- ROKS Choi Young (DDH-981)
-
ROKS Choi Young (DDH-981)Career 
South KoreaName: ROKS Choi Young Namesake: Choe Yeong Operator: 
Republic of Korea NavyBuilder: Hyundai Heavy Industries Launched: October 20, 2006 Commissioned: September 4, 2008 Motto: Do Your Best, Be The First Status: in active service, as of 2011[update] Badge: 
General characteristics Class and type: Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin class destroyer Displacement: 4,400 t (4,300 long tons) standard
5,520 t (5,430 long tons) full loadLength: 150 m (492 ft 2 in) Beam: 17.4 m (57 ft 1 in) Draft: 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in) Propulsion: Combined diesel or gas Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) Range: 10,200 km (5,500 nmi) Complement: 200 ROKS Choi Young (DDH-981) (Korean: 최영, Hanja: 崔榮) is a Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin class destroyer in the South Korean navy. It is named after the Korean general Choe Yeong.
Contents
Design
The Choi Young was part of the second batch of Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin class destroyers that were delivered to the Republic of Korea Navy.[1] She was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries and was launched on October 20, 2006, entering service on September 4, 2008.[1] She is about 150 metres (490 ft) long, 17 metres (56 ft) wide and displaces between 4,800 and 5,000 tons.[2] Her propulsion unit is a CODOG unit, capable of propelling her at speeds of up to 30 knots (35 mph).[2] She has a crew complement of 200.[2] Her armament consists of a 32-cell VLS (with space to install a 64-cell system),[3] a Mk 45 gun, a RAM missile, a Goalkeeper CIWS and eight Harpoon anti-ship missiles.[2] Other systems include an AN/SPS-49 radar, an MW08 radar, and a DSQ-23 sonar.[2]
History
The Choi Young was assigned to patrol the Northern Limit Line in November 2009 after a boundary dispute clash with North Korea, the first of its kind in seven years.[4] In August 2010, the ship participated in a series of naval drills in the Yellow Sea, four months after the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan.[5]
2011 rescue operation
Main article: Operation Dawn of Gulf of AdenOn January 15, 2011, the Norwegian-owned chemical tanker Samho Jewelry was captured by Somali pirates while en route from the United Arab Emirates to Sri Lanka.[6] The South Korean operator of the vessel, the Samho Shipping Company, was facing huge losses because it was obligated to continue paying Norwegian investors under its charter even while the vessel was held by pirates. However, the Norwegian government had no military presence in the area at the time.[7] Eight South Koreans were among the 21 crewmembers being held hostage.[8]
The South Korean government dispatched the Choi Young, under Captain Cho Young-joo, commander of the Cheonghae Anti-piracy Unit.[9] The Choi Young pursued the Samho Jewelry for nearly a week until the pirates aboard the tanker were fatigued.[10] Several fake attacks were staged to exhaust the pirate crew.[11] When some of the pirates left the ship to attempt another hijacking on a nearby Mongolian vessel, commandos from the Republic of Korea Naval Special Warfare Brigade boarded the Samho Jewelry while a Westland Lynx helicopter provided covering fire.[10] Communications jamming was utilized to prevent the pirates from calling for assistance.[11] The tanker was retaken with eight pirates killed and five captured. The captain of the Samho Jewelry survived a gunshot wound to the stomach while three navy personnel suffered "light scratches".[10] The rest of the tanker crew were unharmed.[12]
The Choi Young escorted the Samho Jewelry to the Oman, where they docked at the port of Muscat on January 31.[9] The rescue was called "a perfect military operation" by Lieutenant General Lee Sung-ho of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Republic of Korea.[10]
2011 Libya evacuation
Main article: 2011 Libyan uprisingThe ROKS Choi Young was diverted from anti-piracy operations in the waters off of Somalia to evacuate South Korean nationals stranded in Libya. The Choi Young successfully evacuated 32 South Korean nationals on March 4th and docked in the Maltese port of Valletta. The Choi Young will remain on standby near Libyan waters to support "further evacuation efforts."[13]
See also
References
