Plan 215 corvette
 Side view of KYD-107 two months after commissioning.
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| Class overview | |
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| Name: | Plan 215 class |
| Builders: |
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| Operators: | |
| Preceded by: | none |
| Built: | 1975-1996 |
| In service: | 1978-present |
| Completed: | 52 (17 as Plan 216) |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Type: | guided missile corvette |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: |
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| Beam: | 8.2 m |
| Draft: | 3.05 m |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 34 knots |
| Range: |
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| Complement: | 45 (7 officers, 38 enlisted) |
| Armament: | |
The Plan 215 corvette was a warship class built in the Democratic People's Republic of Menghe during the 1970s and 1980s. In the West they are generally classified as corvettes, though their official Menghean hull classification is Daehyŏng Yudotan Kwaesokham (대형 유도탄 쾌속전 / 大型誘導彈快速艇), or Large Fast Missile Craft. A total of 52 hulls were completed, 35 of them in the missile corvette configuration and 17 of them in a patrol boat configuration. During the 1990s, many were modernized with newer anti-ship missiles, though the type is still considered largely obsolete today.
Development
Beginning in 1968, Menghe license-built a large number of Osa-class missile boats as Plan 621 KY. While Menghean naval planners were impressed with the type's usefulness in fast sorties from coastal strongholds, eventually producing more than 120 in total, by 1970 there was already some concern over its limitations. It had an at-sea endurance of only 5 days, greatly limiting its sortie range. Once its four anti-ship missiles were expended, it also had little in the way of self-defense armament, leaving it vulnerable to attacks by other corvettes.
To correct these problems, the Menghean Navy began design work on a large missile boat incorporating more supporting systems and defensive weapons. An early prototype design, designated Plan 210, called for a semi-planing hullform with a new combined-gas-and-diesel powerplant, which would have resulted in a ship similar in configuration to Letnia's Tarantul-class corvettes. This was ultimately rejected in favor of the Plan 215 design, which used an older hullform resembling a scaled-down Jangmi-class corvette. The new design also borrowed the Jangmi's entire powerplant, though the sonar related systems were removed and the fuel capacity reduced, allowing for a smaller internal space.
Description
The Plan 215 corvette has the same main armament as the smaller Osa-class missile boat, with four large launch boxes for YDH-20 anti-ship missiles. From 1980 onward, new ships were modified to carry the YDH-22, a solid-fueled derivative of the YDH-20 with improved accuracy, reliability, and readiness. Refits carried out during the 1990s would re-arm most surviving ships with more advanced anti-ship missiles, including the subsonic YDH-24, the supersonic YDH-25, and the lightweight, subsonic YDH-26.
The Plan 215's main advantage over the Osa-class is its improved self-defense armament. Forward of the superstructure, it has two superfiring AK-630 CIWS turrets, both controlled by a single MR-123 radar over the bridge. These can target missiles, aircraft, and other light ships. Facing aft is an AK-726 twin-barrel turret, also with dual-purpose capability. Its rear-facing position allows the ship to engage pursuing warships while retreating after a missile strike. Just forward of the twin 76mm turret, on part of the superstructure, is a mounted launcher for YDG-34 surface-to-air missiles.
Curiously for a light missile craft, the Plan 215 has extensive mine rails on the quarterdeck, running all the way up to the space behind the missile boxes. It is estimated that as many as 80 mines can be carried at full load, though this would require removing the dinghy and likely leaving the missile tubes unloaded and it would most likely prevent safe usage of the missiles.
The powerplant is identical to that of the Project 159 frigates licensed from Letnia, apparently part of an effort to reduce development costs and speed up construction in factories tooled for work on the older class. This CODOG powerplant consists of two 15000-shp gas turbines and a single 6000-shp diesel engine for regular cruising. Because the Plan 215 is a lighter vessel, it is able to achieve a higher top speed on this powerplant, reportedly 34 knots; yet this is still slower than contemporary missile corvettes with semi-planing hullforms or lifting foils. Each engine powers a single propeller shaft, with the variable-pitch diesel propeller trailing in the water during gas turbine operation.
Plan 216 class patrol ship
In 1991, four Plan 215 corvettes which had been under early-stage construction at the time of the Decembrist Revolution were completed to a modified configuration, later revealed to be designated Plan 216. These vessels were officially categorized as Medium Patrol Ships (중형 초계함 / 中型哨戒艦, Junghyŏng Chogyeham), and they served with the Maritime Patrol Forces, which at the time were a paramilitary arm of the Menghean Navy. A dozen more new-build Plan 216 vessels were completed in the early 1990s, possibly as part of a program to keep the military shipyards operational.
