The First Submarine Introduced Is

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Submarines are classified as offensive weapons. Above all, submarines are ranked number one in the naval power hierarchy, listed ahead of aircraft carriers, battleships, and cruisers in the fleet list. This indicates how strategically important submarines are.

The Navy first operated small submarines (or submersibles) in 1984. The military approved the development project for a 200-ton class small submarine in November 1976. Named "Dolgorae," this submarine was launched on April 5, 1983, successfully built with domestic independent technology, and delivered to the Navy on December 29, 1984, beginning its operation. After a year of operational test evaluations including anti-submarine warfare training, it quietly performed the mission of protecting the national territorial waters for nearly 20 years before honorably retiring on December 31, 2003.

The Dolgorae is a 160-ton class small submarine. It is significant as the first independently designed, built, and operated submarine by South Korea during the 1970s and 1980s, capable of operational and intelligence use. The Navy operated it as a "ship" commanded by a major, not as a "jeong (艇)" (a smaller vessel).

Since the commissioning of the Dolgorae-class small submarine 051 in 1984, the 052 and 053 vessels were commissioned in 1990 and 1991, respectively. However, after 20 years, the 051 was retired in 2003, and the remaining two were also retired. The Dolgorae-class submarines are small submarines with a length of 25 meters and a width of 2.1 meters, with a crew of 14 (6 crew members and 8 infiltration operatives), and have been operated for coastal missions.

With the construction of the Dolgorae-class, the Agency for Defense Development established the basic concept of submarines, which has been regarded as a major driving force for the development of Korean underwater weapon systems. Starting with the Dolgorae-class development, South Korea's submarine program continued into the late 1980s with the Jang Bogo-class I (Type 209) and Jang Bogo-class II (Type 214) projects. The first vessels were the Son Won-il in 2006, the Jeong Ji in 2007, and the Ahn Jung-geun in 2008.

The Navy is considering deploying small submarines to frontline units even after the retirement of the Dolgorae-class, fearing a power vacuum. The small submersible has a travel range of 180 km and can dive up to 250 meters deep. If launched from the northwestern islands, it can infiltrate the coastal areas of North Korea's West Sea region. To increase mission success rates, advanced technologies such as lithium polymer batteries, electric motors, and precise underwater navigation systems have been introduced to secure a unique strategic advantage.

In particular, seawater does not enter the submersible, preventing hypothermia among infiltration operatives. Once developed, the small submersible can also be mounted on the Navy's next-generation 3,000-ton Jang Bogo-III Batch-2 submarines.

The U.S. military also equips special submersibles on nuclear-powered submarines. The USS Michigan (SSGN-727), a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine, has a dry deck shelter on its deck to carry special forces underwater infiltration submersibles (SDVs). These infiltration submersibles are used as transport means for special forces when the submarine cannot approach coastal areas.

The USS Michigan carries up to 66 special warfare personnel, including the U.S. Navy SEALs. The U.S. Navy plans to equip autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that do not carry special forces. This will enable participation not only in naval battles but also in ground and air warfare.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.