Dolgorae-class submarine
{{short description|Submarine class}}
{{Infobox ship begin |sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= Dolgorae-class submarine.jpg |Ship caption= Dolgorae-class submarine }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name= |Builders=Korea Takoma Shipyard |Operators={{navy|South Korea}} |Class before={{sclass2|Cosmos|submarine|4}} |Class after={{sclass|Chang Bogo|submarine|4}} |Subclasses= |Cost= |Built range= |In service range= |In commission range=1985–2016 |Total ships building= |Total ships planned= |Total ships completed=3 |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active= |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired=3 |Total ships preserved=1 }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship type=Midget submarine |Ship displacement= {{convert|175|t|LT|0}} full load |Ship length= {{convert|25|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship beam= {{convert|2.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship draft= |Ship depth= |Ship propulsion= |Ship speed= {{convert|16|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range= |Ship endurance= |Ship complement=14 |Ship time to activate= |Ship sensors=*STN Atlas hull-mounted sonar
|Ship armament=2 × {{convert|406|mm|in|abbr=on|0}} torpedo tubes |Ship armor= |Ship notes= }} |
The Dolgorae-class submarine (Hangul: 돌고래급 잠수정) was a type of midget submarine designed and acquired for the Republic of Korea Navy. All three units are now retired.{{cite news |date=30 June 2015 |title=S. Korean Navy's first-generation submarines decommissioned |url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2016/06/30/0200000000AEN20160630007500315.html |access-date=14 July 2015 }}
These midget submarines were the first South Korean submarines of any type. They were acquired primarily to obtain initial experience with the basics of operating a submarine force. The secondary mission to train surface ASW ships in the detection of North Korean midget submarines.
Replacement
In November 2011, South Korea unveiled plans for a new mini-sub designated KSS-500A. In September 2015, Jane's.com reported that Hyundai Heavy Industries started construction of a single {{convert|40|m|abbr=on}} long HDS-400 mini submarine for an unnamed naval customer.{{cite news |last=Rahmat |first=Ridzwan |date=24 Sep 2015 |title=Hyundai begins construction of mini-submarine for undisclosed customer |url=http://www.janes.com/article/54825/hyundai-begins-construction-of-mini-submarine-for-undisclosed-customer |access-date=8 Oct 2015 }}
Ships in the class
class="wikitable"
! Name ! Builder ! Launched ! Commissioned ! Decommissioned ! Status |
{{ship|ROKS|SSM-051}}
| rowspan="3" |Korea Takoma Shipyard |2 April 1982 | 1985 |2003 | |
{{ship|ROKS|SSM-052}}
| 1987? | 1990 | 2016 | Retired |
{{ship|ROKS|SSM-053}}
| 1988? | 1991 | 2016 | Retired; museum ship at Seoul Battleship Park |
In November 2017, SSM-053 was opened as a museum ship in the Seoul Battleship Park beside the Han River in western Seoul.{{cite news|last1=Kim|first1=Se-jeong|title=Seoul Battleship Park opens Wednesday|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2017/11/281_239720.html|access-date=23 November 2017|work=The Korea Times|date=22 November 2017}}
References
- The information in this article is based on that in its Korean equivalent.
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