The Plan 216 variant removes the missile boxes which flank the bridge, and replaces them with a large deckhouse structure extending out to either side of the deck. This reportedly contains berthing space for additional personnel and a brig for prisoners. The superstructure also follows a slightly different configuration, with a roomier bridge, squared-off side wings, and a lattice mast with a short-range surface-search radar only. Two motor-dinghies are carried, to aid in patrol and boarding operations. Typically these ships are not fitted with the dual YDG-34 launcher, though its base mounting plate is retained. Otherwise, the gun armament is identical across classes, and the mine rails are retained, reflecting the Menghean Navy's requirement that Maritime Patrol Forces vessels be capable of being pressed into service in wartime.
Ships in the class
During the 1970s and 1980s, Menghean Navy ship naming customs held that fast attack craft (missile boats, torpedo boats, and small minesweepers) would be given unique numbers, but not names. As the Plan 215 ships were technically classified as large missile boats, they were initially given numbers as well, though numbering started in the 100s because they were a new type. To confuse Western and Dayashinese intelligence, the first ship was named KYD-107, implying the existence of at least six earlier hulls. Number assignment for the next several ships followed a random order.
In the mid-1990s, the Menghean Navy updated its ship naming conventions, stipulating that KYD-type ships would be named for distinguished individuals. The rules were retroactively applied to the Plan 215 corvettes from 1996 through 1998, with most of the ships still in service given names from an approved Navy register. Ships designated for scrapping or sale within the next few years were not named, and regular naming was not extended downward to smaller missile and torpedo craft.
Units with an asterisk (*) were completed in the Plan 216 patrol ship configuration. Some were given provisional KYD-type names while under construction, with conversion to the ChD type taking place before launching.
| Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On Hyŏn-gi (ex KYD-107) | Dongchŏn | 1975 Apr 10 | 1976 Dec 03 | 1978 Nov 13 | In service |
| KYD-109 | Dongchŏn | 1975 Oct 04 | 1977 Apr 16 | 1979 Jun 07 | Sold to Kawazi in 1992 |
| KYD-102 | Dongchŏn | 1976 Dec 22 | 1978 Jul 23 | 1980 Mar 15 | Sold to Kawazi in 1992 |
| KYD-113 | Kimhae | 1977 Mar 14 | 1978 Nov 24 | 1980 Apr 14 | Sold to Kawazi in 1993 |
| Gil Gwan (ex KYD-105) | Dongchŏn | 1977 Apr 21 | 1978 Oct 18 | 1980 Sep 17 | In service |
| Sŏ Min-gi (ex KYD-112) | Kimhae | 1977 Dec 18 | 1979 Jul 23 | 1981 Jan 06 | In service |
| Hak Ya-gwang (ex KYD-126) | Dongchŏn | 1978 Jul 28 | 1980 Jan 26 | 1981 Nov 02 | In service |
| Man Se-jin (ex KYD-104) | Dongchŏn | 1978 Oct 24 | 1980 May 04 | 1981 Nov 04 | In service |
| Dam Jung-san (ex KYD-114) | Kimhae | 1978 Dec 29 | 1980 Aug 01 | 1982 Jan 11 | In service |
| KYD-111 | Dongchŏn | 1979 Apr 13 | 1980 Nov 08 | 1982 Sep 22 | Sold to Kawazi in 1994 |
| Jong Yŏng-uk (ex KYD-116) | Kimhae | 1979 Jul 29 | 1981 Feb 04 | 1982 Sep 01 | In service |
| Ban Yun-gi (ex KYD-119) | Dongchŏn | 1980 Feb 04 | 1981 Aug 05 | 1982 Dec 01 | In service |
| Ya Jong-gyo (ex KYD-123) | Dongchŏn | 1980 Jun 17 | 1982 Jan 02 | 1982 Nov 16 | In service |
