Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

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Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
日本国 海上自衛隊 (Kaijyo Jieitai)

Components Self Defense Fleet Fleet Escort Force Fleet Air Force Fleet Submarine Force District Force JMSDF Reserve Command Maritime Staff Office History Naval history of Japan Imperial Japanese Navy History of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Personnel Rank insignia of the JMSDF Ships List of combat ships of JMSDF Ships of the JMSDF

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (海上自衛隊, Kaijō Jieitai^?), or JMSDF, is the maritime branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan and formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II.^[1]

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is a large fleet dominated by destroyers which operates in blue water in defense of the Japanese islands. The force is based strictly on defensive armament, largely lacking the offensive weapons typically handled by naval forces of equivalent size. Currently, its main tasks are to maintain control of the nation's sea lanes and to patrol territorial waters. Recently it has also stepped up its participation in UN-led peacekeeping operations (PKOs), MIO (Maritime Interdiction Operation).

The Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) has an authorized strength of 46,000 and maintains some 45,800 personnel and operates 119 major warships, including twenty submarines, fifty-three destroyers and frigates, twenty-nine mine warfare ships and boats, nine patrol craft, and nine amphibious ships(total displacement of approx. 432,000 tons)^[2] . It also flies some 179 fixed-wing aircraft and 135 helicopters. Most of these aircraft are used in antisubmarine and mine warfare operations.^[3]

The ship prefix for JMSDF ships is JDS (Japanese Defense Ship) for all ships commissioned before 2008. Ships commissioned on or after 2008 will use the prefix JS (Japanese Ship) to reflect the upgrading of the Japanese Defense Agency to the Ministry of Defense.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Origin 1.2 Creation of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1.3 Dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1.4 Formation 1.5 Cold War 1.6 Post Cold War 2 Capabilities and recent developments 3 International Activities 3.1 Mission in the Indian Ocean 3.2 Military exercise and exchange 4 Ranks of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 4.1 Commissioned Officers 4.2 Warrant officers 4.3 Non-Commissioned Officers 4.4 Enlisted 5 Organization 5.1 Escort Forces 5.2 District Forces 5.3 Fleet Air Force 5.4 Special Forces 6 Recruitment and Training 7 Culture 7.1 Five Reflections 8 JMSDF Fleet 8.1 Guided Missile Destroyers (DDG) 8.2 Destroyers (DD) 8.3 Helicopter Destroyers (DDH) 8.4 Destroyer Escorts (DE) 8.5 Submarines (SS) 8.6 Amphibious Forces 8.7 Minesweepers 8.8 Patrol 8.9 Auxiliary 8.10 Future vessels 9 Aircraft 9.1 Future Aircraft 10 See also 11 References 12 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Origin

Main article: Naval history of Japan

Japan has a long history of naval interaction with the Asian continent, involving transportation of troops, starting at least with the beginning of the Kofun period in the 3rd century.

Following the attempts at Mongol invasions of Japan by Kubilai Khan in 1274 and 1281, Japanese wakō became very active in plundering the coast of the Chinese Empire.

Japan undertook major naval building efforts in the 16th century, during the Warring States period, when feudal rulers vying for supremacy built vast coastal navies of several hundred ships. Around that time, Japan may have developed one of the first ironclad warships, when Oda Nobunaga, a Japanese daimyo, had six iron-covered Oatakebune made in 1576.^[4] In 1588, Toyotomi Hideyoshi issued a ban on Wakō piracy; the pirates then became vassals of Hideyoshi, and comprised the naval force used in the Japanese invasion of Korea. It has been stated Admiral Yi built the first combat ironclad seabound, to wreak havoc on the Japanese supply ships during the Imjin Waeran War of 1592–97.

Japan built her first large ocean-going warships in the beginning of the 17th century, following contacts with the Western nations during the Nanban trade period. In 1613, the Daimyo of Sendai, in agreement with the Tokugawa Bakufu, built Date Maru, a 500 ton galleon-type ship that transported the Japanese embassy of Hasekura Tsunenaga to the Americas, which then continued to Europe. From 1604, about 350 Red seal ships, usually armed and incorporating some Western technologies, were also commissioned by the Bakufu, mainly for Southeast Asian trade.

