Ganggyeong-class minehunter

At the Korean War, Korea did not have proper minesweeping equipment, and it was all about pulling naval mines out of fishing nets or blowing up floating mines with light machine guns. Therefore, North Korea inflicted massive damage by the naval mine. From the 1950s, Korea purchased and used American minehunting vehicles, called Geumhwa, Geumsan, Namyang classes.[5]

In the 1980s, according to the research report on the Navy, the Korean Navy's ability to minesweep was very weak compared to North Korea. There were very few short-range ships, and the ships in operation were seriously degraded due to deterioration. The Korean Navy felt an urgent need to modify existing coastal submarines or to introduce new ships.[1]

The Korean Navy began ship design in 1983, and finished its first minehunter project in 1986, with the launch of the first ship Ganggyeong. Later, five more ships were launched and commissioned.[1]

After the development of Ganggyeong class, the development of the Yangyang-class minesweeper was conducted based on the previous class. The Yangyang class has improved minesweeping ability compared to the Ganggyeong class.[1]

Ganggyeong-class ships are 50 metres (164 ft 1 in) long, 8.31 m (27 ft 3 in) wide. They are equipped with a 20 mm (0.8 in) main gun, small depth charges, about 300 naval mines, and Mine Disposal Vehicle (MDV). They use two Voith Schneider Propellers as propulsion, to control the ship more precisely.[1]

Officially about 50 crew are board the ship,[4] but some source suggests that it is 40.[1]

The naming of minehunter ships is taken from the names of counties and towns adjacent to a naval base.[4] For example, Ganggyeong is the name of Ganggyeong-Eup in Nonsan, South Chungcheong, and Gangjin is taken from Gangjin County, South Jeolla.

• Wonsan-class minelayer
• Yangyang-class minesweeper
• Nampo-class minelayer