The Cheonghae Unit 42nd, the Dae Jo-yeong-class destroyer (DDH-II, 4,400-ton class), set sail for the Gulf of Aden on the 1st from the naval port in Jinhae, Gyeongnam, receiving a farewell from fellow comrades and families.
The Dae Jo-yeong-class destroyer assigned to the Cheonghae Unit 42nd is conducting its 8th overseas deployment mission since starting with the Cheonghae Unit 2nd in 2009.
The Cheonghae Unit 42nd is composed of the Dae Jo-yeong-class crew, a boarding and search team consisting of special forces (UDT/SEAL), an aviation unit operating maritime operation helicopters (LYNX), and a security and support unit made up of marines and medical/maintenance personnel.
During the deployment period, the Cheonghae Unit 42nd will safely escort Korean vessels in the Gulf of Aden, supporting national policies with strength.
During the preparation period for deployment, the members of Cheonghae Unit 42nd conducted intensive, realistic training assuming all possible situations during the mission, including maritime training to master anti-piracy and ship/crew rescue procedures, and damage control training to ensure ship survivability, greatly enhancing teamwork and combat readiness.
In addition, the Cheonghae Unit 42nd focused on establishing a mental readiness for certain victory through commander-led tactical discussions and mindset alignment education, with pride as the vanguard protecting national interests under severe security conditions and a strong sense of responsibility, ensuring all members participate in the mission.
Notably, among the members of the Cheonghae Unit 42nd, about 80 are veterans of previous Cheonghae Unit deployments, accounting for 33% of the total personnel. These members, participating again in the deployment mission to fulfill the military’s duty, are expected to share their vivid experiences from previous deployments across the unit, continuing the tradition of the Cheonghae Unit to achieve victory in battle and protect the people.
Admiral Choi Seong-hyeok, Commander of Naval Operations, emphasized, “The members of the Cheonghae Unit 42nd must devote themselves fully to prepare for various threats they may face in the operational field during these critical times, predicting them and responding without any mistakes or errors.”
Meanwhile, since the Cheonghae Unit’s first deployment in March 2009 with the Munmu the Great-class destroyer 1st unit, it has safely escorted over 41,000 vessels, including Korean ships, over the past 15 years.
Furthermore, the Cheonghae Unit has fulfilled its duties as a navy for the people through operations such as the 2010 Gulf of Aden Dawn Operation, the 2012 Gemini ship hostage rescue operation, the 2015 evacuation support operation for Korean nationals in Yemen, and the 2018 Ghana waters hostage rescue operation.
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