ROKS Gimcheon (PCC-761) was a Pohang-class corvette of the Republic of Korea Navy and later transferred to Vietnam People's Navy as Ship 18.

ROKS Gimcheon alongside ROKS Seoul on 31 December 2015
History
South Korea
Name
  • Gimcheon
  • (김천)
NamesakeGimcheon
BuilderHanjin, Busan
Launched29 November 1985
Commissioned1 September 1986
Decommissioned31 December 2015
IdentificationPennant number: PCC-761
FateTransferred to Vietnam People's Navy
Vietnam
NameShip 18
Acquired7 June 2017
Commissioned7 June 2017
IdentificationHull number: 18
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typePohang-class corvette
Displacement1,220 tons
Length289.7 ft (88 m)
Beam33 ft (10 m)
Draft2.9 ft (0.88 m)
Installed power2 × MTU 6V396 TC52 diesel generators
Propulsion
Speed32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) maximum
Range4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) using diesel engines
Endurance20 days
Boats & landing
craft carried
2 × RHIB
Crew118
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
2 × Loral Hycor Mk 34 RBOC Chaff and Decoy Launching System
Armament

Development and design

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The Pohang class is a series of corvettes built by different Korean shipbuilding companies. The class consists of 24 ships and some after decommissioning were sold or given to other countries. There are five different types of designs in the class from Flight II to Flight VI.[1]

Construction and career

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Gimcheon was launched on 29 November 1985 by Hanjin Heavy Industries in Busan. The vessel was commissioned on 1 September 1986 and decommissioned 31 December 2015. She was transferred to the Vietnam People's Navy. She arrived on 7 June 2017 with a new name Ship 18.

On 10 September 2019, BRP Ramon Alcaraz, HQ-18 and KDB Darulaman participated in AUM X 2019. Darulaman sailed from Brunei to meet Ship 18 off Hon Khoai Island.[2]

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References

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  1. ^ "Pohang (PCC Patrol Combat Corvette)". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  2. ^ "Vietnam, Philippines conduct joint patrols in South China Sea". hanoitimes.vn. Retrieved 2021-01-31.