Nampo-class corvette
{{Short description|North Korean warship class}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2015}}
| {{Infobox ship begin |sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image= | Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Builders = Nampo Shipyard, No 28 Shipyard Najin{{Cite web|url=https://www.38north.org/2014/05/jbermudez051514/|last=Bermudez Jr.|first=Joseph S.|title=New North Korean Helicopter Frigates Spotted|date=May 15, 2014|website=38 North}} | Operators = {{navy|PRK}} | Class before = Soho-class frigate | Class after= | Subclasses= | Built range= 2013-2014 | In commission range= 2013-present | Total ships building= | Total ships planned= | Total ships completed= 2 | Total ships cancelled= | Total ships active= 2 | Total ships laid up= | Total ships lost= | Total ships retired= | Total ships scrapped= | Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header= | Header caption= | Ship type=Corvette | Ship displacement= 1300 ~ 1500tons | Ship length= {{convert|76|m|ft}} | Ship beam= {{convert|11|m|ft}} | Ship draught= {{convert|3.4|m|ft}} | Ship propulsion= diesel | Ship speed = unknown | Ship range = unknown | Ship complement = unknown | Ship sensors = unknown | Ship EW= | Ship armament =
| Ship armour= | Ship aircraft = 1 helicopter (likely with either Mil Mi-4 PL or Mil Mi-14 PL) | Ship aircraft facilities = helicopter pad only }} |
The Nampo-class corvettes (or light frigates) are a class of warships built in North Korea. They were seen from satellite-photos in 2013 and are believed to be a replacement for the older {{sclass|Soho|frigate}}. The class has some similarities to Myanmar Navy UMS Tabinshweht, an Anawrahta-class frigate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nknews.org/2016/11/exclusive-new-low-visibility-corvette-spotted-in-north-korea/|last=O'Carroll|first=Chad|title=Exclusive: New low-visibility corvette spotted in North Korea|date=November 8, 2016|work=NK News}}
Two known hulls have been launched: one on the Sea of Japan in Najin and one in Nampo for service in the Yellow Sea.
Specification
Little is known of their features and weapons.
One of the clear element is the presence of a helicopter-deck and possibly even a small hangar on the hull.
The only weapon system identified is anti-submarine rockets (RBU 1200 A/S mortars), thus making the corvette a response for the recent developments of the South Korean Navy in the field of submarines.
Further weapons could be added however, including guns and anti-ship missiles (such as the Kh-35, known to have been recently put in service in the KPN). The potential missile systems appears to be SAM and SSM.
By western standard, the ships should be considered corvettes, however they're also described as light frigates for their role.