ROKS Munmu the Great (DDH-976) is a Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer in the South Korean navy. It was named after the Korean king MunmuofSilla.[1]
 ROKS Munmu the Great on 25 July 2006 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 South Korea | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake | Munmu of Silla |
| Builder | Hyundai |
| Launched | 11 April 2003 |
| Commissioned | 30 September 2004 |
| Identification | Pennant number: DDH-976 |
| Status | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 150 m (492 ft 2 in) |
| Beam | 17.4 m (57 ft 1 in) |
| Draft | 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in) |
| Propulsion | Combined diesel or gas |
| Speed | 30knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Range | 10,200 km (5,500 nmi) |
| Complement | 200 |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 2 x Super Lynx helicopters |
| Aviation facilities | Helicopter landing platform and Hangar |
The KDX-II is part of a much larger build up program aimed at turning the ROKN into a blue-water navy. It is said to be the first stealthy major combatant in the ROKN and was designed to significantly increase the ROKN's capabilities.[2]
In March 2009, Munmu the Great was sent overseas to protect merchant vessels from Somali pirates.[1] On 28 May 2007 during firing exercise on the open sea near Jinhae one of the projectiles exploded inside the 127 mm gun barrel which has been replaced later. In 2014 she conducted anti-piracy drills as part of Combined Task Force 151 in the Indian Ocean with HMS Defender.[3]
In April 2018, it was deployed to Ghana with personnel from the Special Warfare Brigade as part of a mission to rescue kidnapped South Korean fishermen.[4]
On 19 July 2021, it is reported that 247 out of 301 crew members of the 34th contingent of the Cheonghae Unit on the Munmu the Great was tested positive for the covid-19. Two Korean Air Force KC-330 departed with 200 replacement members to transport the 301 entire crew members back to South Korea.[5] After returning to South Korea, it is revealed that 270 crew members are tested positive.[6]
The Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) has deployed a KDX-2-class guided-missile destroyer to Ghana on a possible hostage rescue mission after three South Korean fishermen were kidnapped while at sea on 26 March.
Media related to ROKS Munmu the Great (DDH-976) at Wikimedia Commons