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The Navy will launch Korea's first LPX-class ship equipped with a flight deck like a light aircraft carrier.
The Dokdo, named amid the patriotic fervor surrounding a recent spat with Japan over Korea¡¯s islets in the East Sea, will be used in a wide range of activities including UN peacekeeping operations and disaster relief. It opens new areas of operation for the Navy as Korea looks to more independent defense capabilities.
With a displacement of 13,000 tons the Dokdo will not only be the largest vessel in the Korean Navy but also substantially larger than the similar Osumi-class landing ship (8,900 tons) of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, and with a larger payload capacity as well, making it the regions largest of its kind. Previously, the largest ship in the Korean Navy was the 9,000-ton support vessel Cheonji.
The Dokdo can carry a battalion of marines (about 700 men), 10 armored vehicles, up to 200 vehicles, 15 helicopters, and two LCAC hovercrafts capable of landing on enemy shores doing 40 knots ? a mix that enables it to launch troop landings from both sea and air. Such ¡°amphibious¡± capabilities of the Korean Navy have been limited to four 4,300-ton Kojoonbong-class landing ships and four 4,080-ton Unbong-class landing ships given to it by the United States after use in World War II.
Japan has built three Osumi-class landing ships since 1998, but their payload -- 330 unarmed men and 10 armored vehicles -- is far short of the LPX. Japan deployed Osumi-class vessels when it sent troops to Iraq and during relief operations following the South Asian tsunami of late 2004. That the Korean Navy was able to send only a 4,300-ton landing vessel exposed shortcomings in ocean-going operations the new ship will go some way toward remedying.
Some experts say the vessel could be converted into a light aircraft carrier in an emergency carrying AV-8 Harrier VTOL aircraft, but military authorities deny this.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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