List of active Republic of Korea Navy ships

Naval Jack of South Korea

This is a List of active Republic of Korea Navy ships. The South Korean 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 ship prefix for the ROK Navy ship is ROKS (Republic of Korea Ship) when the names of ships are written in English. There are some 130 commissioned ships (total displacement of approx. 192,000 tons) including 15 submarines, 12 destroyers and frigates, 18 corvettes, 72 patrol vessels and at least 6 auxiliaries.^[1] The names of ships are that of the historical figures, provinces, cities, counties, peaks, lakes, islands, and birds. The Chief of Naval Operations selects the names of ships.^[2]

For a list of historic ships, see List of ships of the Republic of Korea Navy.

Submarine fleet

• South Korean navies do not use the number '0', '4' when assigning Pennant numbers to their ships. In Korea, there’s a superstitious belief that '4' is an unlucky number(much like Friday the 13th in the West). '0' is also considered as bad luck. There are two exceptions, though - MLS 560 Wonsan and submarines.^[3]

Submarines

Class	Picture	Origin	Pennant	Versions	Commissioned	Builder	Displacement submerged	Note
Submarines (15 in Service)
Chang Bogo-class (Project name; KSS-I)		Germany  South Korea	SS 061 SS 062 SS 063 SS 065 SS 066 SS 067 SS 068 SS 069 SS 071	Batch I Batch II	1993 1994 1995 1995 1996 1997 2000 2000 2001	Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering	1,415 tonnes 1,450+ tonnes	Batch-2 submarines are capable of launching UGM-84L Sub Harpoon missiles.[4]
Son Wonil-class (Project name; KSS-II)		Germany  South Korea	SS 072 SS 073 SS 075 SS 076 SS 077 SS 078 SS 079 SS 081 SS 082	Batch I Batch II Batch III	2007 2008 2009 2014 scheduled 2016 scheduled 2016 scheduled 2017 scheduled 2018 scheduled 2019	Hyundai Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Hyundai Heavy Industries Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Hyundai Heavy Industries Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Hyundai Heavy Industries	1,860 tonnes 2,100+ tonnes 2,400+ tonnes
Midget submarines (2 in Service)
Dolgorae-class		South Korea	SSM 052 SSM 053		1990 1991	Hanjin Heavy Industries Hanjin Heavy Industries	175 tonnes	DAPA has decided to select Hyundai KSS 500A as a replacement for its Navy’s aging Dolgorae class SSM for a total of 3 submarines. (Planned deployment date around 2016) [5]

Surface fleet

Amphibious assault ships, landing ships

Class	Picture	Builder	Ships	Commissioned	Displacement	Note
Amphibious assault ships (1 in Service)
Dokdo-class LPH		Hanjin Heavy Industries	LPH 6111 Dokdo	2007	18,800 tonnes	1 more under construction.[6]
Landing ships (5 in Service)
Go Jun Bong-class LST		Hanjin Heavy Industries	LST 681 Go Jun Bong LST 682 Bi Ro Bong LST 683 Hyang Ro Bong LST 685 Sung In Bong	1994 1998 1999 1999	4,300 tonnes
Cheon Wang Bong-class LST		Hanjin Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries	LST 686 Cheon Wang Bong LST 687 Cheon Ja Bong LST 688 LST 689	2014 2016 201? 201?	7,000 tonnes

Destroyers

Class	Picture	Builder	Ships	Commissioned	Displacement	Note
Destroyers (12 in Service)
Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer (project name; KDX-I)		Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering	DDH 971 Gwanggaeto the Great DDH 972 Eulji Mundeok DDH 973 Yang Manchun	1998 1999 2000	3,900 tonnes
Chungmugong Yi Sun-shin-class (project name; KDX-II)		Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Hyundai Heavy Industries Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Hyundai Heavy Industries Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Hyundai Heavy Industries	DDH 975 Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin DDH 976 Munmu the Great DDH 977 Dae Jo-yeong DDH 978 Wang Geon DDH 979 Gang Gam-chan DDH 981 Choe Yeong	2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008	5,520 tonnes	6 KDX-IIA to be built
Sejong the Great-class destroyer (project name; KDX-III)		Hyundai Heavy Industries Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Hyundai Heavy Industries	DDG 991 Sejong the Great DDG 992 Yulgok Yi I DDG 993 Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong	2008 2010 2012	11,000 tonnes	3 more to be built.[7]

