Defense Command

For various types of naval operations, the ROK Navy has two surface flotillas, a naval aviation force, a submarine flotilla, special warfare (UDT/SEAL) forces, and a training squadron under the command of the CINCROKFLT:

• Component Flotilla Five

• Mine Warfare Squadron 52
• Amphibious Squadron 53
• Service Squadron 55

• Air Wing Six
• Maritime Task Flotilla Seven

• Maritime Task Squadron 71

• Submarine Flotilla Nine
• Naval Special Warfare Brigade
• Maritime tactical information group
• Training squadron

As a part of "Defense Reform 2020," which was proposed by the Roh Moo-hyun Administration, the ROK Navy has been directed to simplify its command structure by eliminating two combat flotillas and three defense commands, and to reform its organization by reforming its submarine operations command into a fleet submarine force; by reforming its naval aviation operations command into a fleet air arm; and by establishing several mobile naval flotillas.^[29][30]

Gidong Budae

When taking command of the Navy in 1995, Admiral An Pyongtae, the ROK Chief of Naval Operations, proposed to build a blue-water navy for the Republic of Korea. In the year 2001, President Kim Dae-jung announced a plan for creating a task force called "strategic maneuver fleet" (전략기동함대; 戰略機動艦隊), which will "protect national interests in the five oceans and contribute to world peace" .^[25] As part of the plan, the ROK Navy established one task group, Commander Maritime Task Flotilla Seven on February 1, 2010, which is composed of one AEGIS guided missile destroyer, the Sejong the Great (DDG 991), and six Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyers.^[31] The ROK Navy also plans to build a new naval base on the southern coast of Jeju-do for basing a squadron of the Maritime Task Flotilla and two submarine squadrons by 2014. The ROK Navy plans to strengthen its control over the seas around the Korean Peninsula by deploying these forces.

Republic of Korea Marine Corps

Relationship with the U.S. Navy

South Korea has a joint military partnership with the United States as outlined by the Mutual Defense Treaty signed on 1951. Commander U.S. Seventh Fleet (C7F) is designated as Commander Combined Naval Component Command (CCNCC) "for the defense of the Korean peninsula; in the event of hostilities, all friendly naval forces in the theater would fall under C7F control."^[32] The ROK and US Governments have agreed on the transfer of wartime operational control to the South Korean government in 2012.

Commander Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) is a shore command of the United States Navy that serves as the shore support agency for all U.S. Naval activity in South Korea. Commander Fleet Activities Chinhae (CFAC) is a U.S. Naval installation in Jinhae.

Personnel

The ROK Navy has about 68,000 personnel, including the 27,000 members of the ROK Marine Corps (as of 2006). Among these members, about 11 percent of them are commissioned officers and about 32 percent of them are non-commissioned officers (including warrant officers).^[33] As a part of "Defense Reform 2020," which was proposed by the Roh Moo-hyun Administration, the ROK Navy has been directed to reduce its manpower to 64,000 sailors, airmen, and Marines.^[30]

Military service is mandatory for all South Korean men. In the ROK Navy, all members are volunteers, with enlisted sailors and airmen serving for 26-month periods, and enlisted Marines serving for 24-month periods; commissioned officer, warrant officer, and non-commissioned officer serving longer terms than those of enlisted men, or as career sailor, airmen, and Marines. In the year 2001, six female ensigns, who had become commissioned officers through the officer candidate school, were assigned to serve on surface ships of the ROK Navy, for the first time ever.^[34]

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). Officer Candidate School, located at the Naval Academy, Jinhae, provides training for candidates with current or prior enlisted experience in the military and civilian college graduates, which take majority in OCS.

Warrant officers

Following the traditions of the British Royal Navy the warrant officer rank in the South Korean armed forces falls in between that of non-commissioned and commissioned officers. In the ROK Navy, warrant officers are mostly former non-commissioned officers who had earned the rating of Wonsa (Master Chief Petty Officer) and who had been selected for and completed a warrant officer candidate program. Another route to becoming a naval warrant officer is to complete a naval aviation warrant officer candidate program. Warrant officers generally mess in the wardroom with commissioned officers.