[edit] Creation of the Imperial Japanese Navy

From 1868, the restored Meiji Emperor continued with reforms to industrialize and militarize Japan to prevent the United States and European powers from overwhelming her. On 17 January 1868, the Ministry of Military Affairs was established, with Iwakura Tomomi, Shimazu Tadayoshi and Prince Komatsu-no-miya Akihito as the First Secretaries.

On 26 March 1868, the first Naval Review was held in Japan (in Osaka Bay), with 6 ships from the private domainal navies of Saga, Chōshū, Satsuma, Kurume, Kumamoto and Hiroshima participating. The total tonnage of these ships was 2252 tons, which was far smaller than the tonnage of the single foreign vessel (from the French Navy) that also participated. The following year, in July 1869, the Imperial Japanese Navy was formally established, two months after the last combat of the Boshin War. In July 1869, the private domanial navies were abolished, and their 11 ships were added to the 7 surviving vessels of the defunct Tokugawa bakufu navy to form the core of the new Imperial Japanese Navy.

[edit] Dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy

Following the defeat of Japan during World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy was dissolved by the Potsdam Declaration acceptance, and demobilization was performed by a navy. Ministry of the Navy was reorganized to the second demobilization Ministry. The second demobilization Ministry did navigation of a transport ship and minesweep, cooperated with the first demobilization Ministry (old Department of the Army) and demobilized. The second demobilization Ministry succeeded to necessary ship and staff just as it is. A ship of a navy was affected by minesweeping work in seas close to Japan for route development. Equipment and the number of persons were incorporated by the Maritime Safety Agency maintenance bureau sea clearing department which started newly in the condition on May 1st in 1948, and minesweeper unit of the second demobilization bureau did removal operation of an underwater mine. Consequently, this thing will maintain know-how and the manpower of the navigation technology the Imperial Japanese Navy has grown. The old navy Naval General Staff strategy department was kept as the second demobilization Ministry material preparation division, and navy reconstruction was studied here. Further the second demobilization Ministry was reorganized to demobilization agency and the Ministry of Health and Welfare second demobilization bureau.

[edit] Formation

In the 1947 Constitution, Article 9 specified that "The Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as a means of settling international disputes." Over the years, the Japanese people have debated over whether this article allows for military forces to be kept for the purposes of self-defense, with the vast majority agreeing. Furthermore, due to the Cold War, Japan's greatest ally, the United States, was also agreeable to the Japanese government providing for a part of its own defense instead of fully relying on American forces. A marine garrison was established on April 28th in 1952 when San Francisco Peace Treaty coming into effect. A marine garrison was separated from the Maritime Safety Agency and was a security agency garrison.　The JMSDF was then formed as the naval branch of the Japanese Self-Defense Force (JSDF) following the passage of the 1954 Self-Defense Forces Law.

[edit] Cold War

The first ships in the JMSDF were former US Navy destroyers, transferred to Japanese control in 1954. In 1956, the JMSDF received its first domestically produced destroyer since World War II, the Harukaze. Throughout the Cold War, due to the size and power of the Soviet Navy's submarine forces, the JMSDF was tasked primarily an anti-submarine role. It mainly used its large force of destroyers, frigates and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters for this.

[edit] Post Cold War

Following the end of the Cold War, the role of the JMSDF has been vastly changed. Starting with a mission to Cambodia in 1993, it has been active in a number of United Nations-led peace keeping operations throughout Asia. In 1993, it commissioned its first Aegis destroyer, the DD173 Kongō. Following an increase in tensions with North Korea following the 1993 test of the Nodong-1 missile and the 1998 test of the Taepodong-1 missile over northern Japan, the JMSDF has also stepped up its role in theater air defense of Japan. JMSDF have installed a ship-based anti-ballistic missile system, which was successfully tested on December 18, 2007. It has also been active in many joint naval exercises with the United States. During the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom, the JMSDF dispatched a number of its destroyers on a rotating schedule to the Indian Ocean in an escort role for allied vessels.

