Chunwangbong - Landing Ships, Tank-2 (LST-2 / LST-II)

The military planned to build four 4,500-ton class landing ships between 2013 and 2016, officials revealed on 19 June 2007. The landing ships were built in preparation for the culling of four ships of the Navy's 2,600 tons ships and four ships of the US Navy' s 480-ton tactical landing vessels.

The vessels will be introduced in accordance with the Navy's project, dubbed LST-2. "We will embark on the ship project next year to build four units of the 4,500-ton class vessels, using indigenous technology. We have already finished initial research on the project," a Defense Ministry official said on condition of anonymity. The Navy currently operates four 2,700-ton landing ships. The construction of 4,500-ton Landing Ships, Tank-2 (LST-2) will get underway in 2008, with four LST-2 vessels expected to be combat-ready between 2013 and 2016.

At the beginning, the Navy asked the JCS for a vessel of 6,500 tons, but it was decided to limit the displacement to 4,500 tons for lack of budget. The original ship design was equipped to carry more than 700 troops, amphibious assault vehicles (AAV), tanks, artillery, anti-reconnaissance guns, multiple vehicles and helicopters as well as three LCMs. The maximum speed is 41 km / h (23 knots). The original design was of decidedly conventional layout, to the standard used world wide since the mid-20th Century, with a forward superstructure and aft boats and helipad. The smaller ultimate design is of reather unconventional design, with a forward boat deck and aft helideck. It cannot be said to be pretty, and might be said to be decidedly ugly.

As built, the ships only cary two LCMs, capable of carrying 36km (20 knots) or more of a tank and 100 troops. Two are mounted on the main deck and one is mounted on a well dock where the landing craft can be seen. "The 4,500-ton class landing ship will not be able to mount a 100-ton class air-cushion landing craft (LSF), which will reduce the maneuverability of the Marine Corps and its ability to transport troops. In other words, LSF can deliver 98km (50 knots) with two tanks and 200 troops, but LCM is less than half of this capacity.

The first landing of the next landing ship (4,500 tons), in which four vessels were to be built between 2013 and 2016, was released for the first time. Since the LCM on the next landing ship can not land on a sandy beach or rocky shore, it must lay down troops somewhat offshore. The marines, according to military doctrine of the 1940s until 2025, will not be able to do the operation. The Navy suggested a 6,500-ton class landing ship capable of loading air-cushion landing craft at the time of the first request in March 2006, but the budget was reduced to 4,500 tons due to budget problems.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) approved the $850 million LST-II project on 09 November 2008 to build four indigenous, 4,500-ton amphibious warfare ships between 2014 and 2017. The ships would be fitted with 76mm 62-caliber guns and anti-guided missile systems. It is intended to support independent Brigade-Level landing operations during Wartime, and to transport troops, equipments and supplies to Base / Islands during peacetime. The Load Capacity was 2 Helicopters, LCM or LCVP, 10 Tanks, and 15 Vehicles.

Landing Ships since disembarkation operations involve discharging troops to regions that the enemy controls, defense plans and defensive measures for the airspace, waters and nearby land must be established beforehand, and all factors needed to establish and maintain a bridgehead must be taken into consideration. For this to happen, units with a wide range of equipment must be organized, and since this calls for large-scale amphibious operations, various personnel and equipment transport ships have been developed.

The LST type landing ship that carries and transports disembarking boats on its deck, and transports troops or heavy equipment by operations, various personnel and equipment transport ships have been developed. The following are some examples: The LST type landing ship that carries and transports disembarking boats on its deck, and transports troops or heavy equipment by discharging these boats at shores near their destinations, or brings the ship itself close to the shore; Dock-type landing ships that load high-speed disembarkation boats on the well deck of the ship and discharges these; Charge landing ships that carry out 3-dimensional operations using helicopters; and command vessels designed to command complex amphibious operations without any disorder.