Non-commissioned officers

Non-commissioned officers originate from a non-commissioned officer candidate program. In the ROK Navy, personnel with ranks of Hasa through Wonsa are considered non-commissioned officers (NCOs) while those at Sangsa and Wonsa are further referred to as “CPO” (chief petty officer) collectively. There are the appointments of Juim Wonsa and Juim Sangsa equivalent to that of the U.S. Navy's Command Master Chief Petty Officer (CMCPO). The positions are filled by senior Wonsa and Sangsa respectively and unlike their U.S. Navy counterparts, the ROK Navy Juim Wonsa and Juim Sangsa wear the same standard rate insignia of Wonsa or Sangsa and only wear a special identification badge. Every ROK Navy establishment and ship has either Juim Wonsa or Juim Sangsa. NCO wear a combination cap with a white cover and a gold chinstrap.

Enlisted

In the ROK Navy, enlisted sailors are referred to as "Subyeong" (수병; 水兵). Normally the enlisted sailors serve in the Navy for 26 months; after this, most of them are transferred from active duty to the naval reserve.

Ranks and rates

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. 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). All three branches - the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force) of the ROK Armed Forces share the same names of ranks as written in Hangul.

ROK Armed Forces rank	Translation	U.S. Navy equivalent
Commissioned Officers (장교; 將校; Janggyo)
장관 (將官; Janggwan)
원수 (元帥; Wonsu)¹	Fleet Admiral
대장 (大將; Daejang)	Admiral
중장 (中將; Jungjang)	Vice Admiral
소장 (少將; Sojang)	Rear Admiral (Upper Half)
준장 (准將; Junjang)	Rear Admiral (Lower Half)
영관 (領官; Yeonggwan)
대령 (大領; Daeryeong)	Captain²
중령 (中領; Jungnyeong)	Commander
소령 (少領; Soryeong)	Lieutenant Commander
위관 (尉官; Wigwan)
대위 (大尉; Daewi)	Lieutenant
중위 (中尉; Jungwi)	Lieutenant Junior Grade
소위 (少尉; Sowi)	Ensign
Warrant Officers (준사관; 准士官; Junsagwan)
준위 (准尉; Junwi)	Warrant Officer	Chief Warrant Officer
Non-Commissioned Officers (부사관; 副士官; Busagwan)
원사 (元士; Wonsa)	Master Chief Petty Officer
상사 (上士; Sangsa)	Chief Petty Officer	Senior Chief Petty Officer
중사 (中士; Jungsa)	Senior Petty Officer	Chief Petty Officer
하사 (下士; Hasa)	Petty Officer	Petty Officer First Class
Enlisted (병; 兵; Byeong)
병장 (兵長; Byeongjang)	Leading Seaman	Petty Officer Second Class
상등병 (上等兵; Sangdeungbyeong)	Able Seaman	Petty Officer Third Class
일등병 (一等兵; Ildeungbyeong)	Seaman First Class	Seaman
이등병 (二等兵; Ideungbyeong)	Seaman Second Class	Seaman Apprentice

¹: No one held the rank of Wonsu 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 U.S. Navy.

Naval engagements of the South Korean Navy

• Battle of Haeju
• Gangneung Infiltration
• Battle of Yosu
• First Battle of Yeonpyeong
• Second Battle of Yeonpyeong
• Battle of Daecheong

Major international activities

The ROK Navy frequently participates in multinational exercises and international activities. Also it has engaged in several peacekeeping operations since the turn of the century.

