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Pohang-class corvette
The Pohang-class PCC (Patrol Combat Corvette) (Korean: 포항급 초계함, Hanja: 浦項級哨戒艦) is the low-end complement of the high-low mix domestic naval construction plan of the Republic of Korea Navy under the 1st Yulgok Project (1974-1986) for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. It was originally planned as a Batch II production of Donghae-class corvette, but many changes on overall design, notably applying the hull design of Ulsan-class frigate, reclassified the ship to its own class. The ship is designed for patrolling maritime border, including the Northern Limit Line, protecting the littoral zone, and combating the North Korean vessels.
Since 1984, a total of 24 Pohang-class corvettes were commissioned in the Republic of Korea Navy. The decommission of the class started in 2009, and is being replaced with series of FFX program. As of December 2025, 2 remain in service in the ROKN, and 8 were transferred to other navies.
The Pohang-class corvette was originally intended to be a Batch II version of the Donghae-class corvette.
During the design phase of the Donghae-class corvette, there was some debate between the designers regarding the shape of the hull. Captain Eom Do-jae, who was also supervising the construction of the Ulsan-class frigate at the time, believed that a new corvette should have a narrow V-shaped hull, similar to the Ulsan-class frigate design. However, according to other designers, based on experiences from the ships operated by the ROKN, the Noryang-class PCEC (Patrol Craft Escort & Combatant) (ex-PCE-842-class) had the best size for the mission, and the Sinseong-class PCE (Patrol Craft Escort) (ex-Auk-class MSF), which had a U-shape hull, showed great ship stability at patrol speeds (5-8 knots). A further consideration was that a V-shape hull would require fin stabilizers, which were not favored by the ROKN due to difficulties with fin stabilizers of the Baekgu-class PGM (Patrol Gunboat Motor) (modified Asheville-class). As a result, the ROKN proceeded with implementing a U-shape design to achieve stability without the use of fin stabilizers for the Donghae-class.
Captain Eom subsequently persuaded ROKN naval command to change the hull design for the construction of the second batch of the Donghae-class corvette. The hull became a shape similar to that of Ulsan-class, and many of the internal and external structures were redesigned. Ultimately this Batch II version was sufficiently different from the original Donghae class that it was reclassified into the Pohang class. The decision to install fin stabilizers on the Pohang-class corvette was decided by the ROKN only a month prior to the launch of the ROKS Pohang due to feedback from the ROKS Ulsan (which was constructed without fin stabilizers). To meet the new fin stabilizer requirement, internal parts were relocated under a tight schedule.
The Pohang-class is about 10 m longer, 100 t heavier, and 1 knot faster (with a maximum speed of 32 knots) than the Donghae-class thanks to a better speed-length ratio. During sea trials, the ROKS Pohang achieved speed of 35 knots. Successful testing of fin stabilizers prompted their subsequent installation on all Pohang and Ulsan-class.
The Pohang-class is powered by one General Electric LM2500 gas turbine engine and two MTU Friedrichshafen 12V 956 TB82 diesel engines for combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion system, which allows full displacement of 1,220 t ship to move at 32 kn maximum and 15 kn cruising speed. The main armament is focused on surface combat to counter numerous and small North Korean ships, which is controlled by Signaal SEWACO ZK combat management system combined with Signaal WM28 fire-control system and fire-control radar, Raytheon AN/SPS-64 surface-search radar, and Signaal LIOD optronic director. For anti-submarine mission, the ship has installed EDO 786 sonar and armed with 2 x triple Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes firing Mark 46 torpedo.[citation needed]
However, the ship lacks air-search radar along with anti-air weapon, which was the biggest topic among the militaries of the world as a result of the Falklands War, due to low on budget. The ship has limited defense capability against air and missile attack, only assisted by GoldStar ULQ-12K ESM (electronic support measures) and Mk 36 SRBOC (Super Rapid Bloom Offboard Countermeasures).[citation needed]
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Pohang-class corvette
The Pohang-class PCC (Patrol Combat Corvette) (Korean: 포항급 초계함, Hanja: 浦項級哨戒艦) is the low-end complement of the high-low mix domestic naval construction plan of the Republic of Korea Navy under the 1st Yulgok Project (1974-1986) for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. It was originally planned as a Batch II production of Donghae-class corvette, but many changes on overall design, notably applying the hull design of Ulsan-class frigate, reclassified the ship to its own class. The ship is designed for patrolling maritime border, including the Northern Limit Line, protecting the littoral zone, and combating the North Korean vessels.
