Dolgorae-class submarine

The Dolgorae class submarine (Hangul: 돌고래급 잠수정) was a type of midget submarine designed and acquired for the Republic of Korea Navy. All three units are now retired.[1]

Dolgorae-class submarine
Class overview
Builders: Korea Takoma Shipyard
Operators:  Republic of Korea Navy
Preceded by: Cosmos class
Succeeded by: Chang Bogo class
In commission: 1985–2016
Completed: 3
Retired: 3
Preserved: 1
General characteristics
Type: Midget submarine
Displacement: 175 tonnes (172 long tons) full load
Length: 25 m (82 ft 0 in)
Beam: 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in)
Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement: 14
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • STN Atlas hull-mounted sonar
  • Pilkington CK34 search periscope
Armament: 2 × 406 mm (16 in) torpedo tubes

These midget submarines were the first South Korean submarines of any type. They were acquired primarily to obtain initial experience with the basics of operating a submarine force. The secondary mission to train surface ASW ships in the detection of North Korean midget submarines.

Replacement

In November 2011, South Korea unveiled plans for a new mini-sub designated KSS-500A. In September 2015, Jane's.com reported that Hyundai Heavy Industries started construction of a single 40 m (130 ft) long HDS-400 mini submarine for an unnamed naval customer.[2]

Ships in the class
Name Builder Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Status
ROKS SSM-051 Korea Takoma Shipyard 2 April 1982 2003 Retired
ROKS SSM-052 Korea Takoma Shipyard 1990 2016 Retired
ROKS SSM-053 Korea Takoma Shipyard 1991 2016 Retired

In November 2017, one Dolgorae-class submarine was opened as a museum ship in the new Seoul Battleship Park beside the Han River in western Seoul.[3]

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References
  1. "S. Korean Navy's first-generation submarines decommissioned". 30 June 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  2. Rahmat, Ridzwan (24 Sep 2015). "Hyundai begins construction of mini-submarine for undisclosed customer". Retrieved 8 Oct 2015.
  3. Kim, Se-jeong (22 November 2017). "Seoul Battleship Park opens Wednesday". The Korea Times. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
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