Republic of Korea Navy

Naval warfare branch of South Korea's military

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February 1 2025 Task Fleet was reorganized from Maritime Task Flotilla Seven, headquartered at Jeju Naval Base.
November 21 2023 The Republic of Korea Marine Corps conducted first major exercises in 5 years in Pohang, involving 3,400 marines, over 30 amphibious assault vehicles, and 10 Navy ships. The exercises focused on practicing amphibious landings in the coastal zone, utilizing amphibious ships, transport aircraft, and helicopters, with Navy ships and attack helicopters providing tactical cover for the troops.
2022 ROK Navy upgraded Air Wing Six to the Naval Air Command.
May 17 2022 Defense Acquisition Program Administration ordered 40 Bell 505 helicopters for basic training, with delivery starting from 2025, to be used by both ROK Navy and ROK Army.
December 2020 South Korean government ordered 12 MH-60 Seahawk helicopters to strengthen Navy's anti-submarine capabilities.
March 2019 South Korean government ordered six P-8A aircraft from Boeing.
September 2018 ROK Navy launched its first locally designed 3,000-ton submarine, ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho (SS 083).
2017 ROK Navy canceled plans to purchase refurbished and upgraded S-3 Viking aircraft.
2017 Planned deployment of Bigung guided rocket system near the Northern Limit Line to protect Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands from potential North Korean hovercraft assault.
December 1 2017 The 13th Special Forces Brigade was reorganized into the 13th Special Mission Brigade, specifically tasked with a 'Decapitation Unit' targeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
September 4 2017 Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo announced plans to establish a 'Decapitation Unit', which caused initial confusion with the existing Marine Corps Quick Maneuver Force.
November 2016 Remaining four AW159 Wildcat helicopters were delivered to the ROK Navy.
June 13 2016 ROK Navy took delivery of the first four AW159 Wildcat helicopters.
May 2 2016 The Quick Maneuver Force was officially launched with the name 'ROK Navy·Marine Corps Quick Maneuver Force' and the nickname 'Jeseung Unit', designed to rapidly respond to potential military threats.
March 2016 South Korean defense ministry announced the formation of the Quick Maneuver Force (nicknamed 'Spartan 3000'), a marine corps regiment of 3,000 personnel capable of being deployed anywhere on the Korean Peninsula within 24 hours in response to potential North Korean attacks.
2015 Planned creation of an aviation brigade with transport and KAI Surion attack helicopters to expand aerial support capabilities.
February 2015 Submarine Force Command established in Jinhae.
2014 ROKS Munmu the Great (DDH 976) dispatched to evacuate South Koreans and foreign nationals from war-torn Libya.
2013 Procurement of four Plasan Sandcat light protected vehicles and 67 Spike NLOS guided missiles to improve military capabilities.
January 15 2013 Defense Acquisition Program Administration selected the AW159 Wildcat helicopter for the ROK Navy, winning against the MH-60R Seahawk.
June 4 2012 Ministry of National Defense confirmed a plan to distribute 32 amphibious mobile helicopters to ROKMC, with plans to activate an aviation group between 2017 and 2020, including 2 amphibious mobile helicopter battalions and 1 attack helicopter battalion.
October 15 2011 The new law defining ROKMC's operational and administrative autonomy took full effect.
October 13 2011 ROKMC retrieved their service records from the ROKN (Republic of Korea Navy).
October 1 2011 ROKMC began issuing new distinctive uniforms designed specifically for marine personnel, featuring colors of beach, sand, and seaweed for camouflage in amphibious operations.
June 23 2011 The South Korean National Assembly legislated a law granting significant administrative and operational autonomy to the ROKMC, including personnel management rights, defining amphibious operations as their main operation, and including the ROKMC Commandant in key military decision-making bodies.
June 15 2011 Northwest Islands Defense Command (NWIDC) was established, with the ROKMC Commandant holding an additional position as NWIDC commander, enabling command of Army, Navy, and Air Force units in combat situations.
November 23 2010 The Bombardment of Yeonpyeong incident occurred, involving a rigorous engagement between the North Korean Army and a South Korean Marine Corps YP unit, which led to the cancellation of the Military Reform Plan 2020 and establishment of Military Reform Plan 307.
February 1 2010 Maritime Task Flotilla Seven established, evolving from the ASW Squadron 51 of the Component Flotilla Five.

This contents of the box above is based on material from the Wikipedia articles Republic of Korea Navy & Republic of Korea Marine Corps, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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