The South Korean Navy announced, unofficially - under condition of anonymity, it will send the ROKS Gang Gamchan, DDH 979 - KDX-II type Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyer, into the Guld of Aden to protect Korean ships navigating through the area from pirate attacks.The Gang Gamchan is expected to carry two Lynx helicopters members of special UDT (Underwater Demolition Teams) and SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) teams, who will conduct operations against the pirates if the necessity arises.
When the South Korean naval vessel arrives at the Gulf of Aden, it will be joining a flotilla of other naval vessels from countries such as the US, the UK, Russia, India, and France. To my knowledge, the South Korean Navy has deployed to international waters before for various combined exercises with foreign partners, but this deployment will be the first of its kind for South Korea and the South Korean Navy - deployment of a warship into international/foreign territorial waters for an operational mission.
Some facts about the KDX-II type Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyers:
The lead ship of this class, ROKS Chungmugong Yi Sunshin, was launched in May 2002 and commissioned in December 2003. Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyers are a part of the Republic of Korea Navy's shipbuilding program named "KDX-II", which paved the way for becoming a blue-water navy. The design of the hull was licensed from the German IABG company. Currently, there are 6 ships of this class in service.
The ship has a 32-cell strike-length Mk 41 VLS for SM-2 Block IIIA area-air defence missiles, one 21-round RAM inner-layer defence missile launcher, one 30 mm Goalkeeper close-in weapon system, one Mk 45 Mod 4 127 mm gun, eight Harpoon anti-ship missiles and two triple 324 mm anti-submarine torpedo tubes.
Electronics suite includes one Raytheon AN/SPS-49(V)5 2D long-range radar (LRR), one Thales Nederland MW08 3D target indication radar (TIR), two Thales Nederland STIR240 fire-control radars with OT-134A Continuous Wave Illumination (CWI) transmitters, an SLQ-200(V)K SONATA electronic warfare system and a KDCOM-II combat management system which is derived from the Royal Navy Type 23 frigate's SSCS combat management system. BAE Systems WDS Mk 14 originally developed for the US Navy's New Threat Upgrade evaluates threats, prioritizes them, and engages them in order with SM-2.
On the 4th unit, ROKS Wang Geon, the 32-cell Mk 41 VLS is moved to the left and an indigenous VLS for a "Korean VLA" is installed on the right. The ship's forward part is spacious enough to take a 64-cell Mk 41 VLS.
Ships in Service:
Hull no. Name Launched Commissioned
DDH 975 Chungmugong Yi Sunshin 22 May 2002 2 December 2003
DDH 976 Munmu the Great 11 April 2003 30 September 2004
DDH 977 Dae Joyeong 12 November 2003 30 June 2005
DDH 978 Wang Geon 04 May 2005 10 November 2006
DDH 979 Gang Gamchan 16 March 2006 1 October 2007
DDH 981 Choi Young 20 October 2006 4 September 2008
DDH 975 Chungmugong Yi Sunshin 22 May 2002 2 December 2003
DDH 976 Munmu the Great 11 April 2003 30 September 2004
DDH 977 Dae Joyeong 12 November 2003 30 June 2005
DDH 978 Wang Geon 04 May 2005 10 November 2006
DDH 979 Gang Gamchan 16 March 2006 1 October 2007
DDH 981 Choi Young 20 October 2006 4 September 2008
General characteristics:
Displacement: 4,400 tones - 5,520 tons fully loaded
Length: 150 m
Beam: 17 m
Propulsion: CODOG
Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h)
Crew Complement: 300
