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

{{Reflist}}