- ^ a b "KDX-II Destroyer (ship list)". GlobalSecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/kdx-2-unit.htm. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "KDX-II Destroyer (specifications)". GlobalSecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/kdx-2-specs.htm. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ^ "KDX-II Chungmugong Yi Sunshin Destroyer". Global Security. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/kdx-2.htm. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
- ^ "S. Korea beefs up defenses after sea clash with N. Korea". Ria Novosti. November 12, 2009. http://en.rian.ru/world/20091112/156802183.html. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ^ Lee, Jin-Man (August 5, 2010). "S. Korea launches drills despite N. Korean threats". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38585947/ns/world_news-asiapacific/. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ^ Kirk, Donald (January 21, 2011). "South Korea delivers setback to Somali pirates, and a warning to North Korea". The Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2011/0121/South-Korea-delivers-setback-to-Somali-pirates-and-a-warning-to-North-Korea. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
- ^ Berglund, Nina (January 24, 2011). "Pirate battle frees Norwegian ship". Views and News from Norway. http://www.newsinenglish.no/2011/01/24/pirate-battle-frees-norwegian-ship/. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ^ "A heroic rescue for the ages". JoongAng Ilbo. January 24, 2011. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2931350. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ^ a b "Remaining 7 S. Korean crew members of freed cargo ship to arrive home Wednesday". Yonhap. January 31, 2011. http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2011/01/31/82/0301000000AEN20110131011400315F.HTML. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "South Korea rescues Samho Jewelry crew from pirates". BBC News. January 21, 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12248096. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
- ^ a b Jung, Ha-Won (January 24, 2011). "High-tech gear helped S. Korea raid on pirates". Agence France-Presse. StarAfrica.com. http://www.starafrica.com/en/news/africa/article/high-tech-gear-helped-s-korea-raid-on-p-142827.html. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ^ "Korean crew of Samho Jewelry expected to return home late next week". The Korea Herald. Yonhap. January 22, 2011. http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110122000022. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
- ^ "(2nd LD) Warship with 32 S. Korean evacuees from Libya arrives in Malta". Yonhap. March 4, 2011. http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2011/03/04/75/0301000000AEN20110304007500315F.HTML. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
Further reading
- Watts, Anthony J. (2006). Jane's Warship Recognition Guide (4 ed.). London: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0060849924. OCLC 63185682. http://books.google.com/books?id=idndHAAACAAJ.
External links
Destroyers Sejong the Great · Yulgok Yi I · Yu Seong-ryong
Chungmugong Yi Sunshin · Munmu the Great · Dae Joyeong · Wang Geon · Kang Gamchan · Choi Young
Gwanggaeto the Great · Eulji Mundeok · Yang Manchun
Submarines Sohn Wonyil · Jeong Ji · An Chunggun
Chang Bogo · Lee Chun · Choi Moosun · Park Wi · Lee Jongmoo · Jung Woon · Lee Sunshin · Na Daeyong · Lee Eokgi
Dolgorae-classROKS SSM-052 ~ 053
Frigates Ulsan · Seoul · Chungnam · Masan · Gyeongbuk · Jeonnam · Jeju · Busan · Cheongju
Corvettes Gunsan · Gyeongju · Mokpo · Gimcheon · Chungju · Jinju · Yeosu · Jinhae · Suncheon · Iri · Wonju · Andong · Bucheon · Seongnam · Jecheon · Daecheon · Sokcho · Yeongju · Namwon · Gwangmyeong · Sinseong · Gongju
Anyang
Patrol ships Yoon Youngha
ROKS PKM-2xx ~ 3xx
Amphibious
warfare shipsDokdo
Gojunbong · Birobong · Hyangnobong · Seonginbong
Solgae-class LSFROKS LSF-621 ~ 623, 631 ~ 632
Mine counter
measures vesselsWonsan
Ganggyeong · Gangjin · Goryeong · Gimpo · Gochang · GeumhwaYangyang · Ongjin · HaenamAuxiliary ships AOECheonji · Daecheong · Hwacheon
Cheonghaejin
Pyeongtaek-class ATSPyeongtaek · Gwangyang
Sincheonji-class AGSSincheonji
Sinsegi-class AGSSinsegi
Dadohae-class ASLDadohae
Categories:- Ships of the Republic of Korea Navy
- Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyers
- 2006 ships
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