List of active ships of the Korean People's Navy
This is a list of active ships of the Korean People's Navy the naval service of North Korea
Components |
---|
Korean People's Navy |
History |
History of the Korean People's Navy |
Ships |
Current Fleet |
Naval Bases |
Personnel |
Senior Officers |
Submarines
Type | Class | Country of Origin | In Service | Notes | Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diesel-electric submarine | Sinpo/Gorae-class | 1 | First vessel in shipyard 2014, Experimental Ballistic Missile Submarine. May also be known as 'Gorae' (Whale class). Some reports suggests as many as 6 boats are being built, although others indicate that this is a single ship class for missile launch development only.[1][2] | ||
Diesel-electric coastal submarine | Golf-class | 10 | In 1993, ten were sold to North Korea for scrap. According to some sources, the North Koreans are attempting to get these boats back into service. | ||
Diesel-electric coastal submarine | Sang-O-class | 40+ | Manufactured in two variants, 34m Sang-O and 39m Sang-O II. 1 captured by ROK. North Korean Special Operation Force uses specially equipped Sang-O for missions. | ||
Diesel-electric midget submarine | Yono-class | ~10 | Iran operates a variant as the Ghadir-class submarine | ||
Diesel-electric midget submarine | Yugo-class | few or none left | reported all retired or sold. Replaced by Yono and Sang-O | ||
Diesel-electric submarine | Type-033 (Romeo)-class | <22 | KPA Journal reports that these are being phased out in favor of Sang-O/Sang-O II[3] Sold as kits from China and was assembled in NK. Used by North Korean Special Operation Force for special maritime missions. | ||
Diesel-electric submarine | Whiskey-class | 4 (reported retired as of March 2011) | KPA Journal reports that these have been retired and/or scrapped[3]
however at least one submarine was seen operative during 2013 exercises:[4] |
Note: According to a report published by BBC in 2010, "The North Korean military is in possession of a fleet of about 70 submarines, comprised of approximately 20 Romeo class submarines (1,800 tons), 40 Sang-O class submarines (300 tons) and 10 midget submarines including the Yono class submarines (130 tons)."[5]
Frigates & Corvettes
Type | Class | Country of Origin | In Service | Notes | Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frigate | Krivak-class, Amnok class, Tuman class | 1(?) | Unknown status of service [6] and suspected to be incomplete hull sold to North Korea[7] (Hetman Bayda Vyshnevetsky was a Nevef (Krivak III) cancelled ship for Ukrainian Navy c. 1995) | ||
Light frigate | Najin-class | 2 | Old vessels, one was modernized in 2014[8] | ||
Experimental catamaran frigate | Soho-class | 1 | Reported retired in 2009.[9] | ||
Helicopter-carrying light frigate | Nampo-class | 2 ~ 3 | Under construction[9] | ||
Frigate | Sariwon-class | 5 | Based on Tral-class | ||
Corvette/minesweeper | Project 53 | 2 | Ex-Т-2 Tros (c. 1935) and ex-T-8 Cheka (c. 1936) transferred 1953. Probably in reserve due to old age. |
Note: Satellite images from 2007 indicate that the empty hull of a Krivak-class frigate was purchased by North Korea around 2003. The ship was likely bought from a Russian scrap dealer, lacking any weapons or radar upon purchase. While it was assumed that North Korea purchased the hull for scrap metal, it remains in its original state for nearly five years, and has been transported from Wonsan to Nampo Harbor. Satellite images from 2007 also show 2 new North Korean Helicopter Frigates; though it is unknown whether they are ready for service.[10][11]
Torpedo boats & missile craft
Type | Class | Country of Origin | In Service | Notes | Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SES Stealth missile boat | Nongo class | 6 | [12][13] | ||
PTG missile craft | Soju class/Osa I class missile boat | 8 | |||
PTG missile craft | Huangfeng class | 4 | |||
PTG small missile boat | Sohung/Komar class | 6 | |||
PTG missile craft | Komar class missile boat | 6 | |||
PT torpedo boat | Shershen class | 3 | |||
PT torpedo boat | Sinnam class torpedo boat | N/A | |||
PT small torpedo boat | Sin Hung class torpedo boat / Ku Song class torpedo boat | 142 | |||