[edit] Capabilities and recent developments

Japan has the 6th largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in world ^[5]. As a consequence, the Marine Self-Defence Force is responsible for vast territorial waters. This has added significance for Japan as an island nation, as it is dependent on maritime trade for the majority of its resources, including food and raw materials, making maritime operations a very important aspect of Japanese defence policy.

While the JMSDF is known in particular for its mine-sweeping capability, MSDF training also emphasizes both anti-submarine and anti-air warfare. Defence planners believe the most effective approach to combating submarines entails mobilizing all available weapons, including surface combatants, submarines, aircraft, and helicopters, and the numbers and armament of these weapons were increased in the Mid-Term Defence Estimate. A critical weakness remains, however, in the ability to defend such weapons against air attack. Because the primary roll of the MSDF's Fleet Air Arm is anti-submarine warfare, the ASDF has to be relied upon to provide air cover at sea, a role that is subordinate to ASDF's primary mission of air defence of the home islands. Extended patrols over sea lanes are beyond the ASDF's capabilities.

The fleet's capacity to provide ship-based anti-air protection is limited by the absence of aircraft carriers. The fleet is also short of underway replenishment ships and generally deficient in all areas of logistic support. These weaknesses seriously compromise the ability of the MSDF to fulfill its mission and operate independently of the United States Air Force and the United States Seventh Fleet. However, these capabilities are force multipliers, allowing force projection of Japan's sizeable Frigate and Destroyer forces far from home waters, and acquiring them is contencious concidering Japan's "passive" defence policy.

In August 2003, a new "helicopter destroyer" class was ordered, the Hyūga class helicopter destroyer. The size and features of the ship, including a full length flight deck, will result in it being classifed as either an amphibious assault ship, or helicopter carrier by Lloyd's Register, similar to HMS Ocean (L12).

It has been widely disputed if a carrier of any sort would be technically prohibited by Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, as carriers are generally considered offensive weapons. In an April 1988 Diet budget session, however, then Defense Agency chief Tsutomu Kawara said that "The Self-Defense Forces are not allowed to possess ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles), strategic bombers, or attack aircraft carriers."

Until the 1970s in the US Navy, large-scale flattops had been categorized as "attack aircraft carriers" and small flattops as "anti-submarine aircraft carriers." Since helicopter carriers have little organic attack capability and primarily fulfill roles including logistics and transport, the government continues to argue that the prohibition does not extend to the new ship. But with the likely near future developments in technologies such as VSTOL and STOVL manned aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and the ability of this ship to launch amphibious assaults make the role of this class potentially far more offensive than claimmed.

[edit] International Activities

[edit] Mission in the Indian Ocean

Destroyers and combat support ships of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force were dispatched to the Indian Ocean from 2001 to 2008 to participate in OEF-MIO (Operation Enduring Freedom-Maritime Interdiction Operation)^[6]. Their mission is to prevent the marine transportation of illegal weapons and ammunition, and the drugs which fund terrorist activity. Since 2004, JMSDF has provided ships of foreign forces with fuel for their ships and ship-based helicopters, as well as water.

Fleet dispatch to foreign countries of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is 3rd time following a delegate of a mine sweeping unit at the time of Korean War and the Gulf War after the World War II. The law for dispatch expired in Nov 2 2007, and mission was canceled once, but a law was passed again and started mission again. But any more extension of law for dispatch is thought to be difficult because Japanese largest opposition party is opposing this mission.

[edit] Military exercise and exchange

JMSDF and U.S. Navy are frequently carrying out exercises jointly. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force participates in RIMPAC which is the military exercise of many countries conducted in Hawaii hosted by US Navy after 1980. And to participate in a Russian navy's 300th anniversary naval review, a ship of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force dispatched him to Vladivostok harbor in July in 1996. Vradimir Vinogradov came by ship to Tokyo harbor in June in 1997 in the Russian Federation. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force hosted APSC2006 from October 3rd in 2006 to the 5th. In late years, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force performs a military exercise positively with the Indian navy.

• RIMPAC: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force participates in RIMPAC after 1980.

• Pacific Shield(PSI): Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force participates in Pacific Shield after 2004, and in 2007 the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force hosted the exercise.

