View source for Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship

{{short description|Class of South Korean LPH assault ships}}
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{|{{Infobox ship begin
| infobox caption = ''Dokdo''-class amphibious assault ship
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = ROKS Dokdo (LPH 6111).jpg
| Ship caption = ROKS ''Dokdo'' moored at Busan in August 2009
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
| Name = ''Dokdo'' class
| Builders = [[Hanjin Heavy Industries]]
| Operators = {{navy|South Korea}}
| Class before = 
| Class after = [[LPX-II-Class Aircraft Carrier|CVX]] (Planned)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20190814075900504|title=국방중기계획, 軍핵심능력 확보주력…EMP탄 개발·정찰위성 배치|last=김귀근|date=2019-08-14|website=연합뉴스|language=ko|access-date=2020-11-15}}</ref>
| Subclasses = 
| Cost = *[[South Korean won|KRW]] 325,770,000,000 (2005)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usci.co.kr/kboard/kboard.php?board=board2&act=view&no=101&page=7&search_mode=&search_word=&cid= |title=Cost of Republic of Korea Armed Forces Weapons |access-date=2010-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628000439/http://www.usci.co.kr/kboard/kboard.php?board=board2&act=view&no=101&page=7&search_mode=&search_word=&cid= |archive-date=2017-06-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*US$ {{Format price|{{To USD|325770000000|KOR}} }}
| Built range = 
| In service range = 
| In commission range = 
| Total ships planned = 2
| Total ships completed = 2
| Total ships active = 2
| Total ships laid up = 
| Total ships lost = 
| Total ships retired = 
| Total ships preserved = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship type = [[Landing platform helicopter]]
| Ship displacement = 14,300&nbsp;tons (empty) / 19,500&nbsp;tons (full)
| Ship length = {{convert|199|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|31|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = {{convert|7|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship power = 
| Ship propulsion = *4 [[SEMT Pielstick]] 16 PC2.5 STC [[marine diesel engine]]
*{{convert|32,000|shp|MW|order=flip|abbr=on|lk=on}}
| Ship speed = *{{convert|23|kn|lk=in}} maximum
*{{convert|18|kn}} cruising
| Ship range = 
| Ship endurance = 
| Ship test depth = 
| Ship boats = 2 [[Landing Craft Air Cushion|LCAC]] ([[LSF-II 631|LSF-II]])
| Ship capacity = *Up to 200 vehicles (including tanks)
| Ship troops = 720 marines
| Ship complement = 
| Ship crew = 330<ref>{{cite web|title=Dokdo Class Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH)|url=http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/dodko-class/|website=naval-technology.com|access-date=8 March 2015}}</ref>
| Ship time to activate = 
| Ship sensors = *[[SMART-L]] air search radar
<br>*ELM-2248 (MF-STAR) multifunction surveillance radar
<br>*[[MW08]] surface search radar
<br>*LIG Nex1 [[SPS-550K]]
<br>*AN/SPS-95K navigation radar
<br>*[[TACAN]]
<br>*VAMPIR-MB optronic sight
| Ship EW = ESM/ECM:SLQ-200(v)5K SONATA, [[Chaff (countermeasure)|Chaff launcher]]
| Ship armament = *2 × [[Goalkeeper CIWS]]
*1 × [[RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile]]
| Ship armour = 
| Ship aircraft = *Up to 15 helicopters<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/dodko-class/ | title = Dokdo Class Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) | publisher = Naval Technology | date = July 2005 | access-date = 5 August 2019}}</ref>
*([[UH-1]]H, [[UH-60 Black Hawk|UH-60P]] or [[Westland Lynx|Super Lynx]])
*(Can support VTOL jets)
| Ship aircraft facilities = Flight deck with 5 landing spots and hangar
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

The '''''Dokdo''-class amphibious assault ship''' ({{Lang-ko|독도급 대형수송함}}, {{Hanja|獨島級 大型輸送艦}}) is a [[ship class|class]] of [[landing platform helicopter]] (LPH) [[amphibious assault ship]]s operated by the [[Republic of Korea Navy]] (ROKN). Designed and built by [[Hanjin Heavy Industries]] (HHIC), the amphibious landing ships were meant to enhance South Korea's amphibious operation capability, both in terms of assault and [[military operations other than war]] (MOOTW).

==Development==
The ROK Navy required a versatile landing ship with amphibious capabilities in its program to build a [[blue-water navy]]. In the end, Hanjin's ''Dokdo'' design was chosen to fuilfil this need. The{{sclass|Solgae|LCAC|1}}—also built by HHIC— was chosen as the [[Landing Craft Air Cushion|landing craft air cushion]] (LCAC) to operate from the ship.<ref name="youtube">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REbuQ9mkgHI |title=Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction (HHIC) - LPH Landing Ship (Dokdo) & LSF II Assault Hovercraft |publisher=YouTube |date=2010-02-17 |access-date=2013-09-03}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref>

==Specifications==
[[File:USN MH-60S is landing on the flight deck of the ROKS Dokdo (LPH 6111).jpg|left|thumb|A [[US Navy]] [[SH-60 Seahawk|MH-60S]] landing on the flight deck of ''Dokdo''.]]

