http://newpacificinstitute.org/jsw/?p=4115
By
James Simpson
– February 1, 2011Posted in: Analysis, Bases, Hardware, Korea, Navy, News, North Korea, South Korea, amphibious warfare, strategy
Koampo, the location of the new hovercraft base, in relation to South Korea points of interest (Adapted from Daniel Sekulich's Modern Day Pirate Tales)
According to a Chosun Ilbo report, North Korea have begun construction on a combat hovercraft base in the Koampo area of Hwanghae, Province.just 50-60 km from South Korea’s Baeknyeong Island in the Yellow Sea.
The base can apparently accommodate up to 70 of North Korea’s hovercraft. Each of the vessels can carry a platoon and travel up to 90 km/h across water and mud flats. Once it is completed, North Korean troops would be able to land on South Korea’s five West Sea islands, including Baeknyeong, in 30 to 40 minutes.
Assuming a low-end estimate of 35 soldiers per carrier, that would be a possible amphibious wave of 2450 troops. The base would be able to house almost half of the current estimated total of hovercrafts at North Korea’s disposal. It should be a severely worrying prospect for the South, and particularly for the West Sea islanders.
Kongbang ACV (Unknown variant)
North Korea is thought to maintain around 130 hovercraft, which would presumably be used to ferry troops onto offshore islands. The most well-known of these is the Kongbang-class air cushion vehicle (ACV), which comes in three variants that can carry between 35-55 marines, depending on who you ask:
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