Cheonan Investigators Find Pieces of Torpedo Propeller

Investigators have apparently discovered pieces of a propeller from a torpedo, which could provide valuable clues to exactly what caused the Navy corvette Cheonan to sink on March 26.

A Chinese-made Yu-3 type torpedo like the one in this photo is presumed to have hit the Navy corvette Cheonan.

"In a search using fishing trawlers, we recently discovered pieces of debris that are believed to have come from the propeller of the torpedo that attacked the Cheonan," a high-ranking government source said Monday. "Analysis of the debris shows it may have originated from China or a former Eastern-bloc country like the former Soviet Union."

If conclusive evidence is found for North Korea's role in the attack, the government plans to implement sanctions against the North immediately after announcing the results of the investigation on Thursday. Officials gathered at the presidential office on Monday to discuss specific sanctions, including joint anti-submarine exercises by South Korean and U.S. forces, the resumption of psychological warfare against North Korea, blocking North Korean ships from waters off the coast of Jeju Island and a halt to all inter-Korean trade except the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

PTDI to hand over aircraft to S Korea by end of 2010

State aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) is scheduled to hand over one of four CN-235/ MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) ordered by South Korea, by the end of 2010.

"Four CN-235/ MPA aircraft are currently under construction by PTDI to meet the South Korean order. One of the planes would be handed over to South Korea by the end of 2010," PT Dirgantara Indonesia`s chief spokesman Rokhendi said in Bandung Friday.

He said the four CN-235/MPA planes are ordered by South Korea under a contract signed in 2008 at a total cost of 94.5 million US dollars. The production of the four aircraft would be completed in 2012.

South Korea Enters The Big Leagues

A South Korean firm is building the ESM (Electronic Support Measures) equipment for the six new Type 214 submarines their navy is buying. The ESM suite is designed by a Swedish company, but is subcontracting the construction of the equipment to South korea LIG Nex1. This brings home the fact that South Korea has become an electronics superpower over the last three decades. In terms of electronics items manufactured, South korea is fourth behind the U.S., Japan and China. This has led to the establishment of specialized firms, like LIG Nex1, which do precision, and specialized work, like ESM systems. South Korea has been a growing manufacturer of military electronics, mainly in support of their local production of warships, armored vehicles and high tech weapons.

South Korea also builds submarines, also a very specialized field. A decade ago, South Korea ordered three German 214s, and the first of those entered service two years ago. The boats were built in South Korea, using licensed technology from the German developer (HDW).

Four years ago, the South Koreans dropped plans to built several large, 3,000 ton, diesel-electric subs. But now, this plan has been revived. But first, the six additional 1,600 ton Type 214 subs will be built over the next 14 years, in addition to the three already planned. South Korea already has nine 1,100 ton Type 209 subs, designed and built in Germany.

S Korea's defense exports hit record high last year

South Korea's defense exports in 2009jumped 13 percent to a record high of 1.17 billion U.S. dollars, helped by the government support and more companies breaking into overseas market, an arms procurement agency said Tuesday.

The record-high sales are slightly short of the original goal of 1.2 billion U.S. dollars but is still a major achievement considering the global economic downturn, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said.

The sales were also boosted by diversification of the defense items, with many small firms, whose number local media say stands at 104, entering the industry and faring well, according to the agency.

Class 214 & 209 Families

The Class 214 submarines were developed by HDW on the basis of the proven design principles of the family of Class 209 submarines.

U209+U212+U214_Comparative

In addition, innovative systems from the Class 212A boats were also integrated in the design. The net result was and is an air-independent but non-nuclear submarine with exceptional technical and operational capabilities, featuring extraordinarily developed stealth characteristics and an impressive weapon and sensor payload. Thanks to its modular design, the Class 214 submarine can be equipped with a wide range of optional systems depending on the requirements of the customer navy.Other exceptional features of the Class 214 submarine are:

• Considerably extended submerged endurance and low detectability due to incorporation of the proven fuel cell system for air-independent propulsion
• Minimised acoustic, thermal and magnetic signatures as a result of the mature design and the advanced production technology
• Increased diving depth capabilities
• Improved living conditions for the crew

The Class 214 submarine meets all operational requirements for missions in both shallow and deep water areas. Submarines of this class are now being built for the Hellenic and Korean Navies.

Saab Signs Contract With LIG Nex1 For Localisation of Signal Intelligence Systems for Submarines

Defence and security company Saab has signed a contract with LIG Nex1 for the localisation of Saab’s naval ESM system for the South Korean second batch of Class 214 submarines. The order value is close to MEUR 11 (approximately MSEK 114).

