ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho

History
South Korea
Name	Dosan Ahn Changho (도산안창호)
Namesake	Dosan Ahn Changho
Builder	DSME, Geoje
Laid down	17 May 2016
Launched	14 September 2018
Commissioned	13 August 2021
Identification	Pennant number: SS-083
Status	Fitting out
General characteristics
Class & type	Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarine
Displacement	3,358 tons surfaced 3,750 tons submerged
Length	83.5 m (273 ft 11 in)
Beam	9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	7.62 m (25 ft 0 in)
Propulsion	Diesel-electric, low noise skew back propeller 4 x Bumhan Industry PH1 PEM fuel cell each with 150 kW
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) submerged
Range	10,000  nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi)
Endurance	50 days
Complement	50
Armament	6 x 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes (Tiger Shark torpedo and Harpoon) 6 x VLS tubes (Cruise and ballistic missile)

ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho (SS-083) is the lead ship of Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarines. She was commissioned on 13 August 2021. ^[1]

Development and design

The Dosan Ahn Changho class are equipped with the Korean Vertical Launching System which will be able to carry up to ten indigenous "Chonryong" land-attack cruise missiles and "Hyunmoo" submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), ^[2] becoming the first submarines in the South Korean navy to have this kind of capability. They will also have many other improvements compared to their predecessors built with a greater degree of South Korean technology, especially in the later batches, which will include Samsung SDI lithium-ion batteries. ^{[3] [4]} Measured to displace over 3,800 tonnes (3,700 long tons) submerged during sea trials, ^[5] they are the largest conventional submarines ever built by South Korea. The Batch II vessels will increase their displacement by approximately 450 t (440 long tons) (4,250 t, 4,180 long tons submerged), according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. ^[6]

Construction and career

Dosan Ahn Changho was laid down on 17 May 2016 at DSME, Geoje and launched on 14 September 2018. She began her sea trials in 2019 ^[5] and was commissioned on 13 August 2021. ^[1] On 15 September 2021, she was reported to have successfully fired a new submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) while submerged.

References

1. "ROK Navy Commissions Her First KSS III Submarine". navalnews.com. 13 August 2021.
2. Gady, Franz-Stefan (18 June 2019). "South Korea's First-of-Class KSS-III Attack Sub Begins Sea Trials". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
3. "South Korea approves procurement of next batch of Aegis destroyers, subs". Naval Today. 6 May 2019. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
4. "DSME Jangbogo-III Batch-II Pilot Design Has Come to an End". Navy Recognition. 28 December 2018. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
5. Rahmat, Ridzwan (17 June 2019). "South Korea's first KSS-3 submarine begins sea trials". Jane's. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
6. Jeong, Jeff (2 May 2019). "South Korea to build 3 more Aegis destroyers able to thwart ballistic missiles". Defense News. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2020.