【By Observer Net, Shanmao】

According to comprehensive reports from South Korean media, the first submarine of the second batch of the "Jang Bogo-III" (KSS-III) class conventional diesel-electric submarines was launched today (October 22) at the Geoje factory of Hanwha Ocean, named "Jang Young-sil" with the hull number SS-087.

This type of submarine, according to its official surface displacement, was previously referred to as a 3600-ton class submarine. Compared to the first batch of KSS-III "Isandae An Chang-ho" class (3000 tons), it is 600 tons larger, and the length of the hull has increased from 83 meters to 89 meters. According to the "JoongAng Daily" report, this submarine is equipped with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system and for the first time replaces lead-acid batteries with lithium batteries, significantly increasing the submarine's underwater endurance and improving its survivability.

The "Jang Young-sil" submarine before the launching ceremony, on the shipbuilding berth at Hanwha Ocean's Geoje Shipyard. JoongAng Daily

The report mentioned that improvements in the "Jang Young-sil" class also include the combat system and weapons: the previous three "Isandae An Chang-ho" class submarines were first equipped with 6 units for launching the "Hunbaek-IV-4" submarine-launched ballistic missiles, while the "Jang Young-sil" class has increased this to 10 units; the combat command system and sonar system on the submarine have also been upgraded, enhancing target detection and information processing capabilities. Based on this, the submarine's land-strike capability has been greatly enhanced, improving the ability to conduct surprise attacks on key targets inside North Korea such as Pyongyang. The report also said that in the current context where North Korea is continuously strengthening its naval strength, especially after Kim Jong-un explicitly stated the push for building nuclear-powered submarines, the "Jang Young-sil" class submarine will become the core combat force for the South Korean military in constructing an underwater kill chain in the future.

Comparison diagram between "Isandae An Chang-ho" class (top) and "Jang Young-sil" class

KSS-III second batch missile launch tube schematic

According to public information, the South Korean military began planning the subsequent development of the KSS-III submarine in 2005. In 2016, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed a design contract for the second batch of KSS-III with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME, later acquired by Hanwha and now known as Hanwha Ocean). Basic design was completed by the end of 2018. On October 11, 2019, Daewoo Ocean Shipbuilding Company announced it had won the contract for the construction of the first submarine of the second batch of KSS-III. On August 13, 2021, the first submarine started cutting steel plates. On March 30, 2023, the keel of the first submarine of the second batch of KSS-III was laid at Daewoo Shipbuilding's factory in Gyeongsangnam-do, and it is expected to be completed and handed over to the navy in 2027. Like the previous "Isandae An Chang-ho" class, the "Jang Young-sil" class is planned to have 3 submarines. The second submarine laid its keel last July 12, and is expected to be delivered in 2028. The third submarine is expected to be delivered in 2031.

March 30, 2023, the keel of the first submarine of the second batch of KSS-III was laid

The name of this new submarine comes from Jang Young-sil, a famous craftsman and inventor during the early Joseon Dynasty. Although the exact birth and death years of Jang Young-sil are unknown, there is a general consensus in South Korea that he was born in the late 14th century (between 1385-1390), and mainly active in the first half of the 15th century. According to records, Jang Young-sil served as a local official in Dongnae County, Gyeongsang Province, and was recommended to King Sejong of Joseon for his efforts in building water conservancy projects during a severe drought. He was then summoned to Hansang (now Seoul) and sent to Ming China to learn about astronomical instruments. Since 1991, the "IR52 Jang Young-sil Award," established by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology and the Chosun Ilbo, has been given to outstanding individuals in the field of industrial technology. There are various theories regarding Jang Young-sil's origin in South Korea. According to records in the "Joseon Wangjo Silok" and "Sejong Silok," his father was a local official from Suzhou or Hangzhou during the late Yuan Dynasty. On the other hand, the Yaso Jang Clan Association claims that he is the ninth-generation descendant of Jang Hwa, the founder of the Yaso Jang Clan, who was originally a general of the Northern Song Dynasty and moved to Korea after the fall of the Northern Song. However, this claim based on family records and other speculations has not yet been recognized by the academic community.

(Photo) Statue of Jang Young-sil in front of the Central Library of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)

In addition, the "Jang Young-sil" marks another change in the naming rules of South Korean Navy submarines. In the early 1990s, the first diesel-electric submarine of the KSS-I class based on the German 209 type was named "Jang Bogo" class, and all nine ships of the same class were named after naval and maritime generals from the Silla, Goryeo, and Joseon dynasties. Starting from the 9 KSS-II class submarines developed based on the 214 type in the 2000s, the naming rule changed to use names of modern Korean independence activists, including famous anti-Japanese generals like Hong Beom-do (SS-079), An Jung-geun (SS-075), and Yun Bong-gil (SS-077). The following "Isandae An Chang-ho" class of three submarines continued this naming rule, with names derived from An Chang-ho (SS-083), An Moo (SS-085), and Sin Chae-ho (SS-086), three notable figures of the independence movement. The first submarine of the second batch of KSS-III was initially rumored to continue the naming rule using names of independence activists, possibly named after Lee Bong-chang, a Korean patriot who threw a bomb at Emperor Hirohito in Tokyo's Sakuradamon on January 8, 1932, and was later arrested and executed the next year. However, due to the Soviet background of Hong Beom-do, there was a controversy over whether the bust of Hong Beom-do should be removed from South Korean military academies and the Ministry of National Defense during the presidency of Yoon Suk-yeol. Therefore, the military may have chosen to avoid political controversies and stopped using names of modern figures, ultimately selecting Jang Young-sil as the name.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7563991711614812691/

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