ROKS Munmu the Great (DDH-976)

ROKS Munmu the Great (DDH-976) is a Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer in the South Korean navy. It was named after the Korean king Munmu of Silla.[1]

ROKS Munmu the Great (DDH-976) during the RIMPAC 2006
History
South Korea
Name:
  • ROKS Munmu the Great
  • (문무대왕)
Namesake: Munmu of Silla
Builder: Hyundai Heavy Industries, South Korea
Launched: 11 April 2003
Commissioned: 30 September 2004
Identification: DDH-976
Status: Active
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 load
Length: 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
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 2 x Super Lynx helicopters
Aviation facilities: Helicopter landing platform and Hanger
ROKN Munmu the Great in formation with USS Ronald Reagan during Foal Eagle (RSOI/FE) 2007

Design

The KDX-II is part of a much larger build up program aimed at turning the ROKN into a blue-water navy. It is said to be the first stealthy major combatant in the ROKN and was designed to significantly increase the ROKN's capabilities.[2]

Construction and career

In March 2009, Munmu the Great was sent overseas to protect merchant vessels from Somali pirates.[1] On 28 May 2007 during firing exercise on the open sea near Jinhae one of the projectiles exploded inside the 127 mm gun barrel which has been replaced later. In 2014 she conducted anti-piracy drills as part of Combined Task Force 151 in the Indian Ocean with HMS Defender.[3]

In April 2018, it was deployed to Ghana with personnel from the Special Warfare Brigade as part of a mission to rescue kidnapped South Korean fishermen.[4]

  • ROKS Munmu the Great Gallery
  • ROKS Munmu the Great maneuvering during RIMPAC 2006.
  • ROKS Munmu The Great and ROKS Kwanggaeto The Great lighted ship’s lights to celebrate the July 4th Independence Day 2006.

See also

References
  1. Yook, Jeong-soo (March 13, 2009). "Munmu the Great Deployed to Somalia". The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  2. ROK Navy
  3. "Defender joins fight against piracy in the Indian Ocean - Royal Navy". www.royalnavy.mod.uk.
  4. Rahmat, Ridzwan (April 1, 2018). "South Korea deploys KDX-2 destroyer to Ghana on rescue mission". Jane's Information Group. The Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) has deployed a KDX-2-class guided-missile destroyer to Ghana on a possible hostage rescue mission after three South Korean fishermen were kidnapped while at sea on 26 March.

Further reading

Media related to ROKS Munmu the Great (DDH-976) at Wikimedia Commons

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