Transfer of 'Pohang' Class Corvette Going As Plan -- South Korean Defense Minister

15 September 2015

Pohang class corvette (photo : DID)

MANILA (PNA) --- Transfer of the South Korean "Pohang" class corvette and other equipment is going on as plan.

This was disclosed by South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo in a press briefing Monday at Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

"The relevant assets we are transferring to the Philippines is going as planned and we will give the best of support," he added.

Han also expressed hope that the Philippine military will be able to achieve all its modernization goals.

The South Korean government last year announced that it is donating one "Pohang" class corvette to ill-equipped Philippine Navy.

The "Pohang" class corvette is general purpose vessels operated by the Republic of Korea Navy.

They have served in a coastal defense role during the late Cold War and post Cold War period.

A total of 24 "Pohang"class vessels were built, all constructed in South Korea.

Twenty one vessels remain in service.

"Pohang" class corvettes weigh around 1,200 long tons and has a lenght of 289 feet and 8 inches.

It has beam of 32 feet and 10 inches and a draft of 9 feet and six inches.

The ship is powered by CODOG (combined diesel and gas propulsion system). "Pohang" corvettes have a maximum speed of 32 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots.

It has range: of 4,000 nautical miles and a crew of 95 officers and enlisted personnel.

Sensors and processing systems include a AN/SQS-58 hull-mounted sonar.

The ships are armed with Harpoon and Exocet anti-ship missiles, a 76mm Oto Melara automatic cannon, a Breda 40mm twin cannons and two Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes (with 6× Mark 46 torpedoes) and 12 Mark 9 depth charges. 

(PNA)