World Navies Today: North Korea

Revised 3 November 2001
Version 1.05
Compiled and Maintained by: Andrew Toppan
Compiled with assistance from: Phil Lee
World Navies Today Main Page: http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/


The North Korean Navy is the most secretive navy in the world. Determining
the state of their fleet is exceptionally difficult.  This list is built
using the best publicly available information, although this information
is sketchy, at best.  Names, numbers, and bases are not known, and
quantities in service are uncertain.  This list includes all vessels for
which any degree of detailed information is known.  In addition to these
vessels, there are many inshore patrol boats and various auxiliaries of
unknown types. 

Condition and servicability of all units is uncertain, and all are of
very primitive technology.

All designations & classifications are unofficial; they may or may not
correspond to "official" designations. 


Submarines
Small Surface Combatants/Large Patrol Vessels
Missile & Torpedo Boats
Coastal Patrol & ASW Boats
Amphibious & Fire Support Craft
Mine Countermeasures Craft
Auxiliaries



Submarines
approx. 22 Romeo class coastal/patrol submarines
Displacement: approx. 1,700 tons submerged
Dimensions: 76.6 x 6.7 x 4.95 meters (251 x 22 x 16 feet)
Propulsion: Diesel-electric, 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 2,700 shp, 13 knots
Crew: approx. 50
Sonar: Tamir-5L active, Feniks passive
Armament: 8 21 inch torpedo tubes (6 forward, 2 aft) (14 torpedoes
   or 28 mines)
	Chinese and North Korean boats built to a 1950's Soviet design.

4 Whiskey class coastal/patrol submarines 
Displacement: approx. 1,350 tons submerged
Dimensions: 76 x 6.3 x 4.8 meters (249 x 20.5 x 15.5 feet)
Propulsion: Diesel-electric, 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 2,500 shp, 17 knots
Crew: approx. 50
Sonar: Tamir-5 active, Herkules passive array
Armament: 6 21 inch torpedo tubes (4 forward, 2 aft) (12 torpedoes
   or 24 mines)
	Four ex-Soviet boats transferred 1974,  Probably based on
	the East coast.  Probably unservicable or confined to training
	operations.

Approx. 22 Sang-O class coastal infiltration submarines
Displacement: 277 tons submerged
Dimensions: 35.5 x 3.8 x 3.7 meters (116.5 x 12.5 x 12.1 feet)
Propulsion: Diesel-electric, 1 shaft, 8.8 knots
Crew: 19 + 6 swimmers
Armament: 2 or 4 21 inch torpedo tubes in some units
	Small subs meant for coastal infiltration operations.

40+ Yugo class midget submarines
Displacement: 25 tons submerged
Dimensions: 20 x 2 x 1.6 meters (65.6 x 6.5 x 5 feet)
Propulsion: Diesel-electric, 1 diesel, 1 shaft, 160 shp, 4 knots
Crew: 2 + 6-7 swimmers
Armament: 2 21 inch torpedo tubes in some units
	For infiltration operations.

submersible infiltration craft
Displacement: 10 tons submerged
Dimensions: 12.8 x ?? x ?? meters
Propulsion: 3 outboard engines, 40-50 knots
Crew: 4 + 2-5 swimmer
	Fully submersible infiltration craft.	

8+ Osprey class semi-submersible infiltration craft
Displacement: 5 tons
Dimensions: 8.6 x 2.5 x ?? meters (28 x 8 x ?? feet)
Propulsion: unknown, 50 knots 
Crew: 6 (including swimmers/saboteurs)
	Operate on the surface until near the insertion point,
	then ballast down and run in awash.


Small Surface Combatants/Large Patrol Vessels
1 Soho class light frigate
Displacement: 1,845 tons full load 
Dimensions: 75 x 15 x 3.8 meters (246 x 49 x 12.5 feet)
Propulsion: 
Crew: approx. 190
Aviation: helicopter platform
Armament: 2 SS-N-2 Styx SSM, 1 100mm/56 DP, 1 dual 37 mm AA,
   2 dual 25 mm AA, 2 RBU-1200 ASW rocket launchers, DC racks
	Experimental catameran frigate; not a success.
	
