Cheonji-class fast combat support ship
{{short description|Ship class}}
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:South Korean Navy vessels, Montreal (2013-10-15).jpg |Ship caption=ROKS Hwacheon in Montreal on 15 October 2013 }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name= |Builders=Hyundai Heavy Industries |Operators={{navy|South Korea}} |Class before=Soyang class (1982) |Class after=Soyang class (2016) |Subclasses= |Cost= |Built range=1990–1998{{cite news|url=http://kookbang.dema.mil.kr/newsWeb/20190825/2/BBSMSTR_000000010206/view.do |title=보급물자 적재 능력 최대 1만1050톤(소양함) '든든' |author=윤병노 |date=2019-08-25 |accessdate=2019-11-15 |agency=국방일보}} |In service range= |In commission range=1991–present |Total ships building= |Total ships planned= |Total ships completed=3 |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active=3 |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired= |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship type=Fast combat support ship |Ship displacement=*{{convert|4200|t|LT|0}}{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil.kr/mbshome/mbs/navy/subview.do?id=navy_060501060000 |title=함정 |trans-title=Ships |website=Republic of Korea Navy |accessdate=2019-11-15}}
|Ship length={{convert|133.7|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|17.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship draft={{convert|6.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship depth= |Ship propulsion=2 × Voith Schneider Propeller |Ship speed= {{convert|20|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range= {{convert|4500|nmi|km|abbr=on|lk=in}} |Ship endurance= |Ship complement= |Ship time to activate= |Ship sensors=*2 × Anti-ship radar |Ship EW= |Ship armament=*1 × 20 mm cannon
|Ship armor= |Ship notes= }} |
The Cheonji-class fast combat support ship ({{lang|ko|천지급 군수지원함}}, {{linktext|天|池|級|軍|需|支|援|艦}}) are fast combat support ships in service in the Republic of Korea Navy. After commissioning in the 1990s, they significantly increased the Korean Navy's ocean operation ability, especially in foreign domains. They participated in events using their wide deck and contributed to the development of civil-military relations.
Background and construction
After the Korean War, the Korean Navy purchased and operated small refueling ships from the 1960s to the 1980s. These ships were obsolete due to prolonged operation, which forced their retirement beginning in the late 1970s. As the demand for maritime operations increased day, the Navy required vessels to complete the missions.{{cite news|url=http://nownews.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20181116601010 |title=바다 위의 보급창고 '군수지원함'|author=김대영 |date=2018-11-16 |accessdate=2019-11-17 |agency=나우뉴스}}
From the mid-1980s, based on ship drying experiences, the Korean Navy proposed building combat support ships domestically. From 1988 to 1990, the first combat support ship, later named Cheonji, was built and launched. Daecheong and Hwacheon were built seven years later. At the time, the Korean Navy decided whether or not to build follow-up ships after finishing the operation test of the first ship.
As the needs of support ships increased, the Navy designed the Soyang-class ships in 2016, based on the Cheonji class.
Design
Cheonji-class ships are about {{convert|133|m|ftin}} long, {{convert|18|m|ftin}} wide. It was the largest of the Korean Navy before the construction of {{sclass|Dokdo|amphibious assault ship|4}}.{{cite news|title='바다 위의 창고' 천지급 군수지원함 |trans-title='Cargo on ocean' Cheonji-class combat support ship |agency=세계일보 |url=http://www.segye.com/newsView/20151201003314 |date=2015-12-01 |accessdate=2019-11-21 |author=박수찬}} They can load about 4,800 tons of cargo, excluding the ship's supply.
They are armed with one {{convert|20|mm|in}} gun, one {{convert|40|mm|in}} gun, and Device Automatic Gurre Anti-missile Infrared Electromagnetic device, providing self-defence against enemy ships.
Resupply systems are located both left and right, to supply two ships at once. At the stern, it is possible to resupply both Cheonji class and other ships by using UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The most distinctive feature is that it is highly adaptable and can transport supplies to ports without cargo handling facilities.{{cite web|url=https://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=2234306&cid=51293&categoryId=51293 |title=8800톤급 군수지원함 |website=www.emuseum.go.kr |author=National Museum of Korea |access-date=2019-11-21}}
List of ships
The names of fast combat support ships are taken from lakes that have large water volume in Korea. For example, Cheonji, the first ship of the class, is the name of Cheonji lake.
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Construction data ! scope="col" | Hull number !| Name ! scope="col" | Launched ! scope="col" | Commissioned ! scope="col" | Status |
| AOE 57
| {{ship|ROKS|Cheonji|AOE-57|6}} | 1990 | 1991 | In service |
| AOE 58
| {{ship|ROKS|Daecheong|AOE-58|6}} | 1997 | 1997 | In service |
| AOE 59
| {{ship|ROKS|Hwacheon|AOE-59|6}} | 1997 | 1998 | In service |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Cheonji-class fast combat support ship}}
{{Republic of Korea Navy ships}}