Frigates

Class	Picture	Builder	Ships	Commissioned	Displacement	Note
Frigates (12 in Service)
Ulsan-class frigate		Busan Korea SEC Korea Takoma Shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Hyundai Heavy Industries Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Hyundai Heavy Industries Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering	FF 953 Chungnam FF 955 Masan FF 956 Kyeongbuk FF 957 Jeonnam FF 958 Jeju FF 959 Busan FF 961 Cheongju	1986 1985 1986 1988 1990 1993 1993	2,350 tonnes	Being phased out, to be replaced by Incheon-class frigates. (2 removed from service.)[8]
Incheon-class frigate (project name; FFG)		Hyundai Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries STX Offshore & Shipbuilding STX Offshore & Shipbuilding STX Offshore & Shipbuilding	FFG 811 Incheon FFG 812 Gyeonggi FFG 813 Jeonbuk FFG 815 Gangwon FFG 816 Chungbuk FFG 817 Gwangju	2013 2014 2015 2016 2016 2016	3,100 tonnes (Batch-I)	Planned: 18 to 24 (6 batch I, 8 batch II and 8 batch III)

Corvettes

Class	Picture	Builder	Ships	Commissioned	Displacement	Note
Corvettes (18 in Service)
Pohang-class corvette		Korea Takoma Shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Korea Shipbuilding Corporation Korea Takoma Shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Korea Shipbuilding Corporation Hyundai Heavy Industries Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Korea Takoma Shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Korea Takoma Shipyard Korea Shipbuilding Corporation Korea Takoma Shipyard	PCC 762 Chungju PCC 763 Jinju PCC 765 Yeosu PCC 766 Jinhae PCC 767 Suncheon PCC 768 Iksan PCC 769 Wonju PCC 771 Andong PCC 773 Bucheon PCC 775 Seongnam PCC 776 Jecheon PCC 777 Daecheon PCC 778 Sokcho PCC 779 Yeongju PCC 781 Namwon PCC 782 Gwangmyeong PCC 783 Sinseong PCC 785 Gongju	1987 1988 1986 1990 1989 1989 1989 1988 1990 1990 1990 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1992 1993	1,200 tonnes	Being phased out, to be replaced by Incheon-class frigates. (First five corvettes of this class retired from service.)[8]

Mine countermeasure

Class	Picture	Builder	Ships	Commissioned	Displacement	Note
Mine countermeasure vessels (10 in Service)
Wonsan-class (MLS: Minelayer, Support Ship)		Hyundai Heavy Industries	MLS 560 Wonsan	1998	3,300 tonnes
Ganggyeong-class (MHC: Minehunter Coastal)		Kangnam corporation	MHC 561 Ganggyeong MHC 562 Gangjin MHC 563 Goryeong MHC 565 Gimpo MHC 566 Gochang MHC 567 Kumhwa	1986 1991 1991 1993 1993 1994	520 tonnes	Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) monocoque hull structure
Yangyang-class (MSH: Minesweeper Hunter)		Kangnam corporation	MSH 571 Yangyang MSH 572 Ongjin MSH 573 Haenam	1999 2003 2004	880 tonnes	Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) monocoque hull structure

