Seolpung-Class Destroyer
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Displacement: 1,850 tons standard / 2,150 tons full
Length: 118 m
Beam: 10.5 m
Draught: 3.2 m
Propulsion: 60,000 shp on two shafts
Speed: 38 kt
Range: 5,000 nmi at 14 knots
Complement: 205
Armament:
- 8 x 12.5 cm/50 naval guns (4x2)
- 2 × Junggi-2 13 mm machine guns (2x1)
- 6 × 61 cm torpedo tubes (2x3)
- 18 × depth charges
The first naval ship accepted into service following the formation of the Greater Korean Empire. Developed as part of a joint program with Japan, Seolpung's main mission was to form the backbone of the new Korean Imperial Navy with defensive operations. This was in contrast to the Japanese emphasis on an all-out attack vessel, and as such this resulted in a split of design from Destroyer No. 35 (future Fubuki). All in all, it is arguably the "the world's first modern destroyer", as a multi-purpose destroyer that was able to adapt to the changing battlefield.
One of the more obscure incidents surrounding Seolpung is the "Naming War". Japan originally intended to have hull numbers for destroyers due to the projected large number of warships the Japanese Navy expected to build through the Eight-eight fleet plan. However, this proved to be extremely unpopular with the crews, and when Korea commissioned Seolpung, mass protests from IJN started concerning the use of meteorological phenomena. Given that the close alliance between Japan and Korea meant that there would be large references to each other's ships, there was a need to avoid using the same names in Eastern Characters, with Kongo/Keumgang (金剛) already causing enough troubles. Eventually an agreement was ironed out, among which it was decided that for the time being Korea was to use wind names and Japan snow and rain. This incident contributed to the entrenchment of rather heated feelings between the two services, as each tried to up the other in the construction of destroyers.
All in all, 40 ships were commissioned between 1928 and 1931, with various small upgrades throughout the production time.
1. Seolpung (雪風, 설풍): Snow Wind
2. Hwapung (火風, 화풍): Fire Wind
3. Upung (雨風, 우풍): Rain Wind
4. Supung (水風, 수풍): Water Wind
5. Cheonpung (天風, 천풍): Heavenly Wind
6. Jipung (地風, 지풍): Earthly Wind
7. Taepung (泰風, 태풍): Great Wind
8. Beumpung (帆風, 범풍): Boat Wind
9. Shipung (矢風, 시풍): Arrow Wind
10. Seokpung (夕風, 석풍): Evening Wind
11. Yeulpung (熱風, 열풍): Hot Wind
12. Hyangpung (香風, 향풍): Fragrant Wind
13. Chupung (秋風, 추풍): Autumn Wind
14. Bupung (扶風, 부풍): Strong Wind
15. Hyopung (曉風, 효풍): Dawn Wind
16. Yapung (野風, 야풍): Field Wind
17. Sapung (斜風, 사풍): Side Wind
18. Jopung (朝風, 조풍): Morning Wind
19. Sanpung (山風, 산풍): Mountain Wind
20. Pokpung (爆風, 폭풍): Fierce Wind
21. Haepung (海風, 해풍): Ocean Wind
22. Songpung (松風, 송풍): Pine Wind
23. Popung (浦風, 포풍): Sea Wind
24. Jilpung (疾風, 질풍): Swift Wind
25. Nanpung (暖風, 난풍): Warm Wind
26. Kangpung (江風, 강풍): River Wind
27. Mupung (舞風, 무풍): Dancing Wind
28. Chopung (初風, 초풍): First Wind
29. Noepung (雷風, 뇌풍): Thunder Wind
30. Kokpung (谷風, 곡풍): Valley Wind
31. Keumpung (金風, 금풍): Golden Wind
32. Hyepung (蕙風, 혜풍): Redolent Wind
33. Gongpung (空風, 공풍): Steam Wind
34. Hopung (胡風, 호풍): Lake Wind
35. Sangpung (商風, 상풍): all Wind
36. Ilpung (日風, 일풍): Sun Wind
37. Uelpung (月風, 월풍): Moon Wind
38. Chunpung (春風, 춘풍): Spring Wind
39. Hapung (夏風, 하풍): Summer Wind
40. Maekpung (麥風, 맥풍): Barley Wind
Note: The following OTL IJN names will not be used in this world
- Yukikaze, Tanikaze, Hatsukaze, Umikaze, Yamakaze, Kawakaze, Urakaze, Tanikaze, Maikaze, Yakaze