Dosan Ahn Chang-ho Submarine Arrives in Canada After Historic 14,000 km Voyage
Canadian Officer: “Riding the Latest Submarine Opened My Eyes to Possibilities”
Local Media: “Demonstrated Long-Distance Capability” “Timely Arrival”
On the 24th, the domestically-produced Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine (SS-III, 3,000-ton class) arrived at the Esquimalt Naval Base in Victoria, Canada, to participate in a joint naval cooperation exercise between South Korea and Canada, according to the Navy.
As the South Korean submarine ‘Dosan Ahn Chang-ho’ completed a record-breaking 14,000 km voyage across the Pacific and arrived in Canada, it received attention and praise from local media.
On the 24th (local time), “The Globe and Mail” reported an article titled “South Korean submarine berths in British Columbia for joint exercises amid historic (submarine) bidding imminent,” introducing assessments from Canadian Navy officials.
Brittany Bourgeois, a Canadian Navy major who joined from the submarine’s stopover in Hawaii, noted significant differences from Canadian submarines, such as the minimal rust and spacious interior.
Canada owns four Victoria-class submarines, but only one is operational while the remaining three are under repair.
Major Bourgeois, with 10 years of submarine experience, remarked, “Riding the latest submarine opened my eyes to future possibilities,” and emphasized the urgent need for Canada to acquire new submarines.
Jake Dixon, a Canadian Navy sergeant who also boarded from Hawaii, compared the experience to “driving an old 1999 Honda Civic and then buying a new (electric) Tesla.”
He also mentioned that trying Korean dishes like braised ribs prepared by the onboard chef offered an opportunity to build tolerance to spicy food.
Canadian broadcaster CBC gave significant coverage to the arrival of Dosan Ahn Chang-ho and the upcoming naval joint exercise between the two countries, expressing great interest.
The broadcaster reported that “the newly constructed 3,000-ton submarine (KSS-III) accomplished a historic 14,000 km Pacific crossing to demonstrate its long-distance navigation capability to Canadian policymakers.”
CTV in Canada also highlighted that, unlike its competitor Germany’s TKMS ‘Type 212CD’, the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho is already operationally deployed and tested, quoting Glen Copeland, CEO of Hanwha Defense Canada, who praised the “very timely” arrival of the South Korean Navy in Canada.
The Canadian federal government plans to select a contractor for its next submarine within the next month, choosing between Hanwha and TKMS.
The Dosan Ahn Chang-ho departed from Jinhae Naval Base on March 25, stopped by Guam and Hawaii, and arrived at Esquimalt Base in Victoria, Western Canada, on the 24th, along with the escort ship Daejeon (FFG, 3,100-ton class).