ROKS Masan FFK-955, fourth of the Ulsan class light frigates, was built at the Korea Tacoma shipyard in Masan (near Busan) in southeast Korea. Masan was laid down in 1983, launched on 26 October 1984, delivered on 30 July 1985, and commissioned on 7 August 1985.
The Ulsan class frigates were the first major warships constructed in South Korea. They displaced 1500 tons, and were heavily armed for their size with two 3-inch guns, four twin-30mm guns, 8 Harpoon missiles, a Mistral anti-aircraft missile launcher, two triple Mk-32 anti-submarine torpedo tubes, and two depth charge racks. They 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.
Upon completion Masan was assigned to the 1st Fleet, which is responsible for maritime approaches and national interests off the east coast of Korea. Masan participated in the RIMPAC exercise off Hawaii in 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994 and 1997. In 1988 Masan and her sister ship Gyeongbuk became the first Korean domestically built frigates to cross the Pacific Ocean. In 1990 she became the first Korean warship to launch a surface-to-air missile at sea, and was awarded a Presidential Commendation for promoting the power of the Republic of Korea Navy to the world. In 2017 Masan was assigned to the Naval Education Command training squadron.
Masan decommissioned on 24 December 2019 to be managed as a reserve ship of the 8th Combat Training Group. She was subsequently converted into a Museum Ship, opening to the public in April 2024 at the Ganghwa Battleship Park north-west of Seoul.
Picture and write-up by David Chessum.
