Ōsumi class LST

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Class overview
General characteristics
Class and type: Ōsumi class LST
Displacement: 8,900 tons standard 14,000 tons full load
Length: 178 m
Beam: 25.8 m
Draft: 6.0 m
Propulsion: 2 × Mitsui 16V42M-A Diesel - 2 shafts propulsion - 26,000 bhp.
Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h)
Complement: 135, 138 (LST4002-4003)
Armament: 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS
Notes: Two Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC)

The Ōsumi class LST (おおすみ型輸送艦), is a Japanese amphibious transport dock. While the JMSDF describes the Ōsumi class as tank landing ships, they lack the bow doors and beaching capability traditionally associated with LSTs. Functionally, their well deck makes the Ōsumi class are more like a dock landing ship (LSD) or amphibious transport dock (LPD).

The class could well be described as helicopter carriers. Globalsecurity.org notes that "the program originated in a proposal for a small carrier for defensive and mine countermeasures (MCM) purposes, but this was deemed politically unacceptable, and the project was reworked as an amphibious ship".

Jane's Fighting Ships 2006-7 edition says that there are now plans underway for a class of bigger carriers, the Hyūga class of helicopter "destroyers". The first of class has now been launched and will be in service by 2009.


[edit] Ships in the class

Pennant No. Name Home port Unit Shipyard Plan Laid down Launched Commissioned
LST 4001 Ōsumi Kure Landing Div 1 Mitsui, Tamano 1993 6 December 1995 18 November 1996 11 March 1998
LST 4002 Shimokita Kure Landing Div 1 Mitsui, Tamano 1998 30 November 1999 29 November 2000 12 March 2002
LST 4003 Kunisaki Kure Landing Div 1 Hitachi, Maizuru 1999 7 September 2000 13 December 2001 26 February 2003

[edit] External links

Languages