Dolgorae-class submarine

Dolgorae-class submarine
Class overview
Builders:	Korea Takoma Shipyard
Operators:	Republic of Korea Navy
Preceded by:	Cosmos class
Succeeded by:	Chang Bogo class
In commission:	1985–
Completed:	3
Active:	2
Retired:	1
Preserved:	1 SSM-051
General characteristics
Type:	Midget submarine
Displacement:	175 tonnes (172 long tons) full load
Length:	25 m (82 ft 0 in)
Beam:	2.1 m (6 ft 11 in)
Speed:	16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement:	14
Sensors and processing systems:	STN Atlas hull-mounted sonar Pilkington CK34 search periscope
Armament:	2 × 406mm torpedo tubes

The Dolgorae class submarine (Hangul: 돌고래급 잠수정) is a type of midget submarine designed and acquired for the ROK Navy. There are currently two operational units in service.

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.

With the Type 209 project completed there is less need for these submarines.

Replacement

In November 2011, South Korea unveiled plans for a new mini-sub designated KSS-500A. In September 2015, Janes reported that Hyundai Heavy Industries started construction of a single 40 m long HDS-400 mini submarine for an unnamed naval customer.

Ships in the class

Name	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Status
ROKS SSM-051	Korea Takoma Shipyard	2 April 1982		2003	Retired
ROKS SSM-052	Korea Takoma Shipyard	1990			Active
ROKS SSM-053	Korea Takoma Shipyard	1991			Active

See also

• ROK Navy

References

• The information in this article is based on that in its Korean equivalent.