Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

[Navy] Eulji Mundeok Ham, the top gun on the sea, booms a salute

Jinju Ham retains title as best battleship, the PCC of the 1st Fleet
Best patrol vessel, Jung Geung Mo Ham, with three successive defeats

Eulji Mundeok Ham, a destroyer of the 2nd Fleet(DDH-I), which protects the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea, was crowned the best battleship of the Navy’s gunnery 2014.

The best battleship went to Jinju Ham, the 1st Fleet’s patrol combat corvette(PCC), the best patrol vessel to Jung Geung Mo Ham, the Patrol Killer Guided missile(PKG), and the best patrol killer in formation to 251 PKM of the 2nd Fleet. Jung Geung Mo Ham presented a particularly remarkable performance with three consecutive wins.

The best gunnery battleship, which is called the Top Gun on the sea, is the honor going to the fleet that reaches the highest score after evaluation of anti-aircraft and anti-ship firing for the combat fleet over the PCC-class for a year.

Firing from warships is a driving force for the Navy, which stands face-to-face with the enemy across the NLL, to protect lives of fellow soldiers and lead the warfare to victory. Thus, it is considered as the best of tactics and techniques of the combat fleet.

Unlike a ground firing, firing from warships must detect, track and shoot targets while moving fast on the sea, which itself changes continuously due to waves, heaving sea, fog, etc. Because of this, thoroughly consistent teamwork among sailors makes or mars.

The anti-aircraft fire was assessed with a fleet moving at 40km/h to hit the 70cm-diameter cylindrical target that is towed away at 300km/h. And the anti-ship fire was evaluated the same as an actual firing procedure. It was close near the mark, firing after a long-distance suppressive fire with 127mm or 76mm guns of a warship.

In particular, the score was adjusted to select the best vessel that actually has superior firing ability. The scores for theoretical assessment and preparation were lowered and accuracy rate increased.

Eulji Mundeok Ham, which came into power as the best battleship this year, has made a great effort to build well-organized teamwork to protect its contact area in the NLL in the West Sea. In addition, there were mental armament education, such as being at warfare all the time, and highly intensive training. With that, sailors could have self-confidence to win the war at all costs with a firing ability that aims carefully to hit the target with the first shot and perfect marksmanship. Eulji Mundeok Ham could beat dozens of other combat ships and gained glory with its ability and posture as a stepping stone.

Captain Kang Dong-Hun said, “Firing ability is the battleship’s ego as well as the symbol of fighting spirit. The title of the best gunnery battleship means a lot as it is a valuable result obtained by all the sailors, not individual effort.”

He continued, ”Our sailors are fully armed with military spirit being at a war field all the time and maintain the best combat readiness so that the enemy dare not think of coveting our territorial waters.”

Meanwhile, the best battleship selection system, which makes a great contribution to enhancing firing from warships, opened in 1988 for the first time. It consists of four different competitions – destroyer, convey and PCC, PKG, and PK formation - and each of them is evaluated. The best battleship is selected from the competition among the destroyer and convey & PCC areas.

The awards ceremony is to be held on December 30. To the best battleship, a certificate of award for the unit from the President, one for an individual from the Defense Minister and citations from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Commander of Operations are presented. Superior vessels in each competition will receive an individual certificate of award from the Defense Minister as well as citations from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Commander of Operations.

By Byeong-No, Yun < trylover@dema.mil.kr >
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