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Military


South Korea Navy Equipment

ROK navy ships do not use the numbers '0' or '4' for Pennant numbers.
The number '4' unlucky (much like Friday the 13th),
since it is pronounced like the word for "death".
The number '0' is also bad luck,
except for MLS 560 Wonsan and submarines.

Modernization

Korean Flag Shipping (KFS)



90 95 00 05 10 13 15 20 25 30
Personnel (In Thousands) - - - - - - - - - -
Active 35 35 35 38 41 41 41 41 41 41
Marine Corps 25 25 25 25 27 27 27 27 27 27
Ships Source Tons Year Inventory
Aircraft Carriers - - - - - - - - - 1
CVA-X ROK 71,000 203? - - - - - - - - - 1
CVL-X ROK 30,000 2033 - - - - - - - - - 1
Submarines 9 15 20 21 22 23 26 19 22 27
Jang Bogo-IV KSS-N/SS-NX ROK 5,000 2030 - - - - - - - - - ?
Jang Bogo-III KSS-III / SSX ROK 3,000 2020 - - - - - - - 1 4 9
Son Won-ill KSS-II / T-214 DE/ROK 1,700 19xx - - - - 2 3 6 9 9 9
Jang Bogo Type 209 DE 1,100 1993 -- 3 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
Dolgorae KSS-I ROK 150 1983 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 - - -
Dolphin SX 756 IT 78 1988 6 9 9 9 9 9 9 - - -
Destroyers 9 9 7 9 10 11 12 12 17 21
KDDGX Joint Firepower Ship ROK 5,000 2025 - - - - - - - - 1 3
KDDX KDX-IV ROK 8,000 2023 - - - - - - - - 2 6
Sejong KDX-III ROK 11,000 2009 -- -- -- -- 1 2 3 3 4 6
Choong Moo Gong KDX-II ROK 5,000 2003 -- -- -- 3 6 6 6 6 6 6
Kwanggaeto KDX-I ROK 3,855 1998 -- -- 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 --
Chungbuk Gearing1 US 3,500 1975 7 7 4 3 -- -- -- -- -- --
Dae Gu Sumner US 3,320 1973 2 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Frigates 7 9 9 9 9 9 9 16 23 26
HCX-19 ROK 4,000 203? - - - - - - - - - ??
FFX Incheon TBD ROK 2,300 - - - - - - - 3 9 12
FFX Incheon DW-3000H ROK 2,300 2016 - - - - - - - 8 8 8
FFX Incheon HDF-3000 ROK 2,300 2013 - - - - - 1 6 6 6 6
Ulsan HDF 2000 ROK 2,180 1981 7 9 9 9 9 8 3 - - -
Corvettes 30 32 34 34 33 30 26 9 1 1
MCS ROK 1,650 201x - - - - - - - ? ? ?
Seojinkang2 ROK 1,650 1999 -- -- 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
Mazinger2 HDP 1000 ROK 1,450 1981 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 - -
Pohang HDC 1200 ROK 1,220 1984 22 24 24 24 24 21 21 5 - -
Hankang2 HDC 1150 ROK 1,150 1985 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - -
Dong Hae HDC 8000 ROK 1,076 1982 4 4 4 4 4 4 - - - -
Fast-attack craft 11 10 5 ... 1 9 18 26 36 54
Chamsuri PKX-B / PKMR ROK 300 2017 - - - - - - 1 8 18 36
Gumdoksuri PK-X / PKG ROK 570 2008 - - - - 1 9 17 18 18 18
Paek Ku 52 Asheville US 268 1975 8 8 5 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Paek Ku 51 Asheville US 268 1970 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Kilkurki-71 Wild Cat ROK 140 1971 2 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Patrol, Offshore 35 39 39 39 38 10 10 10 10 10
Sea Whale2 HDP 600 ROK 500 1978 6 6 6 6 6 -- -- -- -- --
430-Ton2 ROK 430 1991 2 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Bukhansan2 DW 300P ROK 380 1989 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Chebi2 Sea-Shark ROK 280 1979 22 22 22 22 22 -- -- -- -- --
PC 277 2 ROK 250 1986 1 1 1 1 -- -- -- -- -- --
Patrol, Fast, Inshore ... 32 75 80 80 80 80 80 80 80
Chamsuri Sea Dolphin ROK 156 197? -- 32 75 80 80 80 71 70 - -
Patrol Craft, Fast 36 27 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Sea Hawk Schoolboy ROK 80 1974 36 27 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mine Warfare