The contract, which sees LIG Nex1 localise parts of the Saab ESM (Electronic Support Measures) system, is for the delivery of ESM systems to Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW) for the South Korean Navy’s second batch of Class 214 submarines.

 

 U-214 Class

South Korea‘s Third KSS-II Submarine Begins Operations

The South Korean Navy begins operations on its third KSS-II submarine today, following an 18-month sea trial period.

The 1,800t Type-214 diesel-electric submarine is equipped with state-of-the-art torpedoes and submarine-to-surface missiles. It can perform underwater operations for as long as two weeks submerged at depths of up to 400m.

 The 65.3m-long submarine can accommodate a crew of 40 and has a maximum submerged speed of 20kt. It is equipped with air independent propulsion (AIP), which provides stealth capability and improves its underwater performance.

The submersible warship features ISUS-90 integrated sensor submarine system with which the operators can handle variable information and detect up to 300 targets simultaneously.

Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in collaboration with Germany's Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW), the submarine costs around $1bn to produce.

The third Type-214 submarine was named after a Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun.

South Korean Navy says it will launch six more Type-214 submarines, create a submarine command by 2018 and build indigenous 3,000t submarines after 2018.

Original News

SS-209 Class

 The 209 submarine class is designed to destroy hostile submarines, surface ships, protect friendly naval bases, sea shores communications, and carry out reconnaissance missions. The Type 1200 as a member of the Class 209 ensures reliable early detection of hostile warships, including low-noise submarines, owing to a high effective sonar system and low noise feature of the submarine.

With a full submerged displacement of 1200 tons, they are able to dive 250m (850 ft). They are equipped with four MTU diesel engines, providing a maximum speed 21 knots (submerged) and 11 knots (surfaced). They carry eight 533mm/21inch torpedo tubes at the bow, and are armed with 14 torpedoes or 28 mines. This class has plans to update their capaabilities through equiping with a passive towed array sonar. The last three units are armed with Harpoon SSM launching system.

The high energy content in its big battery gives the commanding officer tactical advantages and options. The workload of the crew is considerably reduced by the modern integrated electronic combat system operated via multipurpose consoles, which combine the sonar, navigation information and weapons systems. The incorporation of new equipment or a different weapon system automatically leads to configuration changes elsewhere in the submarine, as the changes imply different space requirements, altered electrical power supplies

, other cooling facilities, etc.

The propulsion system was initially equipped with suction diesel engines, but later the transition to supercharged engines was completed and notably increased performance values. With the active assistance of the two already mentioned major battery manufacturers, battery quality was improved in both low and high power areas, retaining good results in submerged range and maximum speed, in spite of the increased size of the submarines.

The diesel-based submarine can navigate at 22 knots (44km) of maximum underwater speed, and 2-month solo operation is possible with 40 members of crew and staff. As it is loaded with detection equipment and battle system, and sub-Harpoons, its war-fighting capabilities are outstanding. The submarines are successfully performing their operations, not detected by enemy submarines in joint operations with the U.S., Australia, Japan and other nations in RIMPAC training, demonstrating its excellence.

Daewoo Shipbuilding enjoyed a virtual monopoly in the nation's submarine industry until early 1999. It built nine 1,200 ton-class submarines in a technical tie-up with HDW since 1991 under the ministry's 10-year submarine project, called "KAA-I."

The Changbogo class submarines are Diesel/Electric propulsion submarines, built under license in South Korea, based on German Type 209-1200. ROKS Changbogo(SS-61), the first ship of this class, was launched on June 1992 by HDW at Kiel in Germany and commissioned on June 1993. The remainder were assembled at Okpo by DAEWOO from material packages transported from Germany. The second and subsequent boats were built by Daewoo Heavy Industries Co. at Koje island, South Korea. ROKS Leesunsin (SS-68), the 7th ship launched on 21 May 1998.

Changbogo class ships were named after a historical Generals' name who related with sea. The lead unit is named after Chang Bo-go [Changbogo], the the admiral of Koryo a 1,000 years ago, who created a maritime Kingdom around Wando, an island situated on the southern tip of the Korean peninsula. Changbogo was a General at the Unified Kindom of Shilla who secured the command of the seaway that linked China, Korea and Japan. Apparently there are intended gaps in the numbering of this class, since there is no SS 064 or SS 070. Number 4 and 0 are reportedly not used by the ROK Navy because they are considered unlucky as these numbers have the same sound as the Korean-read Chinese character meaning death. This numerical nomenclature case is similarly applied to all other military branches as, for example, there is no division number containing the number 4 and so on.

