Ri Sun-hŭi class corvette
| File:ISS Ru Baimei.png Ri Sun-hŭi, first ship in the class
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Ri Sun-hŭi class corvette |
| Operators: |
 Menghe |
| Preceded by: | Cha Ryong-dŏk class corvette |
| Cost: | ₩1.3bn ($60 million) |
| Built: | 2007-present |
| In service: | 2009-present |
| Planned: | 40+ |
| Completed: | 29 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | corvette |
| Displacement: | 2,200 tonnes |
| Length: |
list error: <br /> list (help) |
| Beam: | 12.6 m |
| Draught: |
list error: <br /> list (help) |
| Propulsion: |
list error: <br /> list (help) |
| Speed: | 26.6 knots |
| Range: | 6,000 nm (11,000 km) at 16 knots |
| Boats & landing craft carried: | 1x rigid-hulled boat |
| Complement: | 82 including aircrew |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
list error: <br /> list (help) |
| Electronic warfare & decoys: |
2 × P220 ESM 2 × P250 ECM |
| Armament: |
list error: <br /> list (help) |
| Aircraft carried: | 1x GHJ-30H light helicopter |
| Aviation facilities: |
list error: <br /> list (help) |
The Ri Sun-hŭi-class corvette is a type of corvette developed in Menghe and operated by the Menghean Navy. Its main specialization is anti-submarine warfare, in which it is capable of operating in both green-water and blue-water areas. For this role, it has potent ASW armament, but is only lightly armed for Anti-Air and Surface-to-Surface combat. With a full-load displacement of around 2,200 tonnes, it is currently the largest ship in Menghean service to bear the Corvette designation, and the only Menghean corvette fitted with a helicopter hangar.
Development
Originating from the reforms that followed Go Jŏng-nam's appointment as High Admiral in 2004, the Ri Sun-hŭi class is one of several new ship classes intended to bolster Menghe's maritime defense capabilities as part of a wider pivot from expeditionary warfare to counteroffensive defense. The design request called for a larger and more independent type of light ASW vessel, capable of patrolling open ocean areas and of supporting a light helicopter. After a number of traditional designs were proposed and discussed, the Naval leadership eventually settled on a more modern hull form with reduced-RCS angling and smoothing. Later ships, including the Jŏngdŏk-class frigate, would feature similar low-detection shaping.
Design
Propulsion
Like the Gimonbyun-class frigates that followed, the Ri Sun-hŭi-class corvettes are powered by a Combined-Diesel-Electric-And-Diesel (CODLAD) powerplant. A total of four diesel-electric generator sets are fitted, for a total output of about 15,000 kilowatts (~20,200 shaft horsepower in final output). Propulsion is accomplished with two propeller shafts, each of which is fitted with a torsional damping device to reduce noise and vibration. Cruising is usually performed with only two diesel engines running, but all four can be activated at once to allow a top speed of 26.6 knots. Additionally, stored power from the ship's batteries can be used to temporarily run the ship at low speeds with very little noise. This feature, along with various other acoustic dampening measures around the engines and the ship's small size, can make the Ri Sun-hŭi-class relatively difficult to pick up on a submarine's passive sonar.
ASW Capability
As an anti-submarine patrol ship, the Ri Sun-hŭi-class is primarily built around the detection and interception of sub-surface targets. In addition to its bow sonar bulge, it is fitted with a towed sonar array in the stern, allowing it to pick up enemy submarines at various depths above and below the thermocline. Once a submarine is found, it can be engaged with 400mm homing torpedoes from the fixed amidships launchers. The ship also carries two RBDJ-21/10 rocket-propelled depth charge projectors, which are automatically fired and traversed but must be manually reloaded in between salvoes. These are mainly used to deploy counter-torpedo decoys, but they can also fire the R-21NS homing depth charge.
Other Armament
Due to the class's defense-in-depth patrol role, non-ASW armament was minimized, though the ship still retains some capability to defend itself against aircraft, incoming missiles, and other surface craft. Gun armament consists of a single HP-76/1 76mm turret, which can also be used against missiles and aircraft, and a single GBM-30/6TH Close-In Weapons System. Additional close-in defense is provided by two SAM modules, each consisting of eight IIR-guided missiles and an electro-optical tracking system. Defense against ships is provided by YDH-28 anti-ship missiles in angled boxes on the upper deck. All ships in Menghean service only carry four missiles in two twin-box mounts, though the type has been marketed to foreign customers with two quad AShM mounts in varying types.