ROKS Marado (LPH-6112) is the second ship of the Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship of the Republic of Korea Navy.

ROKS Marado
ROKS Marado in June 2022
History
South Korea
NameROKS Marado
NamesakeMara Island
OperatorRepublic of Korea Navy
Awarded23 December 2014 [1]
BuilderHanjin Heavy Industries & Constructions Co., Busan, South Korea
Cost
  • KRW 417,500,000,000 (2014) [1]
  • US$ 365 million
Laid down28 April 2017 [1]
Launched14 May 2018 [1]
Commissioned28 June 2021
HomeportJinhae Naval Base
IdentificationPennant number: LPH-6112
StatusCommissioned
General characteristics
Class and typeDokdo-class amphibious assault ship
Displacement
  • 14,800 tons empty
  • 19,000 tons full load[2]
Length199 m (652 ft 11 in)
Beam31 m (101 ft 8 in)
Draught7 m (23 ft 0 in)
Propulsion4 SEMT Pielstick 16 PC2.5 STC Diesel engine
Speed
  • 23 kn (43 km/h) maximum
  • 18 kn (33 km/h) cruising
Boats & landing
craft carried
2 LSF-II or LCAC
CapacityUp to 200 vehicles
Troops720 marines, 6 tanks, 7 amphibious assault vehicles
Crew300[3]
Sensors and
processing systems
EL/M-2248 MF-STAR air search radar, SPS-550K surface search radar, AN/SPS-95K navigation radar, TACAN, SAQ-600K IRST[4]
Electronic warfare
& decoys
ESM/ECM:SLQ-200(v)5K SONATA, Chaff launcher
Armament2x Phalanx CIWS, 4x K-VLS cells
Aircraft carriedUp to 15 helicopters (15 UH-60 Black Hawk or 10 SH-60F Ocean Hawk helicopters)
Aviation facilitiesFlight deck with 5 landing spots and hangar

Differences with ROKS Dokdo

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Marado was built with some changes compared to the lead ship ROKS Dokdo. The flight deck is adapted to accommodate two V-22 Ospreys, while Dokdo was able to only carry one. In place of the Thales SMART-L multibeam radar and MW08 surveillance radar, Marado uses the Elta Systems EL/M-2248 MF-STAR multifunction surveillance radar and LIG Nex1 SPS-550K 3-D air and surface surveillance radar. She also has a different weapons suite than the 30 mm Goalkeeper and RAM, instead using two 20 mm Phalanx CIWS and having a K-VLS at the rear of the superstructure for the locally developed K-SAAM.[3][5][6][7][8]

Construction and career

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The Marado was launched on 14 May 2018 at the shipyard of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Constructions Co. in Busan. The Marado was commissioned on 28 June 2021 and is based at the Jinhae Naval Base.

Marado was originally planned to enter service 2010. But due to the economic crisis of 2008 the second ship of the Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship was cancelled. In 2012 the budget was restored after the rise of tensions in the region.[9]

Construction started in November 2016 with the first steel being cut. The keel was laid down in April the following year and the launch occurring another year later. The following two years consisted of fitting-out and going through sea trials. The ship was commissioned on 28 June 2021 .[1]

In May 2022, the ROKN announced that the Marado and the Sohn Won-yil-class submarine, ROKS Shin Dol-seok SS-082, will take part in the RIMPAC 2022. [10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "South Korea's HHIC Launched V-22 Capable LPH Marado for ROK Navy". navyrecognition.com.
  2. ^ "Aircraft Carriers or Not? Flattops in the Pacific". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b "South Korea changes mission for its newly launched assault ship". defensenews.com. 21 May 2018.
  4. ^ "South Korea Commissions Second Dokdo-class Amphibious Ship ROKS Marado (LPH-6112)". 28 June 2021.
  5. ^ "South Korea selects mix of local, Israeli sensors for second Dokdo-class helicopter carrier". Jane's Information Group.
  6. ^ "South Korea to deploy K-SAAM on second Dokdo class". Jane's Information Group.
  7. ^ "Nieuwe helikoptercarrier Zuid-Korea te water, maar zonder Nederlandse wapens en sensoren". marineschepen.nl.
  8. ^ "Dokdo/Marado comparison". thaimilitaryandasianregion.com.
  9. ^ "The Dokdo Class: an LHD for the ROK". defenseindustrydaily.com.
  10. ^ "South Korea to deploy its largest vessel to RIMPAC 2022". 20 May 2022.