The LPX is an amphibious warfare ship which includes a [[well deck]] to accommodate [[amphibious assault vehicle]]s (AAVs) and two LCAC, the first of which (LSF 631) was acquired in April 2007. The ship is {{convert|199|m|ftin}} long, {{convert|31|m|ftin}} wide, with a 14,000-ton (empty), or 18,000-ton (full) [[Displacement (ship)|displacement]] and was built incorporating stealth technologies. It has been said to be one of the most advanced vessels in the Asian Pacific.<ref name="youtube" />

As a high-speed amphibious ship, the LPX was based on the concept of "over-the-horizon assault." As the name indicates, the "over-the-horizon assault" comprises a military operation in which an amphibious landing is conducted with high-speed air-cushioned vehicles and helicopters from beyond the horizon, where they cannot be easily detected or attacked by the enemy. The conventional [[landing ship tank]] (LST) has to approach the coastline for landing, at the risk of being fired upon by the enemy.

The LPX can carry 720 marines (+300 crew members), 10 tanks, 10 trucks, 7 AAVs, three field artillery pieces, and two LCAC hovercraft capable of landing on enemy shores doing {{convert|40|kn|lk=in}}—a mix that enables it to launch troop landings from both sea and air. She can also carry 10 helicopters when there are no ground vehicles on her hangar deck.<ref name="Otsuka2012">{{Cite journal|author=Yoshifuru Otsuka|date=December 2012|title=Amphibious forces of China, Taiwan and South Korea|journal=[[:ja:世界の艦船|Ships of the World]]|issue=770|pages=76–81|language=ja}}</ref>

The flight surface is also sprayed with [[polyurethane|urethane]], which can support [[VTOL]] jets, like Harriers. South Korea is considering the purchase of [[F-35 Lightning II|F-35B]] fighters to operate from its ''Dokdo''-class ships.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2017/12/26/japan-south-korea-may-refit-naval-ships-for-f-35-fighters/|title=Japan, South Korea may refit naval ships for F-35 fighters|first=Mike|last=Yeo|date=28 December 2017}}</ref> Currently, the LPX operates mainly [[UH-1]]H and [[UH-60]]P. However, both of these are designed for land‐based operations and lack abilities for ship-borne operations such as protection against damage from salty breezes making them difficult to operate on-board continuously.<ref>{{cite web|author=김성만|date=2011-10-08|url=http://bemil.chosun.com/nbrd/bbs/view.html?b_bbs_id=10040&pn=1&num=63808|script-title=ko:독도함은 날고 싶다|language=ko|access-date=2013-05-09}}</ref> The KUH-Amphibious, the sea-based amphibious variant of the [[KAI Surion]], is now under development. Production is planned to commence in late 2015 with some 40 helicopters planned.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-kai-to-develop-amphibious-assault-variant-of-surion-384819/ |title=KAI to develop amphibious assault variant of Surion |publisher=Flightglobal.com |date=18 April 2013}}</ref>

Self-defence armament includes the [[RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile]] system. The [[Goalkeeper CIWS|Goalkeeper]] [[close-in weapon system]] (CIWS) was purchased in January 2003 from [[Thales Nederland|Thales]], at a pre-set price of 13,000,000,000 won (roughly $15,000,000).

The second ship of the class, ''Marado'', was built with some changes compared to ''Dokdo''. The flight deck is adapted to accommodate two [[V-22 Osprey]]s, 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. It also has a different weapons suite than the 30 mm Goalkeeper and RAM, instead using two 20 mm [[Phalanx CIWS]] and having a [[Korean Vertical Launching System|K-VLS]] at the rear of the superstructure for the locally developed [[K-SAAM]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rahmat|first1=Ridzwan|title=South Korea selects mix of local, Israeli sensors for second Dokdo-class helicopter carrier|url=http://www.janes.com/article/80105/south-korea-selects-mix-of-local-israeli-sensors-for-second-dokdo-class-helicopter-carrier|website=[[Jane's Information Group]]|access-date=2 June 2018|date=16 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2018/05/21/south-korea-changes-mission-for-its-newly-launched-assault-ship/ |title=South Korea changes mission for its newly launched assault ship |work=Defense News |date=21 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Rahmat|first1=Ridzwan|title=South Korea to deploy K-SAAM on second Dokdo class|url=http://www.janes.com/article/80340/south-korea-to-deploy-k-saam-on-second-dokdo-class|website=[[Jane's Information Group]]|access-date=2 June 2018|date=30 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528125223/http://www.janes.com/article/80340/south-korea-to-deploy-k-saam-on-second-dokdo-class|archive-date=28 May 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

''Dokdo'' is similar in size to the [[light aircraft carrier]]s derived from the [[Sea Control Ship]] such as the [[Spanish Navy]]'s former aircraft carrier {{ship|Spanish aircraft carrier|Príncipe de Asturias||2}} and the [[Royal Thai Navy]]'s {{ship|HTMS|Chakri Naruebet||2}}.

