ROKS Hwacheon (AOE-59)

ROKS Hwacheon on 17 October 2015
History
South Korea
Name	Hawcheon (화천)
Namesake	Hwacheon
Builder	Hyundai
Launched	1997
Commissioned	1998
Identification	MMSI number: 440800061 Callsign: HLGL Pennant number: AOE-59
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class and type	Cheonji-class fast combat support ship
Displacement	4,200 tonnes (4,134 long tons) light[1] 9,113 tonnes (8,969 long tons) full load[2]
Length	133.7 m (438 ft 8 in)[3]
Beam	17.8 m (58 ft 5 in)[3]
Draft	6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)[2]
Propulsion	2 × Voith Schneider Propeller
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)[3][1]
Range	4,500 nmi (8,300 km)[1]
Sensors and processing systems	2 × Anti-ship radar[2]
Armament	1 × 20 mm cannon[3] 1 × 40 mm cannon[3] DAGAIE[3]
Aviation facilities	Helipad

ROKS Hwacheon (AOE-59) is the third ship of the Cheonji-class fast combat support ship (AOE) in the Republic of Korea Navy. She is named after the lake, Hwacheon.

After the Korean War, the Korean Navy purchased and operated small refueling ships from the 1960s to the 1980s. These ships were obsolete due to prolonged operation, which forced their retirement beginning in the late 1970s. As the demand for maritime operations increased day, the Navy required vessels to complete the missions.^[4]

From the mid-1980s, based on ship drying experiences, the Korean Navy proposed building combat support ships domestically. From 1988 to 1990, the first combat support ship, later named Cheonji, was built and launched.^[4]Daecheong and Hwacheon were built seven years later. At the time, the Korean Navy decided whether or not to build follow-up ships after finishing the operation test of the first ship.

As the needs of support ships increased, the Navy designed the Soyang-class ships in 2016, based on the Cheonji class.

ROKS Hwacheon was launched in 1997 by Hyundai Heavy Industries and commissioned in 1998. She was the third logistic support ship built by the Navy.

In November 2007, ROKS Hwacheon and ROKS Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin made a visit to New York, USA.^[5]

ROKS Hwacheon and ROKS Yang Man-chun made a three-day goodwill visit to Auckland, New Zealand on 22 August 2010.^[6]

• 
  ROKS Hwacheon and USS John S. McCain on 18 March 2009
• 
  ROKS Hwacheon in Montreal on 14 October 2013
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  ROKS Hwacheon and ROKS Dae Jo-yeong at Pearl Harbor on 22 November 2013
• 
  ROKS Hwacheon on 10 November 2015
• 
  ROKS Hwacheon and ROKS Cheongju on 10 November 2015
• 

• v
• t
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  Commissioned ships of the Republic of Korea Navy  

Submarines

Dosan Ahn Changho-class SS	Dosan Ahn Changho Ahn Mu Shin Chae-ho
Sohn Won-yil-class SS	Sohn Won-yil Jeong Ji An Jung-geun Kim Jwa-jin Yun Bong-gil Yu Gwan-sun Hong Beom-do Lee Beom-seok Shin Dol-seok
Jang Bogo-class SS	Jang Bogo Yi Cheon Choe Museon Park Wi Lee Jongmoo Jung Woon Yi Sun-sin Na Dae-yong Yi Eokgi
Dolgorae-class SSM	Dolgorae 051 Dolgorae 052 Dolgorae 053

Destroyers

Sejong the Great-class DDG	Sejong the Great Yulgok Yi I Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong Jeongjo the Great
Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class DDH	Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin Munmu the Great Dae Jo-yeong Wang Geon Gang Gam-chan Choe Yeong
Gwanggaeto the Great-class DDH	Gwanggaeto the Great Eulji Mundeok Yang Man-chun

Frigates

Daegu-class FFG	Daegu Gyeongnam Seoul Donghae Daejeon Pohang Cheonan Chuncheon
Incheon-class FFG	Incheon Gyeonggi Jeonbuk Gangwon Chungbuk Gwangju
Ulsan-class FF	Chungnam Masan Gyeongbuk Jeonnam Jeju Busan Cheongju

Corvettes

Pohang-class PCC	Jinhae Wonju Andong Bucheon Seongnam Jecheon Daecheon Sokcho Yeongju Namwon Gwangmyeong Sinseong Gongju

Patrol vessels

Yoon Youngha-class PKG	Yoon Youngha Han Sanggook Jo Chunhyung Hwang Dohyun Suh Hoowon Park Donghyuk Jung Geungmo Ji Deokchil Lim Byeongrae Hong Siuk Hong Daeseon Han Munsik Kim Changhak Park Dongjin Kim Soohyun Jeon Byeongik Lee Byungchul
Chamsuri 211-class PKMR	Chamsuri 211 - 229
Chamsuri-class PKM	Chamsuri 298 - 375

Amphibious
warfare ships

Dokdo-class LPH	Dokdo Marado
Cheon Wang Bong-class LST	Cheonwangbong Cheonjabong Ilchulbong Nojeokbong
Go Jun Bong-class LST	Gojunbong Birobong Hyangnobong Seonginbong
Solgae 631-class LSF	Solgae 631 Solgae 632 Solgae 633 Solgae 635
Solgae 621-class LSF	Solgae 621 Solgae 622 Solgae 623

Mine warfare
ships

Nampo-class MLS	Nampo
Wonsan-class MLS	Wonsan
Yangyang-class MSH	Yangyang Ongjin Haenam
Ganggyeong-class MHC	Ganggyeong Gangjin Goryeong Gimpo Gochang Gimhwa

Auxiliary ships

Soyang-class AOE	Soyang
Cheonji-class AOE	Cheonji Daecheong Hwacheon
Pyeongtaek-class ATS	Pyeongtaek Gwangyang Tongyeong
Cheonghaejin-class ASR	Cheonghaejin
Singiwon-class AGS	Singiwon
Sinsegi-class AGS	Sinsegi
Dadohae-class ASL	Dadohae
Mulgae 87-class LCU	Mulgae 87 - 91
Mulgae 79-class LCU/L	Mulgae 83 - 86