Mine Warfare 9 15 16 17 10 10 10 10 11 11
Minelayers ... 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1
Nampo MLS-II ROK 3,300 2015 - - - - - - - 1 1 1
Wonsan MLS ROK 3,300 1997 - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 -
Minehunters 1 6 7 8 9 9 9 9 10 10
Nex-Gen MCMV MSH ROK 1200? 202? - - - - - - - - - 3 ?
Yang-yang MSH ROK 880 2000 -- -- 1 2 3 3 3 4 6 6
Kan Keong SK 5000 ROK 470 1986 1 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 3 -
Minesweepers 8 8 8 8 ... ... ... ... ... ...
Kum San MSC 268 US 320 1959 3 3 3 3 -- -- -- -- -- --
Nam Yang MSC 289 US 315 1963 5 5 5 5 -- -- -- -- -- --

Amphibious Warfare

Amphibious Warfare 31 36 33 32 25 22 25 22? 22? 22?
Amphibious Ships ... ... ... ... 1 1 1 2 3 4
LPX-II LP-X II ROK 40,000 2025 - - - - - - - - 1 2
Dokdo LP-X ROK 18,860 2007 -- -- -- -- 1 1 1 2 2 2
Landing Ship Tank (LST) 7 8 10 9 9 6 7? 4? 4? 4?
LST-II -- -- -- -- -- -- 3? 4? 4? 4?
Kojoonbong HDL 4000 ROK 4,278 1994 -- 1 4 4 4 4 4? -- -- --
Unbong LST-1 / 542 US 4,080 1955 7 7 6 5 5 2 -- -- -- --
Landing Ship, Medium (LSM) 7 7 3 2 ... ... ... ... ... ...
Ko Mun LSM-1 US 520 1956 7 7 3 2 -- -- -- -- -- --
Landing Craft, Utility (LCU) 7 10 9 9 ... ... ... ... ... ...
Mulkae-72 LCU-1610 ROK 415 1979 6 9 9 9 -- -- -- -- -- --
Mulkae-71 LCU-501 US 309 1960 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Mulkae? LCU-1466 US 347 1992 -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Landing Vessels (LCM) 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
LCM LCM(8) US 116 1978 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Air Cushion Landing Vessels ... 1 1 2 5 5 5 5 5 5
Solgae Mod LCAC US 182 1997 -- 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
WLCMA Proj 1206.1 RU 149 2005 -- -- -- 1 3 3 3 3 3 3

Auxiliaries

Support Tankers ... 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Soyyang AOE-II HDA 10000 ROK 13,000 2018 - - - - - - - 1 1 3
Cheonji AOE-I HDA 8000 ROK 9,000 1992 - 1 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 -
Support Ships ... ... 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Cheonji ASR-II ROK 9,000 1992 - - - - - - - 1 1 1
Dadohae AS ROK ? 199? - - 1 1 1 1 - - - -
Rescue Ships ... 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
ASR-II ROK 5,200 2022 - - - - - - - - 1 1
Tongyeong ATS-II ROK 4,700 2014 - - - - - - 1 2 2 2
Cheonghaejin DW 4000R ROK 4,330 1997 - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - -
Pyongtaek Edenton US 2,650 1997 -- 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Salvage Ships 3 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Sambongho2 WARS ROK 5,000 2001 -- -- -- 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Taepyeongyang II2 WARS ROK 5,000 1998 -- -- 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Taepyeongyang I2 WARS ROK 4,300 1993 -- 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Jaemin III 2 WARS ROK 3,900 1988 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Jaemin II2 WARS ROK 2,500 1996 -- -- 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Jaemin I2 WARS ROK 2,072 1992 -- 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Chang Won Diver US 1,970 1978 2 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Ice Breakers ... ... ... ... 1 1 1 1 1 1
Araon ROK 2009 -- -- -- -- 1 1 1 1 1 1
Training Ships - - - - - - - 1 1 1
Hansando ATH ROK 4,500 2018 - - - - - - - 1 1 1

Naval Aviation

Rotary Wing 10 22 22 25 40 38 56? 51? 51? 51?
UH-60P Black Hawk US -- -- -- -- 10 10 30? 30? 30? 30?
UH-1H Huey US -- -- -- -- 10 10 10? -- -- --
MH-X / AW159 Lynx Wildcat EU - - - - - - - 6 6 6
Mk.99A Super Lynx UK -- -- -- 13 13 13 13 13 13 13
Mk.99 Super Lynx UK -- 12 12 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
SA-316B / -319B Alouette III FRA 10 10 10 10 5 3 1 -- -- --
Bell 206B JetRanger II US -- -- -- 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Fixed Wing 24 23 28 21 21 21 21 21 31 31
S-3 Viking US - - - - - - - 8 18 18
P-3CK Orion US -- -- -- -- 8 8 8 8 8 8
P-3C Orion US -- 8 8 8 8 8 8 - - -
S-2E Tracker US 24 15 15 8 -- -- -- -- -- --
Cessna-Reims F-406 Caravan II FRA -- -- 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Notes

    1 - Gearing Class ships were delivered to the ROK Navy with FRAM I and FRAM II upgrades. This total is for both types.

    2 - These vessels are or were operated by South Korea's Coast Guard and Maritime Police. The Coast Guard was eventually merged with the Maritime Police.




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