Korean navy launches destroyer

The fifth South Korean built 4,200 ton class destroyer was recently launched at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). This is part of a six-ship series all being built at DSME since 2002 under a project codenamed KDX II. A CODAG plant consisting of four gas turbine and diesel engines giving a maximum speed of 30 knots will power the new 150 metre long destroyer. The 150 meter long warship will be deployed for naval operations in 2007 after one and half year test operations.

The warship has been named Gang Gam chan Ham after a Korean general.

Korea commissioned three 3,000 ton class destroyers in the late 1990s under the KDX I program. The government plans to introduce three 7,000 ton class Aegis equipped destroyers by 2012 under the KDX III project as a part of a project to build a potent naval fleet by 2012 which ultimately include submarines and combat support vessels.