• Pacific Reach: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has participated in the biannual submarine rescue exercise since 2000. In 2002, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force hosted the exercise.

• Navy to Navy Talks: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force holds regular naval conferences with its counterparts of Indonesia, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and United States.

• Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense FTM: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has participated in the FTM after FTM-10. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force carried out JFTM-1 in December, 2007.

[edit] Ranks of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

The following are the officer ranks of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force , showing the Japanese rank, the English translation, and the equivalent in the NATO code.

[edit] Commissioned Officers

Japanese Rank (in Japanese)	Japanese Rank (in English)	NATO Code
幕僚長たる海将 (Bakuryou-chou taru kaishou)	Admiral	OF-9
海将 (Kaishou)	Vice-Admiral	OF-8
海将補 (Kaishou-ho)	Rear-Admiral	OF-7
1等海佐 (Ittou Kaisa)	Captain	OF-5
2等海佐 (Nitou Kaisa)	Commander	OF-4
3等海佐 (Santou Kaisa)	Lieutenant Commander	OF-3
1等海尉 (Ittou Kaii)	Lieutenant	OF-2
2等海尉 (Nitou Kaii)	Lieutenant Junior Grade	OF-1
3等海尉 (Santou Kaii)	Ensign	OF-1

[edit] Warrant officers

准海尉 (Jun Kaii)	Warrant Officer	OR-9

[edit] Non-Commissioned Officers

海曹長 (Kaisou chou)	Chief Petty Officer	OR-8
1等海曹 (Ittou Kasou)	Petty Officer 1st Class	OR-7
2等海曹 (Nitou Kaisou)	Petty Officer 2nd Class	OR-6
3等海曹 (Santou Kaisou)	Petty Officer 3rd Class	OR-5

[edit] Enlisted

海士長 (Kaishichou)	Leading Seaman	OR-4
1等海士 (Ittou Kaishi)	Seaman	OR-3
2等海士 (Nitou Kaishi)	Seaman Apprentice	OR-2
3等海士 (Santou Kaishi)	Seaman Recruit	OR-1

[edit] Organization

The MSDF is commanded by the chief of the maritime staff and includes the maritime staff office, the self-defense fleet, five regional district commands, the air-training squadron and various support units, such as hospitals and schools. The maritime staff office, located in Tokyo, serves the chief of staff in command and supervision of the force. The self-defense fleet, headquartered at Yokosuka, is mobile flotilla of JMSDF and it is charged with defense of all waters around the Japanese Archipelago and all over the world. It commands four escort flotillas (based in Yokosuka, Sasebo ,Maizuru and Kure), the fleet air force headquartered at Atsugi, two submarine flotillas based at Kure and Yokosuka, two mine-sweeping flotillas based at Kure and Yokosuka and the fleet training command at Yokosuka.^[7] MSDF is planning to reorganize the respective Escort Flotilla in a DDH group and a DDG group. This reorganization can dispatch fleets overseas more quickly.

