According to information published by the Republic of Korea Armed Forces Facebook account on January 1, 2021, the South Korean Navy took delivery of ROKS Gyeongnam (FFG-819) Daegu-class guided missile frigate just before the end of the year.
According to information published by the Republic of Korea Armed Forces Facebook account on January 1, 2021, the South Korean Navy took delivery of ROKS Gyeongnam (FFG-819) Daegu-class guided missile frigate just before the end of the year.
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New ROKS Gyeongnam (FFG-819) Daegu-class guided missile frigate of South Korean Navy. (Picture source Facebook Republic of Korea Armed Forces)
The ROKS Gyeongnam is a Daegu-class guided missile frigate built from the South Korean Navy by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and Hyundai Heavy Industries. The ship was launched in June 2019 and must be commissioned in early 2021.
South Korea has ordered a total of 8 Daegu-class frigates that are built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and Hyundai Heavy Industries.
The Daegu-class is an improved variant of the Incheon-class frigate. Modifications to the Incheon-class include a TB-250K towed array sonar system and a 16-cell Korean Vertical Launching System (K-VLS) that is able to deploy the K-SAAM, Hong Sang Eo anti-submarine missile, and Haeryong tactical land attack cruise missiles.
The hull design is generally based on the Incheon-class, also known as the Future Frigate eXperimental or FFX during development. The superstructure has been significantly changed. The hangar and a helicopter deck on stern has been enlarged to support the operation of a 10-ton helicopter.
The Daegu-class frigate is powered by a combined diesel-electric or gas (CODLOG) propulsion system including one Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine, four MTU 12V 4000 M53B diesel engine, and two Leonardo DRS electric motors. She can reach a top speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) with a maximum cruising range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,000 km). The ship has a crew of 140 sailors.
The Daegu-class frigate is armed with one 5 inch (127 mm)/L62 caliber Mk 45 Mod 4 naval gun, one 20 mm Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon System), two triple torpedo tubes for K745 Blue Shark torpedo, eight SSM-700K Haeseong Anti-ship Missile and 16-cell K-VLS (Vertical Launching System) able to launch Haegung K-SAAM surface-to-air missile, Haeryong VL-Tactical anti-ship cruise Missiles and K-ASROC Red Shark anti-submarine missile.
