Nampo-class corvette

Last updated
Class overview
Builders Nampo Shipyard, No 28 Shipyard Najin [1]
OperatorsFlag of the Korean People's Army Navy (Normal).svg  Korean People's Navy
Preceded by Soho-class frigate
Built2013-2014
In commission2013-present
Completed2
Active2
General characteristics
Type Corvette
Displacement1300 ~ 1500tons
Length76 metres (249 ft)
Beam11 metres (36 ft)
Draught3.4 metres (11 ft)
Propulsiondiesel
Speedunknown
Rangeunknown
Complementunknown
Sensors and
processing systems
unknown
Armament
Aircraft carried1 helicopter (likely with either Mil Mi-4 PL or Mil Mi-14 PL) [1]
Aviation facilitieshelicopter pad only
Notes [2]

The Nampo-class corvettes (or light frigates) are a class of warships built in North Korea. They were seen from satellite-photos in 2013 and are believed to be a replacement for the older Soho-class frigate. The class has some similarities to Myanmar Navy UMS Tabinshweht, an Anawrahta-class frigate. [3]

Two known hulls have been launched: one on the Sea of Japan in Najin and one in Nampo for service in the Yellow Sea. [1]

Specification

Little is known of their features and weapons. One of the clear element is the presence of a helicopter-deck [1] and possibly even a small hangar on the hull.

The only weapon system identified is anti-submarine rockets (RBU 1200 A/S mortars), thus making the corvette a response for the recent developments of the South Korean Navy in the field of submarines.

Further weapons could be added however, including guns and anti-ship missiles (such as the Kh-35, known to have been recently put in service in the KPN). [1] The potential missile systems appears to be SAM and SSM.

By western standard, the ships should be considered corvettes, however they're also described as light frigates for their role.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frigate</span> Type of warship

A frigate is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corvette</span> Small warship

A corvette is a small warship. It is traditionally the smallest class of vessel considered to be a proper warship. The warship class above the corvette is that of the frigate, while the class below was historically that of the sloop-of-war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ship class</span> Group of ships of a similar design

A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, USS Carl Vinson is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warship</span> Ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare

A warship or combatant ship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the armed forces of a nation. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are typically faster and more maneuverable than merchant ships. Unlike a merchant ship, which carries cargo, a warship typically carries only weapons, ammunition and supplies for its crew. Warships usually belong to a navy, though they have also been operated by individuals, cooperatives and corporations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exocet</span> French anti-ship missile

The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

<i>Knox</i>-class frigate Class of Anti-Submarine Warfare frigates

The 46 Knox-class frigates were the largest, last, and most numerous of the US Navy's second-generation anti-submarine warfare (ASW) escorts. Originally laid down as ocean escorts, they were all redesignated as frigates on 30 June 1975, in the 1975 ship reclassification plan and their hull designation changed from 'DE' to 'FF'. The Knox class was the Navy's last destroyer-type design with a steam turbine powerplant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vertical launching system</span> Modern system for holding and firing missiles on naval vessels

A vertical launching system (VLS) is an advanced system for holding and firing missiles on mobile naval platforms, such as surface ships and submarines. Each vertical launch system consists of a number of cells, which can hold one or more missiles ready for firing. Typically, each cell can hold a number of different types of missiles, allowing the ship flexibility to load the best set for any given mission. Further, when new missiles are developed, they are typically fitted to the existing vertical launch systems of that nation, allowing existing ships to use new types of missiles without expensive rework. When the command is given, the missile flies straight up far enough to clear the cell and the ship, then turns onto the desired course.

<i>La Fayette</i>-class frigate French general purpose stealth frigates

The La Fayette class is a class of general purpose frigates built by DCNS in the 1980s and 90s, operated by the French Navy and three other navies. Derivatives of the type are in service in the navies of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Taiwan.

The names of commissioned ships of the United States Navy all start with USS, for United States Ship. Non-commissioned, primarily civilian-crewed vessels of the U.S. Navy under the Military Sealift Command have names that begin with USNS, standing for United States Naval Ship. A letter-based hull classification symbol is used to designate a vessel's type. The names of ships are selected by the Secretary of the Navy. The names are those of states, cities, towns, important persons, important locations, famous battles, fish, and ideals. Usually, different types of ships have names originated from different types of sources.

Saar 5-class corvette Class of Israeli Navy small corvettes

Sa'ar 5 is a class of Israeli Navy corvettes. They were Israeli designed using lessons learned from the Sa'ar 4.5-class missile boats. Three Sa'ar 5 ships were built by Huntington Ingalls Industries for the Israeli Navy, based on Israeli designs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stealth ship</span> Ship which uses stealth technology to reduce risk of detection

A stealth ship is a ship that employs stealth technology construction techniques in an effort to make it harder to detect by one or more of radar, visual, sonar, and infrared methods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamic Republic of Iran Navy</span> Maritime service branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army

The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy or Iranian Navy, officially abbreviated NEDAJA, is the naval warfare service branch of Iran's regular military, the Islamic Republic of Iran Army (Artesh). It is one of Iran's two maritime military branches, alongside the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republic of Korea Navy</span> Naval warfare branch of South Koreas military

The Republic of Korea Navy, also known as the ROK Navy or South Korean Navy, is the naval warfare service branch of the South Korean armed forces, responsible for naval and amphibious operations. The ROK Navy includes the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, which functions as a branch of the Navy. The ROK Navy has about 70,000 regular personnel including 29,000 Republic of Korea Marines. There are about 140 commissioned ships in the ROK Navy. The naval aviation force consists of about 70 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The ROK Marine Corps has about 300 tracked vehicles including assault amphibious vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force</span> Maritime warfare branch of Japans military

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, abbreviated JMSDF, also simply known as the Japanese Navy, is the maritime warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. The JMSDF was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) after World War II. The JMSDF has a fleet of 154 ships, 346 aircraft and 50,800 personnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force</span> Surface warfare branch of the Peoples Liberation Army Navy

The People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force is the surface warfare branch of China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), consisting of all surface vessels in operational service with the PLAN. The PLAN Surface Force operates 661 ships organized into three fleets: the North Sea Fleet, the East Sea Fleet and the South Sea Fleet.

<i>Jacob van Heemskerck</i>-class frigate

The Jacob van Heemskerck-class frigate was a class of frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. They were designed to be an air defence version of the Kortenaer class. The helicopter was replaced by a Standard medium range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system and associated radars. Two ships were built for the Royal Netherlands Navy. In 2005 they were sold to the Chilean Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korean People's Navy</span> Maritime warfare branch of North Koreas military

The Korean People's Army Navy (KPANF; Korean: 조선인민군 해군; Hanja: 朝鮮人民軍 海軍; MR: Chosŏn-inmingun Haegun; lit. Korean People's Military Navy; or the Korean People's Navy, is the naval component of the Korean People's Army, the North Korean armed forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuban Revolutionary Navy</span> Naval warfare branch of Cubas military

The Cuban Revolutionary Navy is the navy of Cuba.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Bermudez Jr., Joseph S. (May 15, 2014). "New North Korean Helicopter Frigates Spotted". 38 North .
  2. @GreatPoppo. 朝鮮人民軍海軍の新型コルベット「南浦級」の画像が公開されました。#北朝鮮 #軍事 #NorthKorea. Twitter (in Japanese).
  3. O'Carroll, Chad (November 8, 2016). "Exclusive: New low-visibility corvette spotted in North Korea". NK News .