• JMSDF Chief of Staff / Maritime Staff Office
  • Self Defense Fleet (Mobile Flotilla)
    • Fleet Escort Force
      • Escort Flotilla 1 (Yokosuka)
        • Escort Squadron 1 (DDG,DDH,DDx2)
        • Escort Squadron 5 (DDG,DDx3)
      • Escort Flotilla 2 (Kure)
        • Escort Squadron 2 (DDG,DDH,DDx2)
        • Escort Squadron 6 (DDG,DDx3)
      • Escort Flotilla 3 (Sasebo)
        • Escort Squadron 3 (DDG,DDH,DDx2)
        • Escort Squadron 7 (DDG,DDx3)
      • Escort Flotilla 4 (Maizuru)
        • Escort Squadron 4 (DDG,DDH,DDx2)
        • Escort Squadron 8 (DDG,DDx3)
      • Fleet Training Command
      • 1st Replenishment Squadron
      • 1st Transportation Squadron
    • Fleet Air Force
      • Fleet Air Wing 1 (P-3C UH-60J)
      • Fleet Air Wing 2 (P-3C UH-60J)
      • Fleet Air Wing 4 (P-3C UH-60J)
      • Fleet Air Wing 5 (P-3C UH-60J)
      • Fleet Air Wing 21 (SH-60J/K S-61A)
      • Fleet Air Wing 22 (SH-60J)
      • Fleet Air Wing 31 (US-1A EP-3 OP-3C UP-3D LC-90 U-36A)
      • Fleet Squadron 51 (US-1A-kai P-3C UP-3C/D OP-3 SH-60J/K OH-6DA MCH-101)
      • Fleet Squadron 61 (YS-11M/MA LC-90)
      • Fleet Squadron 111 (MH-53E)
    • Fleet Submarine Force
      • Submarine Flotilla 1
        • Submarine Squadron 1
        • Submarine Squadron 3
        • Submarine Squadron 5
      • Submarine Flotilla 2
        • Submarine Squadron 2
        • Submarine Squadron 4
      • Submarine Training Command
    • Mine Warfare Force
    • Fleet Research & Development Command
    • Fleet Intelligence Command
    • Oceanographic Command
  • Air Training Command
    • Shimousa Air Training Group (P-3C YS-11TA UH-60J)
    • Tokusima Air Training Group (TC-90 UC-90 UH-60J)
    • Ozuki Air Training Group (T-5 UH-60J)
  • Maritime Material Command
    • Ship Supply Depot
    • Air Supply Depot
  • Training Squadron
  • Communication Command
  • Criminal Investigation Command
  • JMSDF Staff College
  • Maritime Officer Candidate School
  • 1st Service School
  • 2nd Service School
  • 3rd Service School
  • 4th Service School

• • Yokosuka District　Force
  • Kure District Force
  • Sasebo District Force
  • Maizuru District Force
  • Ominato District Force

[edit] Escort Forces

Each Escort force is formed as an 8-8 fleet of 8 destroyers and 8 on-board helicopters, a modification of the old Japanese Navy fleet layouts of 8 battleships and 8 cruisers. Each force is composed of one helicopter destroyer (DDH) acting as a command ship, two guided-missile destroyers (DDG) and 5 standard or ASW destroyers (DD).

• First Escort Force - Yokosuka
• Second Escort Force - Sasebo
• Third Escort Force - Maizuru
• Fourth Escort Force - Kure

[edit] District Forces

Five district units act in concert with the fleet to guard the waters of their jurisdictions and provide shore-based support. Each district is home to a major JMSDF base and its supporting troops and staff. Furthermore, each district is home to one to two regional escort squadrons, composed of two to three destroyers or destroyer escorts (DE). The destroyers tend to be of older classes, mainly former escort force ships. The destroyer escorts, on the other hand, tend to be purpose built vessels. Each district also has a number of minesweeping ships.

[edit] Fleet Air Force

The Fleet Air Force is tasked with patrol, ASW and rescue tasks. It is composed primarily of 7 aviation groups. Prominent bases are maintained at Kanoya, Hachinohe, Atsugi, Naha, Tateyama, Oomura and Iwakuni. The Fleet Air Force is built up mainly with patrol aircraft such as the Lockheed P-3 Orion, rescue aircraft such as the US-1A and helicopters such as the SH-60J. In the JMSDF, helicopters deployed to each escort force are actually members of Fleet Air Force squadrons based on land.

[edit] Special Forces

Special Forces units consist of the following:

• SBU (Special Boarding Unit)

In Japanese, known as "特別警備隊(Tokubetsu keibi tai)".

• MIT (Maritime Interception Team)

In Japanese, known as "護衛艦付き立ち入り検査隊(Goeikan-zuki Tachi'iri Kensa Tai)".

[edit] Recruitment and Training

MSDF recruits receive three months of basic training followed by courses in patrol, gunnery, mine sweeping, convoy operations and maritime transportation. Flight students, all upper-secondary school graduates, enter a two-year course. Officer candidate schools offer six-month courses to qualified enlisted personnel and those who have completed flight school. Graduates of four-year universities, the four-year National Defense Academy, and particularly outstanding enlisted personnel undergo a one-year officer course at the Officer Candidate School at Etajima (site of the former Imperial Naval Academy).

