Chamsuri class patrol vessel

Chamsuri class patrol vessels are patrol craft in charge of guarding the coastline of South Korea (Republic of Korea Navy), and in charge or patrolling the islands and coasts of the Philippines (Philippine Navy). They are currently in service with the Republic of Korea Navy and Philippine Navy.

Chamsuri class patrol vessels came into being in the 1970s. The initial batch were equipped with 20mm M61 Vulcan fore and 40-mm Bofors cannon aft. Those that followed had 2 30-mm Emercen extended cannon fore and 2 20-mm Vulcan automatic cannons aft. The latter types were equipped with 40-mm Bofors cannons (cover types) at the front instead of the 30-mm cannons. Optical aiming systems were used for fire control at first, but recently the system has been automated with the introduction of the Fire Control System (FCS)

2002 Yeonpyeong island skirmish

The 2002 Yeonpyeong island skirmish / Western Sea engagement was a naval gun battle fought between North Korean patrol boats and Chamsuri 357 and 358 on June 29, 2002.

At 9:46 am, ROKN detected a North Korean coastal patrol boat started moving south towards the NLL or North Limit Line, and ordered the PKM squadron 253 comprising of Chamsuri 357 and 358 to intercept.

At 9:54 am, the Northern patrol boat crossed the NLL, 7 miles west of Yeonpyeong island and the ROKN patrol boats immediately closed and approached it with warning announcements.

At 10:25 am, the Northern patrol boat opened fire with all its guns on the Chamsuri 357, which was making interdiction maneuvers at close range. The attack on Chamsuri 357 centered on the wheelhouse, by which the ship lost its Captain, Lieutenant Commander Yun Young Ha, and suffered significant damage to the command systems, including the communications room. Soon after, nearby PKM and PCC of ROKN joined the battle and opened fire on the Northern patrol boat.

At 10:43 am, under heavy fire from ROKN forces, the North Korea ship started to retreat. As a result of the engagement, the North Korean vessel sustained critical damage to its exterior deck and over 30 casualties. On the other hand, Chamsuri 357, which was attacked off guard by the North Korean patrol boat sustained damages and casualties, suffered 6 dead and 18 wounded.

Chamsuri 357 was salvaged the 21 August 2002 by the ROKN Ship Salvage Unit and placed on display at ROKN's 2nd Fleet Headquarters in Pyongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

Users

*flagicon|South Korea Republic of Korea Navy
*flagicon|Bangladesh Bangladesh Navy
*flagicon|Philippines Philippine Navy

See also

* Republic of Korea Navy
* Philippine Navy

External links

* [http://blog.naver.com/ohcw2002dyd?Redirect=Log&logNo=60029707382 Chamsuri Patrol Vessel image (description in Korean)]
* [http://www.navy.mil.kr/english/pds/weapon_1.jsp Republic of Korea's Navy: Western Sea Engagement]