A conventional landing ship tank (LST) risks being detected by the enemy as it approaches the coastline for a landing. In the future the ROK Navy expects landing ships to develop into multi-functional vessels that can carry out operations in cooperation with light carriers to gain control over waters or transport troops and equipment, in preparation of limited warfare, or in the case of large ships, the operation of short-range takeoff and landing aircraft, and the equipment of landing operation helicopters and airborne high-speed landing boats will become basic requirements.

MAN Diesel & Turbo signed a contract July 1, 2011 with STX, the South Korean engine manufacturer, for the construction of four model 12V28/33D STC diesel engines. The four-stroke units were bound for a Republic of Korea Navy vessel currently under construction in Korea at Hanjin Heavy Industry Co., Ltd, and were expected to be delivered in October 2012.

Under the project name LST-II, Hanjin was constructing landing ship tank (LST) vessels which are 127 m long. The naval vessel features a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion configuration with the four 12V28/33D STC diesel engines integrated with two twin-input/single-output gearboxes and two CP propellers. The four, 12-cylinder engines are each rated 5460 kW at 1000 r/min, with each featuring a 10% overload capacity. The MAN 28/33 variant’s STC suffix denotes its sequential turbocharging system and its characteristic large torque envelope. The manufacturer said that other engine characteristics include fast acceleration, lower fuel consumption, lower signature at intermediate and low loads, shock resistance, elastic mounting for low noise and vibration, and IMO-Tier-2 compliance. STX is a long standing Korean partner of MAN Diesel & Turbo. This order represents the start of a new V28/33D license, the company said.

The performance of Nongpongbong improved the maneuver speed, loading capacity and ability to support long distance transportation compared to the conventional forces possessed by the existing Navy. The 4,900-ton nokibon ship can travel at a maximum speed of 23 knots (about 40 Km / h), and 120 crew members operate it. In addition, it has an amphibious command post with a domestic combat system and command and control system in the ship, and it is possible to command the commander effectively. Ability to carry 300 troops, 3 landing ships, 2 tanks and 8 landing armored vehicles. Also, two landing helicopters can land on the deck of the stern. Thus, it is evaluated as a trap that has the ability to carry out the 'landing operation of the super horizontal line' that simultaneously projects power to the sea and air.

In November, 2015, Hyundai Heavy Industries started to build Nongpalbong, which was commissioned and received government quality assurance from National Defense Technology Quality Agency. It will be used for the first half of next year through the process of master training of naval crew for the next four months.

The headquarters of the shipbuilding division's shipyard business team (Navy Colonel I-dong) said, "When the navy barracks are powered up, they will be able to function as the main naval vessels along with the next landing ships based on strengthened loading capability. "We will carry out various duties such as transporting materials to the base station and disaster relief activities, and contribute to the enhancement of national prestige through peacekeeping operations."

On the other hand, according to the custom of the Navy, which used the peak of the mountain with a high reputation as a landing ship, it decided to exclude "Nogikbong" of Mokpo Yidaran. Nogyongbong has a historical significance when Admiral Yi Sun - Shin at the time of the Japanese invasion of Imjin in the year of the Imjin War.

Defense Agency of Korea (ROK Wang Jung-hong) announced on 21 November 2018 that Ulsan Hyundai Heavy Industries delivered LST-II 'Nonggulbong' to the Navy. This is the fourth and final unit after the Chunghwa-bong and Il-hoon-bong, starting with the delivery of Chun-wang-bong, the first landing ship in November 2014.

The LST-2 has not received high evaluation, as the LPD type is more advantageous than LST type because it is advantageous for sea voyages. But for overseas dispatch and peace maintenance operation It is expected to be a big help. In particular, it has a certain amount of armed weapons, such as a 40mm gun, so it can be evaluated as suitable for low-intensity conflicts against small armed forces such as pirates. In the case of the navies dispatching Cheonghae troops to Somalia. Although there may be complaints from the Marines, it has a transportation capability that is twice as high as previous ships, is equipped with anti-aircraft missiles, and equipped with an improved self-defense system.