ROK Navy has launched four PKX-B Batch-II patrol vessels armed with Biryong 130 mm MLRS firing GNSS/INS guided artillery rockets against infiltrations.
The first four of the patrol ships with distinctive armament consisting of guided artillery rockets were launched at Busan Shipyard, as reported by Naval News. The ships were named as Chamsuri-231, Chamsuri-232, Chamsuri-233, and Chamsuri-235.
PKX-B Batch-II is a class of 230-ton patrol vessels intended to operate in frontier regions to engage infiltration through shore using 130 mm guided artillery rockets launched by Biryong naval MLRS, also used by
This armament choice can be related to North Korea’s fleet of hovercrafts utilised for quick insertion, thanks to their high speed. Thus, a fast patrol vessel armed with guided artillery rockets to intercept these hovercraft or engage the deploying troops was brought up.
A similar instance of a dedicated shipborne MLRS is from Russia, A-215 Grad-M. Grad-M uses the standard 122 mm Grad rockets and is mounted on various landing craft of the Russian Navy.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
