Najin-class frigate

	1993 aerial port side view of a North Korean Navy Najin class frigate underway.
Class overview
Builders	Unknown, but built in North Korea (Najin Shipyards)
Operators	KPA Naval Force
Built	1971–1979
In commission	1973–present
Completed	4+
Active	2+
Retired	2+
General characteristics
Type	Frigate
Displacement	1,600 long tons (1,600 t)
Length	328 ft (100 m)
Beam	32.8 ft (10.0 m)
Draught	8.9 ft (2.7 m)
Propulsion	2x diesels; 15,000 bhp; 2 shafts
Speed	26 knots (30 mph; 48 km/h)
Range	4,000 nmi (4,600 mi; 7,400 km) at 14 knots (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Complement	180
Sensors and ; processing systems	Radar; Air search: Square Tie; Surface search: Pot Head; Navigation: Pot Drum; Fire control: Drum Tilt; Sonar; Stag horn; hull-mounted active search/attack sonar;
Armament	Missiles:; SSM - two SS-N-2 Styx or SS-N-25 Switchblade ; Guns; 2 × 100 mm (4 in)/56 (single); 4x 57 mm (2 in) (twin); twelve or four 30 mm (1 in)/66 (6 or 2 twin);; 12 × 25 mm (1 in) machine guns (6 twin); Other:; Two RBU 1200 five-tube fixed launchers; Depth charges (two projectors, two racks); 30 mines;

The North Korean Najin-class frigates are some of the largest vessels in the Korean People's Navy. Although they bear a striking resemblance to ex-Soviet Kola class frigates, they are unrelated to any Russian or Chinese design.^[4] The class was originally fitted with a trainable triple 21 inch torpedo launcher, which was replaced in the mid-1980s with fixed Styx missile launchers taken from Osa class missile boats. The design is inherently dangerous, and even a minor missile failure would result in significant damage to the ship.^[4]

Upgrades

At least one Najin-class ship appears to have been upgraded with much more modern weaponry in 2014. Refitted at Namp'o, the outdated anti-ship missiles, aft 57mm dual cannon, Drum Tilt fire-control radar and surface search radar were removed, and several new systems were installed. Most clearly identifiable are two 30mm automated turrets at the aft, likely based on the Soviet AK-630 CIWS, and two Kh-35 missile racks with the capacity for about 8 missiles in place of the older Styx/HY-2 launchers. The modernization program appears to be continuing as of December 2014.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Jane's Fighting Ships 1983-84. p. 299. ISBN 0-7106-0774-1.
^ The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships. p. 424.
^ [1]
^ ^a ^b Wertheim, Eric (2007). Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft and Systems. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. p. 424. ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2.
^ "Nknews KPA Navy flagship undergoing radical modernization".

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[Janes83-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Jane's Fighting Ships 1983-84. p. 299. ISBN 0-7106-0774-1.

[2] The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships. p. 424.

[3] [1]

[Institute-4] Wertheim, Eric (2007). Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft and Systems. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. p. 424. ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2.

[5] "Nknews KPA Navy flagship undergoing radical modernization".

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