North Korea Deploys Torpedo Carrying Midget Subs (SSM Type MS-29 Yono class )

 Photos from Parkc999K

SEOUL — North Korea has developed a new type of midget submarine fitted with torpedo launch tubes, allowing it to attack South Korea warships more easily, a report said Tuesday.

Satellite images of a naval base in the North's southwestern city of Nampo, published by JoongAng Ilbo newspaper, show what appears to be a 17-metre-long (56-feet) submarine with a tube-like structure attached to its top.

"We have concluded that it is a torpedo launch tube," the paper quoted an unidentified Seoul intelligence source as saying.

The paper said the new Daedong-B midget submarine moves faster than larger submarines and is harder for military radar to detect.

The South accused the North of sending a 29-metre Yono-class submarine to torpedo the Cheonan warship in March which sank with the loss of 46 lives. The North denies the charge.

The newspaper said the North has long used midget submarines to infiltrate spies into the South. It said Seoul military officials now suspect Pyongyang has developed a more powerful midget sub to carry torpedoes and other weapons.

South Korea's defence ministry and intelligence agency declined to comment.

Cross-border tensions have been high since the Cheonan incident, and rose further after the North's deadly artillery attack on a South Korean border island on November 23.

Source: AFP via Google News

 MS-29 Yono class SSM

(North Korea)

Notes: As of late 2010, ten of these midget submarines are in service with the North Korean navy. They are the largest type of midget submarine operated by that force. It is thought that they are built by Yukdaeso-ri shipyard, and that all ten are assigned to the West fleet. It’s not known exactly when they entered service but it’s thought that the first commissioned in 2001.

The Yono (sometimes transliterated Yeono) design is a larger evolution of the Sang-O and “Yugo” types. They are a monohull design with fixed snorkel inductor. A prominent bullnose is at the extreme bow, this is used for towing as on infiltration missions, they are often paired with a “mothership”, usually a converted trawler. There is only one hatch topside, in the sail. The broad keel beam is not for any hydrodynamic effect, but rather to provide a stable platform ashore as these subs are serviced and sometimes stored out of the water.

There are two (or three) variants to the design:

1) The baseline model has two internal 21” tubes (no reloads) and limited swimmer support facilities.

2) The more recent model has externally-carried torpedoes (as seen in the photo).

3) It is known that some are equipped with a keel lock-out hatch for divers in the forward area (displacing the internal tubes); these may or may not also have the external torpedo carriage points and may in fact be the same design as the second type.

The engines are commercial German diesels and not specifically designed for submarine use. A fiberglass window on the bow apparently serves an unknown type of sonar. The radar is a reverse-engineered Japanese civilian type. A HF radio is fitted.

The torpedoes are underslung and free-swim away from the midget sub. The advantage of this arrangement is that firings are quieter and obviously internal space is freed up, the disadvantage is that in peacetime the torpedoes wear out quickly and are susceptible to ocean damage prior to reaching the patrol area.

This is the first midget submarine design to use any appreciable amount of sound-silencing technology.

As the midget submarine/ infiltration craft arm of the North Korean navy is it’s only segment still receiving any appreciable funding, it’s likely more of this class will be built.

Displacement: 95t surfaced, 130t submerged Dimensions: 95’2”x9’9”x10’4” Machinery: Diesel-electric: 1 MTU diesel (exact type unknown), 1 electric motor (w/lead-acid battery), 1 shaft w/non-CP 5-bladed skewed prop Max speed: 11kts surfaced/snorkeling, 8kts submerged Range: unknown Diving depth: unknown Complement (est): 6 + 6 SpecOps (in swimmer version)

WEAPONS-Torpedoes

Source: HarpoonDatabase

North’s New Midget Subs Are Torpedo Equipped

Daedong midget submarine (photo : Brahmand)

North Korea’s new midget submarines feature torpedo launch tubes, according to South Korean intelligence sources, suggesting that the North is planning more torpedo strikes.

According to sources, satellite imagery examined by South Korean and U.S. intelligence officials have shown 4-meter-long (13.1 feet) torpedo launch tubes attached to North Korea’s new line of “Daedong-B” mini-submarines. Intelligence authorities from both countries had suspected that satellite images showed launch tubes attached to the submersibles. An intelligence tip later confirmed that they were for lightweight torpedoes.

The Daedong-B model is said to be 17 meters long, 4 meters wide and 2.2 meters high. One special characteristic of the midget submarine, intelligence sources said, is the rear of the vessel, which is shaped like a ramp to easily enable agents to get on and off.

North Korea has also been holding exercises with the new submarines.

“Intense military exercises with the midget submarines were conducted by North Korea in July and recently while South Korean and U.S. troops were holding joint exercises,” a South Korean intelligence official said, adding that the drills were aimed against South Korean vessels.

Based on the evidence, intelligence authorities believe North Korea is now capable of carrying out attacks with its mini-submarines, along with its Yono class submersibles, which the South Korean government believes the North used to sink the Cheonan in March.

North Korea has not made any direct threats to attack the South with its torpedoes since March, which it did on a regular basis before the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan.

However, North Korea’s preference for torpedoes is well-known, and they have been the weapons of choice for Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong-il.

In April 2007, North Korea’s state broadcaster Korean Central Television (KCTV) showed Kim Jong-il instructing marines in a military drill involving torpedoes. The “Dear Leader” was reported to have “laughed with vigor” and immensely approved the torpedo training. Kim was said to have mounted a torpedo-equipped submarine himself and “went out to the wild seas” with the seamen.

North Korean propaganda claims that its torpedo boats sunk the U.S.S. Baltimore in 1950, although the U.S. battleship was never deployed in the Korean War. On the day cited by North Korea for the attack, the U.S.S. Juneau and two British warships destroyed several North Korean torpedo boats escorting supply vessels without any significant return fire from the North Koreans. 

Source: Joong Ang Daily via Defense Studies