MY TRAVEL INFO: SOUTH KOREAN NAVAL BASE, INCHEON (1990)

In 1990, the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) vessels KD Lekir (F26) and KD Mahawangsa (1504) conducted a significant long-distance deployment to South Korea, docking at the Incheon Naval Base.

This visit was a historic milestone for the RMN, as it was one of the earliest and longest deployments of Malaysian naval assets to the East Asian region during that era.

Key Details of the 1990 Visit

The Vessels:

• KD Lekir (F26): A Kasturi-class corvette. At the time, she was one of Malaysia's most modern and capable frontline combatants, having been commissioned only six years prior in 1984.
• KD Mahawangsa (1504): A Multi-Purpose Command and Support Ship (MPCSS). Interestingly, KD Mahawangsa was actually built in South Korea by Tacoma Boatbuilding (Korea Tacoma Shipyard) and commissioned in 1983. This visit to Incheon was effectively a "homecoming" for the ship.

Significance: The deployment was intended to showcase the RMN's "Blue Water" capabilities—the ability to operate far from home ports for extended periods. It also served to strengthen bilateral defense ties between Malaysia and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Mission Context: During this period, the RMN was expanding its presence in the South China Sea and enhancing its training through long-range navigational exercises (Overseas Training Cruises).

COMPARISON OF BOTH VESSELS.

Feature	KD Lekir (F26)	KD Mahawangsa (1504)
Type	Corvette (Kasturi-class)	Support Ship (Sri Indera Sakti-class)
Origin	HDW, Germany	Korea Tacoma, South Korea
Main Armament	57mm Bofors, Exocet Missiles	57mm Bofors, 20mm Oerlikon
Primary Role	Surface Warfare / ASW	Logistics, Command & Support

INCHEON NAVAL BASE

In 1990, the Incheon Naval Base was a vital and highly strategic installation for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN). At that time, it served as the primary Headquarters for the ROKN 2nd Fleet, the command responsible for defending the Yellow Sea (West Sea) and the maritime border with North Korea.

1. Strategic Role: The Frontline of the West Sea

In 1990, the Incheon Naval Base was the nerve center for South Korean naval operations near the Northern Limit Line (NLL).

• The Shield of Seoul: Because Incheon is the gateway to the capital city, the base was heavily fortified and focused on high-readiness.
• Primary Mission: Its main task was to counter North Korean infiltration, protect fishing fleets, and maintain a presence in the disputed waters of the West Sea.

2. Physical Layout & Challenges

Visitors to the base in 1990 would have noticed the unique geographical constraints that have made Incheon famous in naval history:

• Tidal Variation: Incheon has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world (up to 9 meters). In 1990, the base utilized a sophisticated lock system (tidal basins) to ensure that naval vessels remained afloat and could maneuver regardless of the extreme low tides.
• The "Tidal Lock": Ships like the KD Mahawangsa would have had to time their arrival or departure with the operation of these massive locks, which separate the inner harbor from the open sea.

3. Transition Period (The 1990s)

The 1990 visit occurred during a major transitional phase for the ROKN:

• Modernization: The base was transitioning from using older, ex-US Navy vessels (like Gearing-class destroyers) to indigenous, South Korean-built ships like the Ulsan-class frigates and Pohang-class corvettes.
• The Move to Pyeongtaek: While Incheon was the 2nd Fleet HQ in 1990, the base was becoming increasingly "crowded" due to the rapid industrialization of Incheon city. By the late 1990s (specifically 1999), the 2nd Fleet HQ would eventually move south to the more modern and spacious Pyeongtaek Naval Base.

4. Atmosphere for International Visitors

For the Malaysian sailors on KD Lekir and KD Mahawangsa, the base would have felt like a high-security operational hub.

• Professionalism: The ROKN was known for its strict discipline and rapid-response drills.
• Homecoming for KD Mahawangsa: Since KD Mahawangsa was built in a South Korean shipyard, the ROKN personnel likely treated the visit with extra pride, as it showcased the durability of Korean shipbuilding to an international partner.

Comparison : Incheon Base (1990) vs. Today

Feature	Incheon Naval Base (1990)	Incheon Naval Base (Today)
Command Status	Headquarters of the 2nd Fleet	Incheon Naval Sector Defense Command
Primary Vessels	Gearing-class, Pohang-class	Patrol craft, Incheon-class frigates
Infrastructure	Older facilities, heavily urbanized	Integrated with modern port tech
Main Threat Focus	Cold War-era surface infiltration	Modern asymmetric & missile threats

HOMECOMING OF KD MAHAWANGSA TO SOUTH KOREA

While its sister ship, KD Sri Indera Sakti, was built in Germany, KD Mahawangsa (1504) has a special historical link to South Korea. Its 1990 visit to Incheon was truly a "homecoming" because the ship was born in a South Korean shipyard.

1. The Shipyard: Korea Tacoma Marine Industries

KD Mahawangsa was built by Korea Tacoma Marine Industries Ltd. in Masan, South Korea.

• The Build: Construction began in 1982, and she was launched on September 16, 1982.
• Commissioning: After successful sea trials in Korean waters, she was officially commissioned into the Royal Malaysian Navy on May 16, 1983.
• A Pioneer Yard: Korea Tacoma (later merged into Hanjin Heavy Industries) was a pioneer in South Korea's military shipbuilding. During the 1970s and 80s, they were famous for building high-speed patrol boats and amphibious craft. KD Mahawangsa was one of their significant export successes, proving that South Korean yards could build large, complex multi-purpose support ships.

2. Why it was a "Homecoming"

When KD Mahawangsa arrived at the Incheon Naval Base in 1990, it was more than just a diplomatic visit:

• Proof of Concept: The ship returned to its country of origin seven years after its commissioning. Its excellent condition at the time served as a "living advertisement" for the quality of South Korean naval engineering.
• Technical Pride: For the South Korean naval officers and engineers at Incheon, seeing the Mahawangsa—now a veteran of the RMN—was a point of national pride. It represented the era when South Korea began transitioning from a domestic shipbuilder to a global naval exporter.
• Maintenance & Familiarity: ROK Navy personnel would have been intimately familiar with the ship's design and systems, as it shared DNA with many of the logistical and amphibious vessels the ROKN was using at the time.

3. The Legacy of KD Mahawangsa

The "homecoming" was a testament to the ship’s durability. Since that 1990 visit, KD Mahawangsa has gone on to become one of the most hardworking ships in the RMN fleet:

• Humanitarian Missions: It served in Somalia (1994) and provided aid during the 2004 Tsunami in Aceh.
• Longevity: Even today, over 40 years since it left the Korean shipyard, KD Mahawangsa remains in active service—a rarity for ships of that age, highlighting the robust build quality of the Korea Tacoma yard.

Comparison of KD Mahawangsa & KD Sri Indera Sakti

Ship	KD Sri Indera Sakti (1503)	KD Mahawangsa (1504)
Shipyard	Bremer Vulkan, Germany	Korea Tacoma, South Korea
Launched	1980	1982
Design	Original German Design	Modified for Multi-Role Command
Connection	European Engineering	South Korean "Tiger" Economy Growth

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

ex Crew KD Lekir (1989-1991)

31/12/2025: 1.37 p.m