==Ships in the class==
{|class=wikitable
! Name || Pennant number || Builder || Launched || Commissioned || Decommissioned || Status
|-
|{{ROKS|Dokdo|LPH-6111|6}}
|LPH-6111
|[[Hanjin Heavy Industries]]
|12 July 2005
|3 July 2007
|
|Active
|-
|{{ship|ROKS|Marado}}
|LPH-6112
|Hanjin Heavy Industries
|14 May 2018
|28 June 2021
|
|Active
|-
|}

== Plans ==
[[File:ROKS Dokdo (LPH 6111) conducts well deck operations with U.S.Navy LCAC.jpg|thumb|''Dokdo'' conducts well-deck operations with a US Navy LCAC.]]
[[File:ROKS Dokdo assisting search and rescue of ROKS Cheonan, cropped.jpg|thumb|''Dokdo'' assisting search and rescue after the [[ROKS Cheonan sinking|sinking of ROKS ''Cheonan'']].]]
[[File:ROKS Marado (LPH-6112) in Busan.jpg|thumb|The ROKS Marado' in Busan, 2019.]]
Some proposed uses for the ship include UN peacekeeping operations and disaster relief.

The Korean news agency [[Yonhap]] reported in December 2017 that the Korean military was considering operating F-35B aircraft from the ''Dokdo''-class amphibious assault ships.<ref>{{cite web|title=S. Korea's military mulls operating F-35B stealth aircraft aboard new amphibious assault ship|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2017/12/25/95/0200000000AEN20171225001500315F.html|website=Yonhap News Agency|access-date=27 December 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171227232103/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2017/12/25/95/0200000000AEN20171225001500315F.html|archive-date=27 December 2017|location=Seoul|date=25 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Sisk|first1=Richard|title=South Korea, Japan Mull F-35Bs for Amphibious Assault Ships|url=https://www.military.com/defensetech/2017/12/26/south-korea-japan-mull-f-35bs-amphibious-assault-ships.html|website=Military.com|access-date=27 December 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171227232204/https://www.military.com/defensetech/2017/12/26/south-korea-japan-mull-f-35bs-amphibious-assault-ships.html|archive-date=27 December 2017|date=27 December 2017}}</ref>But as of December 2022, no such plans have been officially declared.

== First steps to a blue water navy ==
In a speech delivered in March 2001, the then South Korean President [[Kim Dae Jung]] stated that his administration was aiming to build a navy that "will defend the national interests in the five oceans and perform a role in defending world peace." 

By the year 2020, the ROK Navy plans to deploy two to three rapid response fleets, each comprising 1 ''Dokdo'' class, 2 ''Sejong the Great'' class, 4 ''Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin'' class, 1 ''Gwanggaeto the Great'' class,  several{{sclass|Incheon|frigate|2}}s, and 2 or 3 Type 214 submarines.
{{See also|Republic of Korea Navy}}

ROK Navy's Rapid Response Fleet:
* ''Dokdo''-class LPH (flagship)
* {{sclass|Sejong the Great|destroyer|2}} (KDX-III) Aegis Combat System
* {{sclass|Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin|destroyer|2}}
* {{sclass|Gwanggaeto the Great|destroyer|2}}
* {{sclass|Incheon|frigate|2}}
* [[Type 214 submarine]] (diesel-electric)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=869 Dokdo class LPH - ROK Navy]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/lp-x.htm Global security article on the LP-X]
* [http://blog.naver.com/jou1318?Redirect=Log&logNo=110006271469 LPX Doko launching ceremony pictures]
* [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/dodko-class/  Naval Technology entry for the Dokdo class]
*https://namu.wiki/enwiki/w/%EB%8F%85%EB%8F%84%EA%B8%89%20%EB%8C%80%ED%98%95%EC%88%98%EC%86%A1%ED%95%A8?from=%EB%8F%85%EB%8F%84%EA%B8%89%20%EA%B0%95%EC%8A%B5%EC%83%81%EB%A5%99%ED%95%A8

{{Republic of Korea Navy ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dokdo Class Amphibious Assault Ship}}
[[Category:Helicopter carrier classes]]
[[Category:Amphibious warfare vessel classes]]
[[Category:Amphibious warfare vessels of the Republic of Korea Navy]]
[[Category:Dokdo-class amphibious assault ships| Dokdo class landing platform experimental ships]]
[[Category:Amphibious warfare vessels of South Korea| Dokdo class landing platform experimental ships]]