[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] Special Mission Submarines for North Korean Infiltration Are

Submersible deployed on the U.S. nuclear-powered submarine USS Michigan (SSGN-727)

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] As the Navy's Submarine Command celebrates its 30th anniversary, interest in various submarines is gathering. Submarines are classified as offensive weapons. Above all, submarines are ranked number one in the national naval power hierarchy, listed ahead of aircraft carriers, battleships, and cruisers in the fleet list. This indicates how strategically important submarines are.

According to the Navy on the 1st, 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, and was successfully built with domestic independent technology. It was delivered to the Navy on December 29, 1984, and began operation. After a year of operational test evaluations including anti-submarine 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 important as the first independently designed and built 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 vessel retired in 2003, and the remaining two 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 agents), and have been operated for coastal operations.

With the construction of the Dolgorae-class, the Agency for Defense Development established the basic concept of submarines, which has been evaluated as a major driving force for the development of Korean underwater weapon systems. Starting with the Dolgorae-class development, South Korea's submarine projects continued in 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 to prevent gaps in combat power. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) is known to have already developed an "8-person transport small submersible." The small submersible has a travel distance of 180 km, can dive up to 250 meters deep, and can infiltrate the North Korean West Sea coastal area when departing from the Northwest Islands. To increase mission success rates, advanced technologies such as lithium polymer batteries, electric motors, and precise underwater navigation devices have been introduced to secure a unique strategic advantage.

In particular, seawater does not enter the submersible, preventing hypothermia among infiltration agents. DAPA plans to support development funds and test evaluations for the next three years for the submersible development, as well as provide 2.1 billion won for marketing aimed at overseas exports. Once developed, the small submersible can also be installed on the Navy's next-generation 3,000-ton class "Jang Bogo-III Batch-2" submarines.

The U.S. military also mounts special submersibles on nuclear-powered submarines. The U.S. nuclear-powered submarine USS Michigan (SSGN-727) has a dry deck shelter on its deck that can carry special forces underwater infiltration submersibles (SDVs). The infiltration submersible is used as a transport means to carry special forces personnel when the submarine cannot infiltrate 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 personnel. This will enable participation not only in naval battles but also in ground and air warfare.