[Military Story] The Battlefield with Water and Fire: On-site of the Navy Waterproof Training

Experience at Mokpo 3rd Fleet Fire and Water Defense Training Ground
Essential Training to Ensure Survival in Case of Ship Attack

It has been 14 years since the Cheonan was attacked in the West Sea. The Cheonan was struck around 9:22 p.m. on March 26, 2010, about 2.5 km southwest off Yeonhwa-ri, Baengnyeongdo. With a powerful explosion, the hull was split into two. The stern sank within just five minutes. The government declared the fourth Friday of March in 2016 as West Sea Defense Day. This day honors the 55 heroes and veterans who sacrificed their lives defending the West Sea, including those from the Cheonan incident, the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong (June 29, 2002), and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling (November 23, 2010). To commemorate West Sea Defense Day and witness the resolve to protect the sea, I visited the Navy's 3rd Fleet located in Mokpo on March 25.

As the flames were ignited, they soared up to 3 meters high. The heat struck the face of a reporter standing 5 meters away. (Photo by Navy 3rd Fleet)

For the fire drill, I wore firefighting gear, boots, a positive pressure respirator, and a helmet, but the weight exceeded 30 kg. (Photo by Navy 3rd Fleet)

Across from the 3rd Fleet, the Mokpo Passenger Terminal caught my eye. It seemed to be only a few hundred meters away. A military official hinted, “Before the Mokpo Bridge was built, soldiers used to take boats from the Mokpo Passenger Terminal to get to the base.” Upon reaching the edge of the base, a building shaped like the bow of a ship came into view. The number 3 was clearly displayed on the bow, representing the 3rd Fleet. Entering the Damage Control Training Center, the opposite building, I felt as if I had stepped inside a naval vessel. The anti-slip paint and doors used on ships were faithfully reproduced.

The Damage Control Training Center is mainly divided into a fire training area and a flooding training area. It is a battlefield against water and fire. The fire training area on the first floor measures 10 meters in both width and length. In the center, liquefied natural gas (LNG) was used to ignite flames, similar to a household gas stove. Once ignited, the flames soared up to 3 meters. The heat struck my face from 5 meters away. This area is used for large-scale fire suppression training for 50 to 70 soldiers.

I ran into the flames. Wearing firefighting gear, boots, a positive pressure respirator, and a helmet, the total weight exceeded 30 kg. The thick firefighting suit tightly hugged my body, making movement unnatural. A military official said, “Soldiers must put on all firefighting gear within the golden time of 5 minutes. Because the equipment weighs so much, they can only perform about 30% of normal movements, so repetitive training is essential.” As oxygen was pumped into the respirator, the sound of air was harsh with every breath. Flames rose in the virtual kitchen on the second floor. Holding a hose, I advanced toward the fire. Water sprayed from the hose, and the pressure pushed my body backward. Although the fire seemed weak, the heat penetrated the fireproof suit. I sprayed water while shaking the hose up and down. When black smoke from the fire increased, the nozzle had to be shaken vertically to suppress it and maintain visibility. After about 10 minutes, the flames subsided. Besides the heat, tensing my whole body quickly drenched me in sweat.

Water began pouring into a space measuring 5 meters in width and length, reaching knee height within 30 seconds. (Photo by Navy 3rd Fleet)

Unable to wear glasses in the flood, I relied on my fingertips to block each stream of water leaking from the pipe. (Photo by Navy 3rd Fleet)

After extinguishing the fire, a military official said, “Now, the battle with water begins,” and led me underground. The training center faithfully depicted the ship’s engine room where the generator is located. From the third floor height, fire suppression and flooding training could be conducted simultaneously. If a ship is sunk by an enemy torpedo, various dangerous situations occur instantly. Fire and flooding can happen at the same time. Fire must be suppressed first. Flooding can be technically controlled by the ship, but if the fire spreads, it becomes uncontrollable.

The underground floor was soaked with water, hinting at the grueling training conducted there. Once training began, water started pouring into a 5-meter by 5-meter space. Water gushed from all directions and rose to knee level within 30 seconds. Cold water filled my boots, freezing my toes and numbing my body. The ship rocked violently, up to 15 degrees side to side, making it impossible to control my body. I had to block the pouring water. A cracked pipe caused by the attack was wrapped with a rubber sheet. A circular iron plate was placed over it and tightened with screws.

Just as I sighed in relief, darkness fell. It was a blackout. To make matters worse, I dropped the screws and screwdriver I was holding. Water had risen to my waist, and panic set in. Mistakes followed. Unable to wear glasses in the water, I relied on my fingertips to block each leak from the pipe. Although the training ended, my frozen body would not obey. The tension instantly released, and my legs gave out. Wet military uniform and boots made my body feel like it weighed a ton.

Chief Instructor Sergeant Choi Wook-sung said, “In an attack situation, you must perform your duties 100% to prevent the ship from sinking. The only way to overcome fear of water and fire is through repetitive training.”