Patrol vessels

Class	Picture	Builder	Ships	Commissioned	Displacement	Note
Patrol vessels (80 in Service)
Chamsuri-class patrol boat		Korea Takoma Shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering	PKM 2XX~3XX Approx. 63 in service	1978~1994	170 tonnes	ROKN received a total of 107,[9] being phased out and to be replaced by PKG-B-class patrol vessels
Gumdoksuri-class patrol vessel		Hanjin Heavy Industries STX Offshore & Shipbuilding STX Offshore & Shipbuilding STX Offshore & Shipbuilding STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Hanjin Heavy Industries Hanjin Heavy Industries Hanjin Heavy Industries Hanjin Heavy Industries STX Offshore & Shipbuilding STX Offshore & Shipbuilding STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Hanjin Heavy Industries Hanjin Heavy Industries Hanjin Heavy Industries STX Offshore & Shipbuilding STX Offshore & Shipbuilding	PKG 711 Yoon Youngha PKG 712 Han Sanggook PKG 713 Jo Chunhyung PKG 715 Hwang Dohyun PKG 716 Suh Hoowon PKG 717 Park Donghyuk PKG 718 Hyun Sihak PKG 719 Jung Geungmo PKG 721 Ji Deokchil PKG 722 Lim Byeongrae PKG 723 Hong Siuk PKG 725 Hong Daeseon PKG 726 Han Munsik PKG 727 Kim ChangHak PKG 728 Park Dongjin PKG 729 Kim soohyun PKG 731 Lee Byungchul	2008 2011 2011 2012 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014	570 tonnes	The Gumdoksuri class has the water-jet propulsion system aside from the CODAG.[10]

Auxiliary fleet

Class	Picture	Builder	Ships	Commissioned	Displacement	Note
Auxiliary vessels (7 in Service)
Cheonji-class (AOE: Fast Combat Support Ship)		Hyundai Heavy Industries	AOE 57 Cheonji AOE 58 Daocheong AOE 59 Hwacheon	1992 1998 1998	9,180 tonnes
Chung Haejin-class (ASR: Submarine Rescue Ship)		Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering	ASR 21 Chung Haejin	1996	4,300 tonnes
Pyeongtaek-class (ATS: Salvage and Rescue Ship)		Brooke Marine	ATS 27 Pyeongtaek (ex-USS Beaufort)	1996	3,484 tonnes	Being replaced by Tongyeong-class rescue and salvage ships
Tongyeong-class (ATS: Salvage and Rescue Ship)		Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering	ATS 31 Tongyeong ATS 32 Gwangyang	2015 201?	4,700 tonnes	ROKS Gwangyang(ATS 32) is a Tongyeong-class rescue and salvage ship, the second Republic of Korea Navy ship of that name.[11]

See also

• Republic of Korea Navy
• List of ships of the Republic of Korea Navy

References

1. "Security Environment Surrounding Japan" (PDF). mod.go.jp. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
2. "함정 명명식". Republic of Korea Navy Official Website. Retrieved May 11, 2007.
3. "한국 해군은 어떤 함정을 갖고 있는가". 동아일보 이정훈 기자의 안보마당. 2013-09-16.
4. "ROKN Chang Bogo Class Submarines, South Korea". naval-technology.com. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
5. "유사시 北침투 위해 소형잠수함 도입키로". 조선일보. 2012-11-27.
6. "한진重, 제2독도함 "마라도함" 수주 방위사업청과 4175억원 규모 공급 계약 체결". gdnews.kr. 2015-06-09.
7. "Republic of Korea – Aegis Combat System" (PDF). Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 2015-06-09.
8. "Navy decommissions first-generation indigenous warship ROKS Seoul". yonhapnews.co.kr.
9. http://egloos.zum.com/korearms/v/1186415
10. "[한국의 무기 이야기] ⑥ 윤영하급 유도탄고속함". 세계일보. 2014-11-25.
11. "우윤근 "차기 해군함정 이름은 광양함" 기사등록 일시 [2015-03-31 20:17:38]". newsis.com. 2015-03-31.

External links

• Naval Vessels Registry - Custodian Assignments: KOREA
• NavSource Naval History
• Republic of Korea Navy official website (Korean) (English)
• South Korea navy ships GlobalSecurity.org
• World Navies Today: South Korea Haze Gray & Underway: World Navies Today