ROKS Dokdo (LPH 6111)

Date of Issue: April 15, 2009
Designer: Jaeyong SHIN

Korea Post issued the above stamp to commemorate 60th Anniversary of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps. The stamp is issued as an octagon-shaped which reflects the symbol of the Marine Corps, the octagonal hat.

The vessel depicted in this stamp is the ROKS Dokdo, the lead ship of the "LPX" class of amphibious landing ships of the Republic of Korea Navy, launched on 12 July 2005 at the shipyard of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Constructions Co. in Busan. Named after the Dokdo islets, Dokdo was commissioned into the ROK Navy on 3 July 2007.

Designed by Hanjin Heavy Industries, the requirements for the amphibious landing ships were to enhance Korea's current amphibious operation capability, both in terms of assault and military operations other than war (MOOTW) type operations.

Presently the Dokdo is the largest vessel in the South Korean Navy. Previously, this spot was held by the 9,000-ton at-sea Underway Replenishment (UNREP) support vessel Cheonji.

The LPX can carry 720 marines (+300 crew members), 10 tanks, 10 trucks, 7 AAVs, three field artillery pieces, 10 helicopters, and two LCAC hovercrafts capable of landing on enemy shores doing 40 knots (74 km/h)—a mix that enables it to launch troop landings from both sea and air.  The flight surface is also sprayed with urethane, which can support VTOL jets, like Harriers.

Source: Wikipedia and Korea Post information brochure.

Thanks to friend Park Choonjong, Korea for sending me the stamp and the information brochure.