Republic of Korea Navy receives 13th Gumdoksuri-class vessel

The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) has received the 13th domestically-built Gumdoksuri-class patrol killer fast-attack craft, Han Munsik (PKG-726).

IHS Jane's cites the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) as saying that the vessel has been delivered by Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction to the navy command, located in Jinhae, some 410km south of Seoul.

The vessel will conduct patrol missions aimed to defend the nation's shoreline and harbour waters, following completion of two months of deployment programme, DAPA said.

Designed to provide cooperative engagement capability, the 450t high-speed ship is fitted anti-ship missiles that have a range of 140km and can cruise at a top speed of 40k, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The two variants of the Gumdoksuri-class vessel are the Gumdoksuri A, which is armed with anti-ship missiles and the second is the Gumdoksuri B, a 200t patrol boat.

Featuring Dyneema HB25 for protection against a spectrum of ballistic threats, the vessels of the class are protected by an aluminium and glass-epoxy resin layer to reduce the overall weight while maintaining flame retardant properties.

The Hanjin Heavy Industries (HHI) and STX Offshore & Shipbuilding-built Gumdoksuri-class vessels also feature the EOTS, tracking radar to identify more than 100 targets simultaneously, as well as electronic optical tracing system with target tracking functions.

Capable of accommodating a crew of more than 40, the ships are outfitted with surface to surface fire / air control systems and are armed with KSSM anti-ship missiles, 76mm guns and advanced radar systems.

Currently about 24 Gumdoksuri As and 18 Gumdoksuri Bs are in production and nine are scheduled to enter service with the ROKN by 2015.