2 Najin class light frigates
Displacement: 1,500 tons full load
Dimensions: 100 x 10 x 2.7 meters (328 x 32 x 9 feet)
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 15,000 bhp, 25 knots
Crew: approx. 180
Radar: Slim Net air search
Sonar: Tamir-11
Armament: 2 SS-N-2 Styx SSM, 2 100mm, 2 dual 57 mm AA, 6 dual 25 mm
   AA, 2 ASW mortars, 2 DC racks, 30 mines
	Small North Korean design frigates, very little combat value.
	One on each coast, as fleet flagships.



Missile & Torpedo Boats
12-15 Soju/Osa-I class missile boats
Displacement: approx. 220 tons full load
Dimensions: 43 x 7.5 x 1.8 meters (141 x 24.5 x 6 feet)
Propulsion: 3 diesels, 3 shafts, 12,000 bhp, 34 knots
Crew: approx. 30-40
Armament: 4 SS-N-2 Styx SSM, 2 dual 30 mm AA
	North Korean built version of the Osa design.

12 Huangfeng/Osa class missile boats
Displacement: approx. 200 tons full load
Dimensions: 38.75 x 7.6 x 1.7 meters (127 x 25 x 5.5 feet)
Propulsion: 3 diesels, 3 shafts, 12,000 bhp, 35 knots
Crew: approx. 30
Armament: 4 SS-N-2 Styx SSM, 2 twin 30 mm AA (2 twin 25 mm AA in some)
	Chinese and Soviet built versions of the Soviet Osa-class design.
	All on the West coast.

6 Sohung/Komar class small missile boats
Displacement: 80 tons full load
Dimensions: 26.8 x 6.2 x 1.5 meters (88 x 20 x 5 feet)
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 4 shafts, 4,800 bhp, 40 knots
Crew: approx. 20 
Armament: 2 SS-N-2 Styx SSM, 1 dual 25 mm AA
	Soviet and Korean built versions of the Soviet Komar design.

up to 12 P-6 class small torpedo boats
Displacement: 66.5 tons full load
Dimensions: 25.3 x 6.1 x 1.7 meters (83 x 20 x 5.5 feet)
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 4 shafts, 4,800 bhp, 43 knots
Crew: approx. 15-20
Armament: 2 dual 25 mm AA, 2 21 inch torpedo tubes, 8 DC
	Some have additional AA in place of TT.

up to 98 Sin Hung/Ku Song class small torpedo boats
Displacement: 25 tons full load
Dimensions: 18.3 x 3.4 x 1.7 meters (60 x 11 x 5.5 feet)
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 2,400 bhp, 40 knots
Crew: 
Armament: 2 dual 14.5 mm MG, 2 450 mm (17.7 inch) torpedo tubes



Coastal Patrol & ASW Boats
4 Sariwon/Tral class large patrol boats
Displacement: approx. 500 tons full load
Dimensions: 62.1 x 7.3 x 2.4 meters (204 x 24 x 8 feet)
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 3,000 bhp, 21 knots
Crew: approx. 65-70
Armament: 1 76 mm DP, 2 dual 57 mm AA, 2 dual 25 mm AA, 4 ASW mortars
	(85 mm or 100 mm tank turret in place of 76 mm in Trals)
	Three corvette-type vessels based on Soviet Tral-class minesweeper	
	design, and one ex-Soviet Tral still in service.  All on the
	East coast.

13 Taechong I/II class large patrol boats
Displacement: 410 tons full load
Dimensions: 59.8 x 7.2 x 2 meters (196 x 23.5 x 6.5 feet)
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 4 shafts, 8,800 bhp, 30 knots
Crew: approx. 75-80
Sonar: Tamir-11
Armament: 1 100mm/56 DP, 1 dual 57 mm AA, 1 dual 25 mm AA, 2 dual
   14.5 mm MG, 2 RBU-1200 ASW rocket launchers, 2 DC racks, mines
	Modified version of the Hainan design.

