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Republic of Korea Navy Visits Guam

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071023-03
Release Date: 10/23/2007 6:27:00 AM

By Lt. Doug Szwarc, Commander, Submarine Group 7 Public Affairs

GUAM (NNS) -- Commander, Submarine Group (COMSUBGRU) 7 conducted bilateral talks with the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) and welcomed ROKS Lee Eokgi (SS 071) after sailing from Chinhae, ROK, to Guam Oct. 12.

The ROKN visit to Guam centered on the 27th Submarine Warfare Committee Meeting (SWCM). SWCM is a semi-annual flag conference between COMSUBGRU 7 and commander, Submarine Flotilla (COMSUBFLOT) 9. Begun in 1994 during the birth of the ROKN submarine fleet, the conference has evolved into a discussion between U.S. and ROKN submarine forces focused on submarine tactics, force integration and future submarine development.

Rear Adm. Doug McAneny, COMSUBGRU 7 commander, led the U.S. delegation that also discussed planning joint exercises, training and continued attention to fostering the outstanding relationship that has developed between the U.S. and ROK navies.

Rear Adm. Bae Il Hung, and three members of his staff traveled from COMSUBFLOT 9 headquarters in Chinhae to Guam to visit U.S. forward deployed submarines. This first-ever visit to Guam allowed for McAneny to display the crucial abilities of U.S. forward deployed forces.

The three-day conference included a number of events including a tour of the Commander, Naval Forces Marianas facilities, a tour of USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN 705), an evaluation of USS Frank Cable (AS 40) ship’s piloting and navigation team, the welcoming of the Lee Eokgi and a formal flag conference.

The U.S. submarine force, like the ROKN submarine force, continues to develop and strengthen bonds between the U.S. Navy and our ROKN counterparts.

The conference culminated with the arrival of the Lee Eokgi in Guam on Oct. 12. The transit from ROK spanned over 1,500 nautical miles and 12 days for the small (1,800 tons displacement) Type 209 diesel submarine.

The ROKN currently has three Type 209 submarines, three Dolgorae Class midget submarines, and three Type 214 submarines (planned). The Lee Eokgi will be participating in a multi-submarine exercise designed for development of integrating U.S. and ROKN submarine warfighting capabilities.

At the conclusion of the conference, a formal agreement was signed by COMSUBGRU 7 and COMSUBFLOT 9. The agreement reaffirms a strong relationship that is continuing to develop between the U.S. Navy and ROKN and pledged support for each command in the advancement of their submarine forces. The next SWCM will be held in Chinhae, ROK in May 2008.