ROKS Soyang (AOE-51)

For other ships with the same name, see ROKS Soyang.

ROKS Soyang (AOE-51) is a fast combat support ship of the Republic of Korea Navy; she is named after the Soyang River.^[1]

ROKS Soyang at Busan Naval Base on 21 January 2020
History
South Korea
Name	Soyang (소양)
Namesake	Soyang, South Korea
Builder	Hyundai of Ulsan, South Korea
Laid down	13 July 2015
Launched	29 November 2016
Acquired	7 September 2018
Commissioned	18 September 2018
Homeport	Busan, South Korea
Identification	AOE-51 (pennant number)
Status	Active
Class overview
Preceded by	Cheonji class
Succeeded by	N/A
General characteristics
Type	Fast combat support ship
Displacement	10,105 tonnes (9,945 long tons) full load
Length	190.0 m (623 ft 4 in)
Beam	25.0 m (82 ft 0 in)
Propulsion	Diesel engine Electric motor 2 x shafts
Speed	24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Range	5,500 nmi (10,200 km; 6,300 mi)
Complement	140
Electronic warfare & decoys	MASS decoy launchers
Armament	1 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS Mark 15 guns
Aviation facilities	Helipad

Development and design

On 7 September 2018, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced that Hyundai Heavy Industries had delivered Soyang to the Republic of Korea Navy.

She has a length of 190 metres (623 ft 4 in) and a width of 25 metres (82 ft 0 in). The vessel is capable of embarking a helicopter on her helipad. She carriers a single Phalanx CIWS and MASS decoy launchers. The vessel's displacement is about 10,105 tonnes (9,945 long tons) and has a crew of 140. She runs on both hybrid diesel and electric engines with two shafts. The ship has a maximum speed of 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) and a range of 5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km; 6,300 mi).^[2]

Construction and career

ROKS Soyang was laid down on 13 July 2015 and launched on 29 November 2016 by Hyundai Heavy Industries and commissioned on 18 September 2018.^[3]

On 17 November 2020, ROKS Soyang transferred medical supplies to BRP Conrado Yap offshore Manila, Philippines. Soyang sent three speed boats, masks and sanitizers for prevention of COVID-19 to the Philippines Navy ship during the exchange.^[4]