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ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great (DDH-971)

1998 MODERN NAVY

History

With unpredictable neighbor North Korea to the north and defensive powerhouse China to the west, South Korea has a responsibility to invest heavily in a viable naval service that will operate alongside its land and air components. As a result, various warship and submarine classes have been put into service for decades, and in the mid-to-late 1990s, the Gwanghaeto Dae-class destroyer was introduced with a trio and developed under the leadership of South Korea's Gwanghaeto (DDH-971).

Over time, ROKS Eulji Mundeok (DDH-972) and ROKS Yang Manchun (DDH-973) came online, and all ships were built by Daewoo Heavy Industries. Each remains active in the Republic of Korea Navy (ROK)???(2017).

Despite their official destroyer classification, the group can also be considered a frigate due to displacement, size and capabilities.

ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great was formed as part of the ROK Navy's "KDX" program to provide the ROK Navy with deep sea/distant sea forces - away from mainly coastal naval forces. This means ships are designed with good seaworthiness and range, as well as weapons and sensor systems capable of engaging multiple targets beyond line-of-sight (BVR).

The new destroyers have already begun to equip the group with up to 12 ships to meet their needs.

ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great has a full-load displacement of 3,825 tons. She has an overall length of 444.6 feet, a beam of 46.6 feet, and a draft of up to 13.8 feet.

With a crew of 286 inside, the Air Force includes a pair of Westland Super Lynx Navy helicopters that are launched and recovered from the stern helipad. A full-service hangar provides offshore repair and maintenance facilities.

Propulsion is via a CODAG (Combined Diesel and Gas) arrangement, pairing 2x Ssangyong Motor Corporation 20V956 TB82 diesel generator sets with 2x GE LM2500-30 marine gas turbines. These engines are tethered to two shafts under the stern and provide speeds of up to 30 knots.

This combined arrangement allows the operator to switch from petrol to diesel and back to perform the manoeuvres of sprinting and cruising - as well as an efficient fuel saving system for modern warships. Range up to 4,500 nautical miles.

Cutaway view of the warship showing a single-deck gun on the foredeck, with an embedded missile magazine in front of the bridge structure. The superstructure houses the communications and sensor systems, some of which are arranged around a trussed main mast. Behind the main superstructure is a Y-split chimney for depleted propulsion schemes.

Behind it is the secondary structure (containing the hangar) and the helipad.

Conventional armament is 1 x 5"/54 caliber 127mm OTO-Melara deck gun (with turret) and 2 x Signal "Goalkeeper" 30mm Closed Weapon System (CIWS). The missile focus of the warship is clearly the Mk 48 ship The Mod 2 Vertical Launch System (VLS) at the front of the bridge houses 16 x RIM-7P Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles. There is also a pair of quad launchers for Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

Warships are also equipped 2 x 324 mm (12.8 in) triple torpedo tubes for above and underwater threats (Mark 46 torpedo mount).

The AN/SPS-49(V) 2D air search radar tops the list of advanced processing systems that allow ships to see beyond the horizon. This also applies to Signal MV08 Surface Search and Daewoo SPS-95K Navigation Radar. Signal also offers its STIR 180 Series Fire Control System (FCS) radars.

The SLQ-25 "Nixie" system is the towed decoy for incoming torpedoes, and the ATLAS DSQS-21BZ constitutes the hull mounted sonar system. 4 x CSEE DAGAIE MK 2 is a mounted chaff thrower. All of this works with the ship's weapon systems as well as helicopters, giving warships greater range.

ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great was launched on October 28, 1996 and officially opened on July 24, 1998. She continues active duty with her two sisters (2017).