| Pyo Ji-ung (ex KYD-106) | Kimhae | 1980 Aug 06 | 1982 Feb 15 | 1983 Aug 30 | In service |
| Gyŏng Chang-min (ex KYD-103) | Dongchŏn | 1980 Nov 13 | 1982 Apr 21 | 1983 Jul 29 | In service |
| Kim Ji-gwang (ex KYD-101) | Kimhae | 1981 Feb 17 | 1982 Aug 30 | 1983 Dec 17 | In service |
| An Wu-hyŏng (ex KYD-108) | Anchŏn | 1981 May 24 | 1983 Jun 11 | 1985 Aug 09 | In service |
| Si Jŏng-dae (ex KYD-118) | Dongchŏn | 1981 Aug 19 | 1983 Jan 26 | 1984 Apr 15 | In service |
| Gyo Dan (ex KYD-117) | Dongchŏn | 1982 Jan 06 | 1985 Apr 29 | 1984 Nov 20 | In service |
| Hwang Kae-pung (ex KYD-130) | Kimhae | 1982 Feb 19 | 1983 Aug 09 | 1984 Oct 06 | In service |
| Hak Jae-jang (ex KYD-129) | Dongchŏn | 1982 Apr 26 | 1983 Sep 20 | 1985 Jan 15 | In service |
| Ha Su-nŭng (ex KYD-122) | Kimhae | 1982 Sep 05 | 1983 Dec 03 | 1985 Apr 19 | In service |
| Go Dong-ju (ex KYD-125) | Dongchŏn | 1983 Jan 21 | 1984 May 06 | 1985 Jul 30 | In service |
| Gam Yun-gu (ex KYD-110) | Dongchŏn | 1983 May 01 | 1984 Jul 15 | 1985 Oct 06 | In service |
| Hwang Ryŏng-jun (ex KYD-133) | Anchŏn | 1983 Jun 28 | 1985 Apr 19 | 1987 Mar 26 | In service |
| Yun Gi-ha (ex KYD-131) | Kimhae | 1983 Aug 15 | 1984 Nov 05 | 1986 Jul 17 | In service |
| Ryu Min-hyŏk (ex KYD-132) | Dongchŏn | 1983 Sep 24 | 1984 Dec 30 | 1986 Nov 05 | In service |
| Wu Sang-hun (ex KYD-115) | Kimhae | 1983 Dec 08 | 1983 Mar 08 | 1986 Jul 24 | In service |
| Sŏng Wŏn-yŏng (ex KYD-134) | Dongchŏn | 1984 May 17 | 1985 Nov 31 | 1987 Aug 28 | In service |
| Sŏ Jae-ryong (ex KYD-121) | Dongchŏn | 1984 Jul 22 | 1986 Mar 08 | 1987 Dec 11 | In service |
| Sin Hyŏn-ho (ex KYD-135) | Kimhae | 1984 Nov 08 | 1986 Sep 28 | 1988 Sep 03 | In service |
| Han Chung-ji (ex KYD-136) | Dongchŏn | 1985 Jan 09 | 1986 Dec 06 | 1988 Nov 15 | In service |
| Sin Yŏng-sam (ex KYD-137) | Kimhae | 1985 Mar 14 | 1986 Oct 25 | 1988 Dec 26 | In service |
| ChJ-104* (ex KYD-137) | Anchŏn | 1985 May 02 | 1988 Mar 06 | 1991 Dec 11 | In service |
| San Ha-ung (ex KYD-120) | Dongchŏn | 1985 Dec 08 | 1987 Sep 12 | 1990 Oct 17 | In service |
| Byŏn Dae-in (ex KYD-124) | Dongchŏn | 1986 Mar 17 | 1988 Jan 13 | 1990 May 09 | In service |
| ChJ-101* (ex KYD-127) | Kimhae | 1986 Oct 02 | 1988 Jun 08 | 1991 Jun 25 | In service |
| ChJ-102* (ex KYD-128) | Dongchŏn | 1986 Dec 12 | 1988 Aug 11 | 1991 Sep 03 | In service |
| ChJ-103* (ex KYD-140) | Kimhae | 1986 Oct 29 | 1988 Sep 21 | 1991 Dec 30 | In service |
| ChJ-105* (ex KYD-139) | Dongchŏn | 1987 Sep 19 | 1990 Jan 09 | 1992 May 14 | In service |
| ChJ-106* | Anchŏn | 1988 Mar 29 | 1990 Apr 13 | 1992 May 20 | In service |
| ChJ-107* | Dongchŏn | 1988 May 12 | 1990 Jan 11 | 1992 Feb 14 | In service |
| ChJ-108* | Kimhae | 1988 Aug 06 | 1990 Mar 26 | 1992 Mar 18 | In service |
| ChJ-109* | Dongchŏn | 1990 Jan 16 | 1991 Aug 31 | 1992 Sep 29 | In service |
| ChJ-110* | Anchŏn | 1990 Apr 22 | 1992 Mar 31 | 1993 Jun 19 | In service |
| ChJ-111* | Kimhae | 1990 Apr 25 | 1992 Jan 16 | 1993 May 20 | In service |
| ChJ-112* | Dongchŏn | 1991 May 06 | 1992 Dec 22 | 1994 Feb 15 | In service |
| ChJ-113* | Dongchŏn | 1991 Sep 12 | 1993 Feb 09 | 1994 Jun 29 | In service |
| ChJ-114* | Kimhae | 1992 Jan 24 | 1993 Jul 11 | 1994 Oct 24 | In service |
| ChJ-115* | Kimhae | 1992 Oct 11 | 1994 Apr 04 | 1995 Jul 17 | In service |
| ChJ-116* | Dongchŏn | 1993 Feb 18 | 1994 Oct 31 | 1996 Feb 14 | In service |
| ChJ-117* | Kimhae | 1993 Jul 31 | 1995 Jan 06 | 1996 Mar 18 | In service |