ROKS ''Gwanggaeto the Great'' (DDH-971) is the

lead ship The lead ship, name ship, or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable to naval ships and large civilian vessels. Large ships are very complex and may ...

of the Gwanggaeto the Great-class in the

Republic of Korea Navy The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN; ko, 대한민국 해군), also known as the ROK Navy or South Korean Navy, is the naval warfare service branch of the South Korean armed forces, responsible for naval and amphibious operations. The ROK Navy in ...

. She is named after

Gwanggaeto the Great Gwanggaeto the Great (374–413, r. 391–413) was the nineteenth monarch of Goguryeo. His full posthumous name means "Entombed in ''Gukgangsang'', Broad Expander of Domain, Peacemaker, Supreme King", sometimes abbreviated to ''Hotaewang'' ...

Development

The

KDX-I The ''Gwanggaeto the Great''-class destroyers (Hangul: 광개토대왕급 구축함, Hanja: 廣開土大王級驅逐艦), often called KDX-I, are destroyers, but are classified by some as frigates, operated by the Republic of Korea Navy. It was ...

was designed to replace the old destroyers in the ROKN that were transferred from the

US Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage of ...

in the 1950s and 1960s. It was thought to be a major turning point for the ROKN in that the launching of the first KDX-I meant that ROKN finally had a capability to project power far from its shores. After the launching of the ship, there was a massive boom in South Korean international participation against piracy and

military operations other than war Military operations other than war (MOOTW) focus on deterring war, resolving conflict, promoting peace, and supporting civil authorities in response to domestic crises. The phrase and acronym were coined by the United States military during the ...

Construction and career

ROKS ''Gwanggaeto the Great'' was launched on 28 October 1996 by Daewoo Shipbuilding and commissioned on 24 July 1998.

Gallery

File:KDX1-KDX2-sidebyside.jpg, ROKS ''Munmu The Great'' and ROKS ''Kwanggaeto The Great'' lighted ship's lights to celebrate the July 4th Independence Day 2006. File:2013.10.25 해군 독도방어훈련 Dokdo Defense drill of Republic of Korea Navy (10471471715).jpg, ROKS ''Gwanggaeto the Great'' maneuvering while on patrol on 25 October 2013. File:160324-N-EH218-097 (25441207454).jpg, ROKS ''Gang Gam-chan'', ROKS ''Gwangaetto the Great'' and USS Chung Hoon in formation during Foal Eagle 2016 on 24 March 2016.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gwanggaeto the Great (DDH-971) Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyers 1996 ships Ships built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering