The ROK Navy confirmed that the squadron is composed of two naval ships, 4,400t destroyer (DDH-2) Wang Geon and 10,000t combat support ship (AOE-2) Soyang, with 152 naval cadets of the ROK Naval Academy and 540 crews of the two ships.
The ROK Navy’s MIDCRU Squadron will call at 5 ports (Canada’s Victoria, the US San Diego, Hawaii, and Guam), starting with Alaska. Particularly, the ROK Navy will stop at Alaska port after sailing through the Bering Sea near the North Pole for the first time in its naval history. Regarding this, the South Korean Navy explained that it has the meaning of pioneering the ‘new Northern Route’.
Only vaccinated crews were selected to prevent COVID-19. The sailing ships were reinforced with medical human resources, PCR test kits, and quick antigen test kits. The Navy also emphasized that separate quarantine areas have already been designated on ships in preparation of having COVID-19 symptomatic crews, along with the negative pressure cart and medical supplies for crews in serious and critical conditions.
During the MIDCRU sailing, they will participate in the 70th commemorative anniversary of Gapyeong Battle of the Korean War, in Victoria, Canada. In Hawaii, the ROK Navy will support the installation of a memorial stone for the Korean War veterans, at the Pacific National Memorial Cemetery.