• 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 U.S. Navy and U.S. 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 Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and United States.^[35]

Anti-piracy operations

In March 2009, the ROK Navy deployed the Cheonghae task group to response to piracy attacks in shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia. This task group is composed of a Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyer and about 30 naval special warfare personnel. The group operates as part of the multinational task force, Combined Task Force 151 of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).^[36]

International fleet review

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. 21 ships from 11 countries (Australia, Bangladesh, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States) participated in the fleet review as well as 34 ships and 15 aircraft from South Korea.^[37][38] The ROK Navy hosted its second international fleet review off coast of Busan in October 2008 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the South Korean government. 22 ships from 11 countries (Australia, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States) participated in the fleet review as well as 33 ships and 27 aircraft from South Korea.^[39][40]

The Cruise Training Unit - ROKS Kwaggaeto the Great (DDH 971), ROKS Jeju (FF 958) and ROKS Cheonji (AOE 57) participated in International Fleet Review 2002 commemorating the 50th anniversary of JMSDF in Tokyo Bay. 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. In April 2009, ROKS Dokdo (LPH 6111) and ROKS Kang Gamchan (DDH 979) attended an international fleet review to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in Qingdao. In August 2009, the Cruise Training Flotilla - ROKS Choi Young (DDH 981) and ROKS Daecheong (AOE 58) participated in the Indonesian International Fleet Review, which commemorates the 64th anniversary of Indonesian independence.

Ships

The ROK Navy employs the U.S. 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.^[41]

There are four ship ratings. A first-rate ship (DDH, LPH, MLS, AOE, and ARS) is commanded by a captain; a second-rate ship (FF, SS, LST, and ATS) by a commander; a third-rate ship (PCC, SSM, PKG, MSH, and MHC) by a lieutenant commander; and a fourth-rate (PKM and LSF) is commanded by a lieutenant.

Major commissioned ships

In the Republic of Korea Navy, there are some 170 commissioned ships (total displacement of approx. 153,000 tons) including 20 destroyers and frigates, 12 submarines, 100 corvettes and fast attack craft and 20 auxiliaries as of 2009. The ship prefix for the ROK Navy ship is ROKS (Republic of Korea Ship) when the names of ships are written in English.

Surface combatants (destroyers and frigates)

• Sejong the Great class (DDG: Destroyer Guided-missile; 2 in service)
• Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class (DDH: Destroyer Helicopter; 6 in service)
• Kwanggaeto the Great class (DDH; 3 in service)
• Ulsan class (FF: Frigate; 9 in service)

Submarines

• Sohn Wonyil class (SS: Submarine; 3 in service)
• Chang Bogo class (SS; 9 in service)
• Dolgorae class (SSM: Midget Submarine; 2 in service)

Patrol ships (corvettes and patrol craft)

• Pohang class (PCC: Patrol Combat Corvette; 22 in service)
• Donghae class (PCC; 3 in service)
• Yoon Youngha class (PKG: Patrol Killer Guided-missile; 3 in service^[42])
• Chamsuri class (PKM: Patrol Killer Medium; approx. 80 in service)

Amphibious warfare ships

• Dokdo class (LPH: Landing Transport Helicopter;^[43] 1 in service)
• Gojunbong class (LST: Landing Ship Tank; 4 in service)
• Solgae 621 class (LSF: Landing Ship Fast; Tsaplya class (Project 12061E Murena-E); transferred from Russia; 3 in service)^[44][45][46]
• Solgae 631 class (LSF; aka LSF-II; 2 in service)^[47]

Mine warfare ships

• Wonsan class (MLS: Minelayer Ship; 1 in service)
• Yangyang class (MSH: Minesweeper Hunter; 3 in service)^[48]
• Ganggyeong class (MHC: Minehunter Coastal; 6 in service)

Auxiliary ships

• 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)
• Sinsegi class (AGS: Surveying Ship; 1 in service)
• Sincheonji class (AGS; 1 in service)
• Dadohae class (ASL: Midget-submarine Tender; 1 in service)^[49]

Ships under construction

• Sejong the Great class (DDG; 3 in this class; 2 in service; 1 under construction)
• Sohn Wonyil class (SS; 9 in this class: 3 in service; 6 more planned)^[50]
• Yoon Youngha class (PKG; 24 in this class: 3 commissioned; 2 launched; 19 more planned)

