Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the REPUBLIC OF KOREA NAVY --

Kum Kang San (Submarine Chaser # PC-702, 1950-1960)

Kum Kang San, a 173-foot submarine chaser originally built in 1944 as the USS PC-799, was transferred by the United States to the Republic of Korea in 1950. She arrived in South Korea in July 1950, shortly after the outbreak of the Korean War, and was immediately involved in several actions with enemy vessels and shore positions along the Korean west coast. Throughout the conflict, Kum Kang San and her sister PCs were invaluable for inshore work in areas unsuitable for the larger ships of the U.S. and other United Nations' navies. She remained in South Korean Navy service until 1960.

This page features views of the Republic of Korea submarine chaser Kum Kang San (PC-702, 1950-1960).

Note: Most standard reference books state that Kum Kang San was the former USS PC-810 or USS PC-802. However, the number "799" can be clearly seen welded on her stern in the original print for our photo # NH 85485, which is among those presented below.

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 85482

Kum Kang San

(South Korean submarine chaser, formerly USS PC-799)

Off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 17 June 1950, following transfer to the South Korean Navy.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85483

Kum Kang San

(South Korean submarine chaser, formerly USS PC-799)

Off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 17 June 1950, following transfer to the South Korean Navy.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85484

Kum Kang San

(South Korean submarine chaser, formerly USS PC-799)

Bow-on view, taken off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 17 June 1950, following transfer to the South Korean Navy.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85485

Kum Kang San

(South Korean submarine chaser, formerly USS PC-799)

Stern view, taken off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 17 June 1950, following transfer to the South Korean Navy.
On the original photographic print, the ship's original U.S. Navy hull number "799" can be seen welded on the stern, directly above the painted Korean name.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85494

Kum Kang San

(South Korean submarine chaser, formerly USS PC-799)

At the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, on 16 June 1950, following transfer to the South Korean Navy.
She is flanked by her sister ships Chiri San (Korean PC-704)--to left--and Sam Kak San (Korean PC-703)--to right.
USS Polaris (AF-11) is in the right background.
Note men working on 3"/50 dual-purpose gun mounted on Kum Kang San's foredeck.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 156KB; 595 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85496

South Korean submarine chasers Chiri San, Kum Kang San and Sam Kak San
(from left to right)

Nested together at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, on 16 June 1950, following transfer to the South Korean Navy.
Note deck and open bridge details on these 173-foot subchasers, drums stowed on deck amidships, boxes stowed in the after gun tubs, and Republic of Korea flags at the ships' sterns.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 193KB; 595 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85497

South Korean submarine chasers Chiri San, Kum Kang San and Sam Kak San
(from left to right)

Nested together at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, on 16 June 1950, following transfer to the South Korean Navy.
Note 3"/50 dual-purpose guns mounted forward, details of main decks and open bridges and drums stowed amidships.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 156KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 


The following photographs show Kum Kang San in the background or along the edges of views of other Republic of Korea ships:

Photo #: NH 85488

Sam Kak San

(South Korean submarine chaser, formerly USS PC-802)

Bow-on view, taken off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, on 17 June 1950, following transfer to the South Korean Navy.
Her sister ship Kum Kang San (Korean PC-702) is visible in the right background.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85495

Sam Kak San

(South Korean submarine chaser, formerly USS PC-802)

At the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, on 16 June 1950, following transfer to the South Korean Navy.
At left is her sister ship Kum Kang San (Korean PC-702).
Note railway crane on the wharf, 3"/50 dual-purpose gun mounted on Sam Kak San's foredeck and USS Polaris (AF-11) in the background.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 147KB; 590 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85498

Chiri San

(South Korean submarine chaser, formerly USS PC-810)

At the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, 16 June 1950, loading deck cargo for her impending trans-Pacific voyage to Korea.
Her sister ship Kum Kang San is at right.
Note 3"/50 dual-purpose gun mounted forward, Republic of Korea flags at bow and stern, mast and "crow's nest", Danforth anchor, navigation lights, ship's bell mounted on the pilothouse front and other details on and around her main deck.
On the original print, her old U.S. Navy hull number ("810") is visible in spot welded outline behind her Korean Navy bow number ("704").
USS George A. Johnson (DE-583) is in the left center distance.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 113KB; 590 x 765 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

17 October 1999