ROKS Munmu

ROKS Munmu (DDH-976) is a Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer in the South Korean navy. It was named after the Korean king Munmu of Silla.^[1]

ROKS Munmu on 25 July 2006
History
South Korea
Name	King Munmu (문무왕)
Namesake	Munmu of Silla
Builder	Hyundai
Launched	11 April 2003
Commissioned	30 September 2004
Identification	Pennant number: DDH-976
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class & type	Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer
Displacement	4,400 t (4,300 long tons) standard 5,520 t (5,430 long tons) full load
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	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range	10,200 km (5,500 nmi)
Complement	200
Armament	1 x 5"/54 caliber Mark 45 gun 1 x Goalkeeper CIWS 64 x VLS 21 x RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile 8 x RGM-84 Harpoon 2 x triple K745 Blue Shark Torpedo
Aircraft carried	2 x Super Lynx helicopters
Aviation facilities	Helicopter landing platform and Hangar

Roks Munmu in formation with USS Ronald Reagan during Foal Eagle (RSOI/FE) 2007

Design

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]

Construction and career

In March 2009, Munmu 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 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]

Gallery

• ROKS Munmu Gallery
• 
  ROKS Munmu maneuvering during RIMPAC 2006.
• 
  ROKS Munmu and ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great lighted ship's lights to celebrate the July 4th Independence Day 2006.

See also

• Cheonghae Unit
• Korean Destroyer eXperimental
• Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer (KD-I)
• Sejong the Great-class destroyer (KD-III)