The Chosun Ilbo reports that the ROK Navy is pushing to put together a strategic expeditionary fleet [Chosun Ilbo, Korean] of six 7,000-ton Aegis warships, twelve 5,000-ton KDX-II destroyers [Global Security.org] and two light carrier-like LPX landing ships [Global Security.org] by 2020. This would give Korea the world’s third largest Aegis fleet behind the United States and Japan.
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The suprising thing is this was all Kim Dae Jungs idea. Anyway, it looks like the government wanted only one fleet (3 kdx-III, with one LDX - Dokdo already built). Good to see the ROK navy didn’t just lay down and take that.
I’d like to know if they could base as f-35 or Harrier on the LDXs though…
The important question here is: Are all of these ships to be updated for shooting down American Apache helicopters, or only just a few?
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/.....ling-tank/
They’re a little behind schedule on the naval front but much further along than with their outrageous plans for the Air Force. 6th KDX-II is scheduled for commissioning later this year. No word yet when the plans will be finalized for KDX-III to be laid down. The 2006 White Paper is now available at the MND website along with the 2020 Defense Reform Plan. http://www.mnd.go.kr/Info/publ...../index.jsp
There is an english version too if u so desire.
captbbq said;
I’d like to know if they could base as f-35 or Harrier on the LDXs though…
Theoretically, if a ski jump was added to the Dokdo, it could launch and recover Harriers or F-35Bs. However, the Dokdo was designed as an amphibious assault ship, and its hangar, if I am correct, can only hold 7 helicopters. This means she can’t carry that many fighters and helicopters to be an effective aircraft carrier.
As for the expeditionary fleet, I don’t see the point. The main concern of the ROK Navy is the NK Navy, which is made up of obsolete patrol boats and submarines, and you don’t need 5,000 and 9,000 ton destroyers to go up against them. On top of that, the ROK Navy rarely deploys on overseas missions. So why the need for an expeditionary fleet? Unless the ROK Navy is thinking of a possible war with Japan or the PRC. But seriously, what are the chances that the ROK will get into a shooting war with either Japan or the PRC?
mins0306—The piece points out that the naval expansion was made with developments in neighboring countries, namely the expansion of the PRC fleet, in mind. I’m sure another consideration is it gives Korea some global punch—it might keep pirates from taking excessive liberties with Korean shipping, for instance—and gives Korea a better ability to carry out peacekeeping and humanitarian missions in rough places.
Robert, I am an advocate of a strong Korean Navy, but sometimes I wonder if the navy is buying the ships and other assets not because it needs them but just for the sake of it or because the other guy is doing it.
For example, chasing pirates in speed boats with a 5000 ton destroyer is like chasing a person, who is on foot, with a BMW around the back alleys of Seoul. A smaller ocean patrol frigate similar to the French FLOREAL class frigate is more than enough.
Although, I am an advocate of Korean military participation in international missions, the Korean political and military establishment aren’t that eager to send Korean military personnel and assets overseas.
The ROKN has 8 ocean going destroyers and 3 ocean going replenishment ships but none of them have been sent to task forces operating as part of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. Instead, they are sailing around in Korean waters chasing away Japanese fishing boats that come too close to Dokdo or tied up in port. So if the government won’t use them for their intended purposes why buy them in the first place?
The PRC fleet is something that everyone’s worried about, but considering the size of the Korean economy as compared to China there’s no way we can match them ship for ship. So the ROKN has to find creative ways to keep the PLAN in check with the resources available, such as investing in more capable submarines, which I might are excellent for area denial operations.
Simply punching out big ships for an expeditionary fleet is not the answer.
Why not invite a western military presence to reside on the peninsula? Nah, they would date our women and run over people with armored personnel carriers.
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[...] But, after building one, the MND poured cold water on the other three ships and although there was speculation that two more would be built, it looks like that there won’t be any follow up to the ROKS [...]