Aircraft

Commander Air Wing Six is the name of the ROK Navy that is responsible for all of its aircraft. This Air Wing's operational headquarters is located in Pohang, and its naval air stations are in Pohang, Jinhae, and Mokpo. Air Wing Six his about 10 fixed-wing and 50 rotary-wing aircraft as of 2006.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
Bell Helicopter UH-1	United States	utility transport helicopter	UH-1H	n/a	-
Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion	United States	ASW/surveillance aircraft	P-3C P-3CK	8 3[51]	- 5 more P-3CK to be delivered in 2010
Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II	France  United States	light utility aircraft	F406	3	-
Sikorsky Aircraft UH-60	United States	utility transport helicopter	UH-60P	10[52]	built by KAL-ASD
Westland Lynx	United Kingdom	ASW helicopter	Lynx Mk.99 Super Lynx Mk.99A	11 12[53]	-
Aérospatiale Alouette III	France	light utility helicopter	SA-319B	5[54]	trainer

Weaponry

Ongoing projects

Korean Destroyer Experimental (KDX) program

Korean experimental destroyer program is a three-phased program to modernize the surface fleet by developing and constructing new destroyers for the ROK Navy with advanced combat systems and weaponry. The outcomes of this program include the Kwanggaeto the Great-class destroyers, which are the first ROK destroyers to be armed with surface-to-air missiles; the Chungmugong Yi Sunshin-class ASW destroyers; and the powerful King Sejong the Great-class destroyers, which are equipped with the sophisticated AEGIS combat system for air-defense and anti-missile operations. These new destroyers replaced antiquated destroyers that had been transferred from the U.S. Navy decades ago.

In October 2009, the ROK Navy announced plans to build and commission six 5,600-ton destroyers with the AEGIS system (the KDX-II A destroyers) from 2019 to 2026 for beefing up the Maritime Task Flotilla.^[55]

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 built is 20 to 24 by 2020 and the first batch of six new frigates are planned to be built by 2015.^[56] Hyundai Heavy Industries will build the lead ship that is planned to enter service in 2011.^[57] These frigates will be armed with the American-made Phalanx CIWS system and the rolling airframe missile system, and they will each carry a Westland Lynx anti-submarine warfare helicopter.^[58]

Korean Submarine (KSS) 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;^[50] 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).^[59]

Patrol Killer Experimental (PKX)

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.^[60][61]

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)

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, ROKS 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 ROKS Dokdo in April, 2007.

In October 2009, the ROKN revealed that it plans to acquire a new 14,500-ton LPX around 2018.^[62]

LST-II project

The ROK Navy plans to acquire four new 4,500-ton amphibious ships between 2014 and 2017.

AOE-II Project

The ROKN plans to acquire uncertain number of 12,000-ton fast combat support ships (AOE) around 2017 to relieve the 9,000-ton Cheonji class ships.

ATS-II project

Through ATS-II project, the ROKN will replace the two ex-USN Beaufort class ships with two locally built 3500-ton salvage and rescue ships.

Training Ship Experimental (ATX)

The ROK Navy plans to acquire a new 4,500-ton training ship (ATX) for midshipmen and officer candidates around 2015.^[63]

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.^[64]

Mine countermeasure helicopter program

The ROK Navy had planned to acquire new mine countermeasure helicopters by 2012 with a budget of 480 billion won. AgustaWestland EH-101, NHIndustries NH-90, and Sikorsky MH-60S were being considered as possible candidates for the acquisition program^[65][66] before it decided to hold the project due to global financial crisis that hit the world in 2008.

See also

• Joseon Navy
• Naval history of Korea
• North Korean Navy
• Korea Coast Guard
• Yi Sunshin

Notes

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

Republic of Korea Armed Forces Army · Navy / Marine Corps · Air Force