Combat Fleets

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1802 monopulse fire-control radar. planned 4,000-ton KDX-class South Korea is now gearing up to       destroyers, to complete by 1996.

begin construction of the first of 17

By A. D. Baker III, Editor, Combat Fleets of the World

The seventh and last Republic of Korea Navy Ulsan-class frigate, Che Ju, commissioned in January 1990, is seen here during her 1990 cadet training cruise to Europe. Where the three earliest ships of the class were equipped with a Dutch fire-control radar at the top of the foremast and had four locally controlled twin U.S.-made 30-mm. Emerlec antiaircraft guns, the final four units have a Samsung-made Marconi S 1810 search-and-target designation radar at the masthead and are armed with three twin Breda 40­mm. antiaircraft guns. In the final two units, the after pair of 40-mm. mounts are located atop a deckhouse flanking a Samsung-Marconi ST

III Iff IIIIIIII

POLAR CIRCLE

On 21 November 1991, the venerable Royal Navy Antarctic patrol ship Endurance (right) was decommis­sioned and the chartered Norwegian research ship-icebreaker Polar Circle was commissioned in her place. In 1982, the then-impending disposal of the 1956-vintage Endurance is said to have sparked an Argentine belief that Great Britain would not resist a takeover of the Falkland Islands; heightened sensitivity is evident today. The Royal Navy has the option to purchase the Polar Circle at the completion of her seven-month char­ter and had planned to name her

Protector at that time—until it was pointed out that the name might be considered provocative by Argentina. Instead, the 5,129 gross-registered- ton ship, completed in 1990, will probably be named Endurance in honor of her predecessor.