Since 1984, a total of 24 Pohang-class corvettes were commissioned in the Republic of Korea Navy. The decommission of the class started in 2009, and is being replaced with series of FFX program. As of December 2025, 2 remain in service in the ROKN, and 8 were transferred to other navies.
The Pohang-class corvette was originally intended to be a Batch II version of the Donghae-class corvette.
During the design phase of the Donghae-class corvette, there was some debate between the designers regarding the shape of the hull. Captain Eom Do-jae, who was also supervising the construction of the Ulsan-class frigate at the time, believed that a new corvette should have a narrow V-shaped hull, similar to the Ulsan-class frigate design. However, according to other designers, based on experiences from the ships operated by the ROKN, the Noryang-class PCEC (Patrol Craft Escort & Combatant) (ex-PCE-842-class) had the best size for the mission, and the Sinseong-class PCE (Patrol Craft Escort) (ex-Auk-class MSF), which had a U-shape hull, showed great ship stability at patrol speeds (5-8 knots). A further consideration was that a V-shape hull would require fin stabilizers, which were not favored by the ROKN due to difficulties with fin stabilizers of the Baekgu-class PGM (Patrol Gunboat Motor) (modified Asheville-class). As a result, the ROKN proceeded with implementing a U-shape design to achieve stability without the use of fin stabilizers for the Donghae-class.
Captain Eom subsequently persuaded ROKN naval command to change the hull design for the construction of the second batch of the Donghae-class corvette. The hull became a shape similar to that of Ulsan-class, and many of the internal and external structures were redesigned. Ultimately this Batch II version was sufficiently different from the original Donghae class that it was reclassified into the Pohang class. The decision to install fin stabilizers on the Pohang-class corvette was decided by the ROKN only a month prior to the launch of the ROKS Pohang due to feedback from the ROKS Ulsan (which was constructed without fin stabilizers). To meet the new fin stabilizer requirement, internal parts were relocated under a tight schedule.
The Pohang-class is about 10 m longer, 100 t heavier, and 1 knot faster (with a maximum speed of 32 knots) than the Donghae-class thanks to a better speed-length ratio. During sea trials, the ROKS Pohang achieved speed of 35 knots. Successful testing of fin stabilizers prompted their subsequent installation on all Pohang and Ulsan-class.
The Pohang-class is powered by one General Electric LM2500 gas turbine engine and two MTU Friedrichshafen 12V 956 TB82 diesel engines for combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion system, which allows full displacement of 1,220 t ship to move at 32 kn maximum and 15 kn cruising speed. The main armament is focused on surface combat to counter numerous and small North Korean ships, which is controlled by Signaal SEWACO ZK combat management system combined with Signaal WM28 fire-control system and fire-control radar, Raytheon AN/SPS-64 surface-search radar, and Signaal LIOD optronic director. For anti-submarine mission, the ship has installed EDO 786 sonar and armed with 2 x triple Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes firing Mark 46 torpedo.[citation needed]
However, the ship lacks air-search radar along with anti-air weapon, which was the biggest topic among the militaries of the world as a result of the Falklands War, due to low on budget. The ship has limited defense capability against air and missile attack, only assisted by GoldStar ULQ-12K ESM (electronic support measures) and Mk 36 SRBOC (Super Rapid Bloom Offboard Countermeasures).[citation needed]