Ginam-class frigate

The Ginam-class frigates are a group of warships built in Menghe during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Though often identified as Frigates in the West, in Menghe they were variously known as Large ASW Patrol Ships, Medium ASW Patrol Ships, and Large Patrol Ships, going through two official reclassifications during their service lives. Eight ships were built in total, and all were scrapped during the 2010s.

The ships of the Ginam class were intended for independent blue- or green-water anti-submarine patrols, rather than service as fleet escorts. As such, their sensors and weapons were heavily specialized for anti-submarine missions, and they carried very little anti-air or anti-surface armament.

Development

In the 1970s, the mainstay of the DPRM's anti-submarine patrol force was made up of Jangmi-class and Mugunghwa-class medium anti-submarine patrol ships. These ships had dipping sonar for detection of submarines below the thermocline, but could only deploy the dipping sonar while stationary. This forced the ships to operate in pairs, and limited their ability to pursue or shadow a moving submarine.

In order to correct this problem, Menghean engineers began work on a variable-depth sonar assembly, which could be towed behind a moving ship while operational. Two Mugunghwa-class ships were converted to trials ships for this towed sonar system, which was declared operational in 1978. Yet even with plans underway to refit all Mugunghwa-class ships with the new sonar system, the legacy hulls still had poor endurance and seaworthiness, especially with much of their crew and storage space converted to towed-array sonar storage. As such, Menghean engineers began work on a new vessel which would have improved anti-submarine capabilities and longer endurance. The final design, designated Plan 314, was approved in 1977, with the first hull laid down on February 10, 1978.

Design

As built

Like their precursors, the Ginam-class vessels were intended as anti-submarine patrol vessels, not well-rounded escort ships. Menghean naval doctrine called for them to avoid patrolling areas with an enemy air or surface presence, and to operate with a Nunbora-class destroyer as escort if necessary. As such, their armament and capabilities were heavily focused on anti-submarine missions.

The ship's sonar outfit consists of a hull-mounted Type 78 sonar and a variable-depth Type 77 sonar. Anti-submarine armament consists of eight 533mm torpedo tubes in two quadruple mounts. These are capable of firing two-stage homing torpedoes with a wire-guided initial stage. For close-range defense, the ships carry two RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers, which can fire both small depth charges and torpedo decoys. A single helicopter hangar aft supports a Gyundoan-Han GH-28 Ppulsoeori, of the GH-28N anti-submarine variant.

For self-defense, the Ginam-class ships carry two aft-facing AK-630 CIWS turrets, both slaved to a single MR-104 fire-control radar. A single HP-100/1 autoloading 100mm turret covers the frontal arc. On each side, flanking the helicopter hangar, the ship carries a four-tube turret launching the YDG-34 surface-to-air missile, a man-portable system with a range of 4.1 kilometers.

Refits

During the 1990s, the Menghean Navy considered several plans to refit the Ginam-class ships for a mid-life service extension. Plans to add better surface-to-air missile systems, however, were constrained by the fact that most such refits would increase manpower requirments while reducing the space for crew accommodations.

In the mid-1990s, the Ginam-class Medium ASW Ships were given minor electronic updates, adding compatibility with the HŎ-2 anti-submarine rocket. This weapon is fired from the deck-mounted torpedo tubes, but activates a rocket booster after launch and follows a ballistic trajectory after leaving the water. Chaff and smoke projectors for defense against anti-ship missiles were also added, as was a new communication antenna.

Classification

When they were first planned and built, the Ginam-class warships were the largest dedicated anti-submarine vessels in Menghe, and the only ones to carry a helicopter hangar and a small command facility for directing other ASW vessels. As such, they were initially classified as Large ASW Patrol Ships (대형 대잠수함 초계함 / 大型對潛水艦哨戒艦, Daehyŏng Dae-jamsuham Chogyeham), or DChD.

In 1993, Menghe commissioned the Large ASW Patrol Ship Chanjok Junjachido, which was much comparable in size and facilities to a cruiser. Owing to the large difference between ships of the same type, the Ginam-class vessels were reclassified as Medium ASW Patrol Ships (중형 대잠수함 초계함 / 中型對潛水艦哨戒艦, Junghyŏng Daejamsuham Chogyeham), or DChJ. In tandem, the remaining Mugunghwa-class vessels were reclassified as Small ASW Patrol Ships. The existing Small ASW Patrol Ships, all of them obsolete, were scheduled for scrapping.

Another re-designation came in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the more capable Ansa-class frigates began entering service. After turning down plans to thoroughly rebuild the Ginam-class vessels for better anti-air and anti-ship capabilities, the Menghean Navy transferred them to the Maritime Patrol Forces, where they were re-designated as Large Patrol Ships (대형 초계함 / 大型哨戒艦, Daehyŏng Chogyeham) or DCh. The sonar equipment was retained, as was HŎ-2 compatibility, allowing the ships to be pressed into reserve service in wartime.