A Korean-built SS-209 class submarine, Lee Chun-ham, participated in Naval Exercise Tandem Thrust conducted in late March 1999 in the vicinity of Guam. The Republic of Korea Navy had asked CINCPACFLT to provide FMS support for the Korean submarine to fire a submarine-launched torpedo at the target ship ex-USS Oklahoma City (a 10,600-ton cruiser). The multi-national participants were also intended to fire a total of 11 Harpoon anti-ship missiles at this target. The Harpoons were to have been fired first, then an FMS-provided transponder was to be installed aboard the ex-USS Oklahoma City or the Korean submarine to launch its torpedo attack. Unfortunately, on exercise day it was impossible to clear the range of commercial shipping necessary to safely conduct the multiple Harpoon attacks, and no Harpoons were fired. The Republic of Korea Navy thus got a rare opportunity to conduct a submarine attack against an undamaged cruiser-sized target. The Korean SS-209 did not disappoint. In firing a single torpedo against the target, a direct hit was made, the target broke into two pieces, and sank in 15 minutes. Well done to CINCPACFLT (N403) for providing the necessary torpedo transponder on very short notice, and well done to the Korean Navy on its highly successful, first ever submarine attack.

Specifications
Length	56 m (187.5 ft)
Beam	6.25 m (20.5 ft)
Draft	5.5 m (18 ft)
Propulsion	Diesel/Electric
Speed	21.5 knots, Maximum - submerged 11 knots, Maximum - surfaced
Range	7500 miles (8 knots, snorkel) 370 miles (submerged)
Displacement	1100 tons surfaced 1285 tons surmerged
Crew	30 (6 officers)
Torpedo	14 STN SUT mod 2 or LG Whiteshark
	8 533mm/21inch Torpedo tubes
Mines	28 mines (instead of torpedo)
Missile	SUB-Harpoon [last three units]
Countermeasures	ESM : Argo
Sonars	Atlas Elecktronik CSU 83
Weapon control	Atlas Elecktronik ISUS 83 TFCS
Radars	Navigation : I-Band

Ships
Pennant	Name	Builder	Homeport	Fleet	Launch	Complete
SS 061	Chang Bo Go	HDW, Germany				1993
SS 062	Yi Chon	Daewoo, Korea				1994
SS 063	Choi Mu Son	Daewoo, Korea				1996
SS 065	Pak Ui	Daewoo, Korea				1996
SS 066	Lee Jong Moo	Daewoo, Korea				1998
SS 067	Chong Un	Daewoo, Korea				1998
SS 068	Lee Sun Sin	Daewoo, Korea		9th Flotilla		1999
SS 069	Na Dae Yong	Daewoo, Korea				2000
SS 071	-	Daewoo, Korea				2001

A different class: new upgrades bring vintage Type 209s back into fashion

The Hellenic Navy's Neptune I programme has seen the service's four Type 209/1100 Glavkos-class boats given extensive upgrades. (TKMS/HDW)

 The international diesel-submarine market has been dominated by Germany over the past 40 years, with the Type 209 design very much the lynchpin of this global export success.

This stemmed from 1967 when the Kiel-based shipyard then known as Kieler Howaldtswerke signed a contract in Athens, Greece, to build four Type 209/1100 Glavkos-class submarines for the Hellenic Navy (HN).

These 1,000-ton submerged displacement boats could trace their lineage to the German Navy's smaller (450 tons displacement) Type 206 submarines. While somewhat larger, they used many of the same components, in some cases by doubling up on certain equipment such as generators.

Adopting a single-hull construction arrangement, the philosophy underpinning the Type 209 design was for a simple and clearly laid out vessel that would enable the commanding officer, standing at a central position by the periscope, to see along the entire length of the pressure hull – from the torpedo tubes in the bow to the end of the engine room.

The command room was situated about halfway along the hull. Forward and aft of this area the lower deck consisted of large battery spaces, with battery cells constituting about 25 per cent of total displacement and accounting for very good submerged endurance. Another notable feature was the low-revolution 5,000 hp electric motor, acting directly on the propeller shaft and enabling speeds of more than 20 kt.

These standout characteristics of good submerged reach, high submerged speed and excellent handling went on to establish the Type 209 as the export submarine of choice for two generations (janes.com).