PT small torpedo boat | P-6 class torpedo boat | 12 | |||
torpedo boat | Ku Song class torpedo boat | 60 |
Patrol boats
Type | Class | Country of Origin | In Service | Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|
PG gun patrol boat | T Class patrol boat | N/A | ||
PG gun patrol boat | Mayang class patrol boat | N/A | ||
PC large coastal patrol boat | Taechong class I/II patrol boat | 13 | ||
PC large coastal patrol boat | Hainan class | 6 | ||
PC coastal patrol boat | Chodo class patrol boat | 3 | ||
PC/PT/PTG/WPC coastal/torpedo/armed patrol boat | Chong-Ju class patrol boat | 6 | ||
PC coastal patrol boat | SO-1 class patrol boat | 19 | ||
Coastal patrol boat | Shanghai II class | 13 | ||
PC small coastal patrol boats | Sinpo class (Steel version of P-6) | 18 | ||
Coastal patrol boat | K-48 class | N/A | ||
Patrol boat | Chongjin class | 54 | ||
Torpedo/patrol boat | P-6 class | N/A | ||
Fast attack craft | Chaho class (Based on P-6 torpedo boats) | 59 | ||
Patrol boat | Shantou class | N/A |
Utility/landing craft
Type | Class | Country of Origin | In Service |
---|---|---|---|
LCU utility landing craft | Hantae class | 8-10 | |
LCM medium landing craft | Hungnam class | 15 | |
LCU medium landing craft | Hanchon class | 15 | |
LCPA amphibious landing craft | Kong Bang class I/II/III | N/A | |
LCP Landing Craft, Personnel | Nampo class | 95 | |
PT assault torpedo boats | Chong Jin class - based on Chaho class | 51 | |
LCPA amphibious landing craft | Nampo class A/B | N/A | |
LCVP Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel | Nampo class | 100 | |
ACV assault hovercraft | Kongbang class | 135-140 | |
Minesweeping boats | Yukto class | 23 | |
Fleet Ocean Tug | AT/F | 2 | |
WPB coastal cutters | Yongdo class | N/A | |
WPB coastal cutters | N/A | N/A | |
ASR submarine rescue ship (Catamaran-hulled rescue/salvage ship) | Kowan class | N/A | |
AS - Submarine Tender | N/A | 1 | |
Ocean AGHS - Patrol Combatant Support Ship | N/A | 1 | |
Inshore AGHS - Patrol Combatant Support Ship | N/A | 3 |
Naval Aviation
Only 2 ships in the KPN have aviation capability with only the Nampo-class corvette the only active ship with facilities (so far only 1 Nampo vessel has visible landing pad).[17] The aircraft would be the Mil Mi-4 PL Mil Mi-14 PL (ASW)[9] and are flown by Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force.
See also
References
- Joseph s. Bermudez Jr. (19 October 2014). "The North Korean Navy Acquires a New Submarine". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- "Media Busters: Is North Korea Building a Ballistic Missile Submarine?". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. (March 2011). "KPA Journal Vol.2, No.3" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- http://www.iranmilitaryforum.net/military-news-discussion/north-korean-military-thread/225/
- The Joint Civilian-Military Investigation Group (May 20, 2010). "Investigation Result on the Sinking of ROKS Cheonan" (PDF). news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
- "New Stripped Warship Spotted in N.Korean Port - The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition): Daily News from Korea - national/politics > politics".
- Pryce, Paul. "North Korea's Mystery Frigates". NAOC.
- "KPA Navy flag ship undergoing radical modernization | NK News - North Korea News". December 15, 2014.
- "New North Korean Helicopter Frigates Spotted". 38 North. May 15, 2014.
- Yoo, Yong Won & Arumdaunchonsa (2007-11-07). "유용원의 군사세계: 북한 남포항에 3000t급 러시아 호위함이 왜? (A 3000t Russian Frigate in North Korea's Nampo Harbor?)". Chosun. Retrieved 2007-11-07.(Korean)
- Jin, So Pyung (2007-11-07). "북한해군의 3000톤급 프리깃 (North Korea's 3000t class Frigate)". DC Inside. Retrieved 2007-11-07.(English)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-05-15. Retrieved 2014-06-18.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Militaryphotos.net". www.militaryphotos.net.
- "Nongo Surface Effect Ship (SES)". www.globalsecurity.org.
- "North Korean Kh-35 anti-ship missiles shed light on a modernizing navy".
- "Korean People's Navy Tests New Anti-ship Cruise Missile". 38 North. February 8, 2015.
- Mizokami, Kyle (July 22, 2017). "Everything You Need to Know about North Korea's Navy". The National Interest.