ROKS Ulsan FFK-951, name ship of the South Korean Ulsan class light frigates, was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan. Ulsan was laid down in 1979, launched on 8 April 1980, delivered on 30 December 1980, and commissioned on 1 January 1981.
Ulsan was the first major warship constructed in South Korea. She displaced 1500 tons, and was heavily armed for her size with two 3-inch guns, four twin-30mm guns, 8 Harpoon missiles, two triple Mk-32 anti-submarine torpedo tubes, and two depth charge racks. A Mistral anti-aircraft missile launcher was later added. She had a two-shaft CODOG propulsion system, with two LM2500 Gas Turbines, and two MTU Diesels, which gave a maximum speed of 34-36 knots.
On 9 April 1983, in waters 60 nautical miles east of Jeju, Ulsan rescued 67 crew members from the North Korean merchant vessel No. 1 Daesanhoseon, which had sunk.
Later that year, on 3 December, Ulsan carried out missions as part of a task force intercepting armed infiltration vessels that had intruded into the Dadaepo sea area.
In 1987 ROKS Ulsan formed a sister city partnership with Ulsan City and Ulsan County.
Due to her prototype nature, Ulsan did not deploy for major operations or RIMPAC, and her only foreign port visit was to the Russian port of Vladivostok on 22 September 1993.
On 1 June 2006, Ulsan was allocated to the 3rd Fleet Training Command’s training squadron.
Ulsan decommissioned on 30 December 2014. She was then converted into a Museum Ship, opening to the public in May 2017 at the Jangsaengpo Whale Museum in Ulsan.
And for something a little different, ROKS Ulsan is a character in the Korean anime series ‘Battleship Girl’.
Picture and write-up by David Chessum.
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