6 Hainan class large patrol boats
Displacement: 400 tons full load
Dimensions: 58.77 x 7.2 x 2.2 meters (193 x 23.5 x 7 feet)
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 4 shafts, 8,800 bhp, 30 knots
Crew: approx. 70
Sonar: Tamir-11 HF hull
Armament: 2 dual 57 mm AA, 2 dual 25 mm AA, 4 RBU-1200 ASW rocket
   launchers, 2 DC mortars, 2 DC racks, mines

18 SO-1 class patrol boats
Displacement: 215 tons full load
Dimensions: 42 x 6.1 x 1.9 meters (137.5 x 20 x 6 feet)
Propulsion: 3 diesels, 3 shafts, 7,500 bhp, 28 knots
Crew: approx. 30-40 
Armament: 2 dual 25 mm AA, 4 RBU-1200 ASW rocket launchers, DC, mines
   Or: 1 85 mm DP, 1 dual 37 mm AA, 2 dual 14.5 mm MG

14 Shanghai-II class small patrol boats
Displacement: 134.8 tons full load 
Dimensions: 38.78 x 5.41 x 1.49 meters (127 x 18 x 5 feet)
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 4 shafts, 4,220 bhp, 28.5 knots
Crew: approx. 35 
Armament: 2 dual 37 mm AA, 2 dual 25 mm AA, mines

18 Sinpo class small patrol boats
Displacement: 66.5 tons full load
Dimensions: 25.3 x 6.1 x 1.7 meters (83 x 20 x 5.5 feet)
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 4 shafts, 4,800 bhp, 43 knots
Crew: approx. 15-20
Armament: 2 dual 37 mm AA
	Steel-hulled version of P-6 torpedo boat.


Amphibious & Fire Support Craft
10 Hantae class utility landing craft
Displacement: 350 tons
Dimensions: 48 x 6.5 x 2.0 meters
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 4,350 bhp, 12 knots
Crew: 40
Cargo: 3 tanks
Armament: 4 dual 25 mm 

7 Hanchon class medium landing craft
Displacement: 145 tons full load
Dimensions: 35.7 x 7.9 x 1.2 meters
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 600 bhp, 10 knots
Crew: 16
Cargo: approx. 2 tanks or 200 troops
Armament: 2 dual 14.5 mm MG

18 Hungman class medium landing craft
Displacement: 70 tons full load
Dimensions: 17 x 4.4 x 1.2 meters
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 400 bhp, 8 knots
Crew: 4-8
Cargo: approx. 35 tons or 100 troops
Armament: 2 dual 14.5 mm MG

up to 95 Nampo class assault boats
Displacement: 82 tons full load
Dimensions: 27.7 x 6.1 x 1.8 meters (91 x 20 x 6 feet)
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 4 shafts, 4,800 bhp, 40 knots
Crew: approx. 20
Troops: approx. 30
Armament: 2 dual 14.5 mm MG

52 Chaho class assault support boats
Displacement: 82 tons full load
Dimensions: 27.7 x 6.1 x 1.8 meters (91 x 20 x 6 feet)
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 4 shafts, 4,800 bhp, 40 knots
Crew: approx. 25
Armament: 4 dual 14.5 mm MG, 40 tube 122 mm rocket launcher
	Based on the P6 torpedo boat design.

51 Chong Jin class assault support boats
Displacement: 82 tons full load
Dimensions: 27.7 x 6.1 x 1.8 meters (91 x 20 x 6 feet)
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 4 shafts, 4,800 bhp, 40 knots
Crew: approx. 25
Armament: 1 85 mm or 100 mm tank turret, 4 dual 14.5 mm MG
	Variant of the Chaho design.

135 Kongbang class assault hovercraft
	Various versions, carrying 35-55 troops.	


Mine Countermeasures Craft
23 Yukto class minesweeping boats
Displacement: 60 tons full load
Dimensions: 24 x 4 x ?? meters (79 x ?? x ?? feet)
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, ?? bhp, 12 knots
Crew: approx. 16-20
Armament: 1 dual 14.5 mm MG, 4 mines


Auxiliaries
1 Kowan class submarine rescue ship
Displacement: approx. 2,100 tons full load
Dimensions: 84 x 14.3 x 3.9 meters
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 2 shafts, 8,000 bhp, 12 knots
Crew: 160
Armament: 6 dual 14.5 mm
	Catameran-hulled rescue/salvage ship.