Chamsuri-class Patrol Boat PKM-285
PKM-285 was one of 101 Chamsuri (sea eagle) class Patrol Killer Medium (PKM) patrol boats built for the Republic of Korea Navy. She was delivered on 7 August 1985, and operated as part of the Third Fleet.
The Chamsuri class patrol boats were the workhorses of the ROKN for many years, carrying out a variety of roles, including patrol, search and rescue, law enforcement, fishery protection and training. Despite their small size (170 tons full load), they were heavily armed with three stabilized gun mountings controlled by the vessels combat system (there are variations in guns between groups of ships - PKM-285 has 1 twin 30mm and two single 20mm). They were equipped with a CODAD propulsion system with two MTU diesels which provided for a maximum speed of 38k.
The Chamsuri class patrol boats were involved in a number of successful battles against North Korean patrol boats, including the First and Second Battles of Yeonpyeong (15 June 1999 & 29 June 2002), and the Battle of Daecheong (10 November 2009)
PKM-285 decommissioned on 31 December 2015, and in November 2017 opened as a museum ship at Seoul Battleship Park beside the Han River in western Seoul (along with the Frigate Seoul (FFK-952), and Dolgorae class submarine SSM-053).
Write up and image courtesy of David Chessum
