COD test based on fracture mechanics concept was used in this study to evaluate the fracture toughness quantitatively. Effects of specimen sizes on critical COD value for ABS EH 36 steel and its submerged arc weldments, and the variation of critical COD value depending on metallurgical/mechanical heterogeneities caused by weld thermal cycles were investigated. Experiment was performed by using specimens made from base metal and submerged arc weldments according to BS 5762. Obtained results are summarized as follows; 1) Critical COD value for base metal decreases with increasing thickness of specimen. On hand, as the reduction ratio of critical COD decreases with increasing specimen thickness, critical COD value becomes constant above a thickness of specimen. 2) Critical COD value for weldment decreases with increasing thickness of specimen and was also affected by metallurgical states of base metal. 3) Size effects for weldment was greater at the hardened region. 4) Critical COD value was affected by microstructural change due to weld thermal cycles in weldments; that is, accicular ferrite formation is favorable for increasing of COD value.