Go Jun Bong-class LST

Go Jun Bong Class LST (Hangul: 고준봉급 전차상륙함, Hanja: 孤準峰級戰車上陸艦) is an Amphibious Landing Ship class of the Republic of Korea Navy.

ROKS Go Jun Bong (LST 681) during an exercise off coast of Republic of Korea

ROKS Bi Ro Bong (LST 682) passes behind an air cushion landing craft during Foal Eagle 2007
Class overview
Builders:	Hanjin Heavy Industries
Operators:	Republic of Korea Navy
Built:	1991 - 1996
In service:	1994 - present
In commission:	1994 - present
Completed:	4
Active:	4
General characteristics
Type:	Landing Ship, Tank
Tonnage:	2,600 tons (empty) / 4,300 tons (full)
Length:	112.7 m (370 ft)
Beam:	15.4 m (51 ft)
Draught:	3.1 m (10 ft)
Installed power:	12,800 hp (9,500 kW)
Propulsion:	2 × SEMT Pielstick 16 PA6V 280 diesel engines
Speed:	16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) maximum 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) cruising
Range:	4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi)
Capacity:	258 marines 12 tanks 14 amphibious assault vehicles 8 2.5ton trucks 4 LCVP
Crew:	121
Sensors and processing systems:	Raytheon SPS-54 radar
Armament:	4 × Emerlec 30mm (LST 681) or 4 × 40mm Breda L70K (LST 682, LST 683, LST 685) 2 × Vulcan 20 mm Gatling
Aircraft carried:	1 × UH-60 helicopter
Aviation facilities:	Aft helicopter deck

Development

In the late 1980s the Republic of Korea Navy decided to gradually replace its aging fleet of WW2 era LST-542 class LSTs (renamed Un Bong class LST) bought from the US Navy in 1958. A three phase plan was laid out to develop new landing ships to meet the demands of modern amphibious and transport operations.

The first phase was designated as the LST-I project, and development and design started in 1987 by Korea Tacoma, currently Hanjin Heavy Industries. After 4 years of development, the lead ship Go Jun Bong (LST 681) was launched in 1991. Three more ships followed and all four ships were commissioned by 1998.

The second phase, or LST-II, was originally planned to import four Newport class tank landing ships, but after being postponed due to budget issues, it was changed in favor for domestic built 4500 ton LPDs to be commissioned by 2013-2016.[1] These ships will ultimately replace the Un Bong and Go Jun Bong class LSTs.

LST-III was to build two mid-size helicopter amphibious landing ships, and designing started in 1997. In 2001 it was renamed as the LPX project and a total of two 14,300 ton ships were ordered for the Republic of Korea Navy. On July 3, 2007 the lead ship Dokdo was commissioned.

Design

Go Jun Bong class LST is based on the design of the LST-542 class LST, and thus its exterior is very similar to the Un Bong class LST.

The ship is designed to land multiple personnel, tanks and equipment simultaneously with doors and ramps placed on both the stern and bow of the ship, unlike the Un Bong class LST which only has doors on the bow. It is also equipped with a turn table, saving time when loading or landing vehicles. There is also a ramp for moving trucks up to the deck, and multiple elevators for rapid cargo loading.

K1 MBT driving off ROKS Seong In Bong (LST 685) during Foal Eagle 2004

Hull no.	Name	Launched	Commissioned
LST 681	Go Jun Bong (고준봉)	1991	1994
LST 682	Bi Ro Bong (비로봉)	1995	1998
LST 683	Hyang Ro Bong (향로봉)	1996	1999
LST 685	Sung In Bong (성인봉)	1996	1999

References

1. Chosun Daily - 4천500t급 차기상륙함 윤곽 드러나 10/9/2007 Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine

External links