The Officer Candidate School is the educational institution to train Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force executive. It has beginner's executive course ,to educate necessary knowledge and the education and training to make them acquire a skill are performed. It's in the Edajima base in Etajima-shi, Hiroshima. Succession is using main facilities of a naval academy as well as Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force first technical school. Special advanced courses for officers are also available in such fields as submarine duty and flight training. The MSDF operates its own staff college in Tokyo for senior officers.

The large volume of coastal commercial fishing and maritime traffic limits in-service sea training, especially in the relatively shallow waters required for mine laying, mine sweeping and submarine rescue practice. Training days are scheduled around slack fishing seasons in winter and summer—providing about ten days during the year. The MSDF maintains two oceangoing training ships and conducted annual long-distance on-the-job training for graduates of the one-year officer candidate school.^[7]

Annual long-distance on-the-job training performed in 2007 was introduced for 155 days on September 21st from April 20th, and . A general leg is about 56,000 km. A dispatch staff is about 740. They visited United States of America (Pearl Harbor and San Diego), El Salvador (Acajutla), Chile (pal para-Iso), Peru (Callao), Mexico (MANSANIYO), French territory Polynesia (Papeete), New Zealand (Wellington), Australia (Sydney and Darwin), Malaysia (Port Klang) and South Korea (Inchon). On the ocean memorial service was performed on April 28th.

[edit] Culture

Japans Ground Self-Defense Force was organized by the U.S. Army and broke off relations with the Imperial Japanese Army. On the other hand Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has emphasized the history and traditions of the Imperial Japanese Navy had for 77 years and is sometimes called tradition adherence. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force uses the same martial songs, naval flags, signs, and technical terms as the Imperial Japanese Navy. For example, the official flag of the JMSDF is the same as Imperial Japanese Navy. In addition, a building and a base, a school were succeeded and the custom (navy curry) of eating curry on Friday is also in the tradition of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

The traditions of the Imperial Japanese Navy are esteemed even at present. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force doesn't like the pure upbringing of military personnel traditionally but inserts excellent upbringing of human resources in the front with leadership based on a seamanship. While the army stops at the country basically, and bears the duty of defending the Japanese mainland, the navy (in particular, Blue Water Navy) often visits foreign countries, and this derives from the navy officer's having been also charged with the diplomat-like role which deepens mutual goodwill. Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force is also affected by the U.S. Navy which participated in the construction. Drinking inside of the vessel was permitted by influence of a British navy in the age of the Imperial Japanese Navy, but it's prohibited at present and a strict penalty regulation also exists.

In the vessel, it's not officers, but the non-commissioned officers (Chief Petty Officer) that control the life of fellow non-commissioned officers and enlistees.

Propriety and the rituals in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force are set by "Maritime Self-Defense Force etiquette regulation". It contains the way of salutes, outlines of arrival ceremonies. Flags are also prescribed in it.

[edit] Five Reflections

• 1. Hast thou not gone against sincerity
  2. Hast thou not felt ashamed of thy words and deeds
  3. Hast thou not lacked vigor
  4. Hast thou exerted all possible efforts
  5. Hast thou not become slothful

JMSDF uses Five Reflections (Gosei) for their self reflection of daily life. This was devised by Vice Admiral Hajime Matsushita (Chief of Imperial Japanese Navy, Naval Academy) and succeeded in the JMSDF. The Five Reflections are meditated upon each evening by the cadets and posted on the Officer Candidate School. This was translated into English and has been posted at the United States Naval Academy as well.

[edit] JMSDF Fleet

[edit] Guided Missile Destroyers (DDG)

• Atago class destroyers (2 in service) (愛宕)
• Kongō class destroyers (4 in service) (金剛)
• Hatakaze class destroyers (2 in service) (旗風)
• Tachikaze class destroyers (2 in service) (太刀風)

[edit] Destroyers (DD)

• Takanami class destroyers (5 in service) (高波)
• Murasame class destroyers (9 in service) (村雨)
• Asagiri class destroyers (6 in service) (朝霧)
• Hatsuyuki class destroyers (11 in service) (初雪)

[edit] Helicopter Destroyers (DDH)

• Shirane class destroyers (2 in service) (白根)
• Haruna class destroyers (2 in service) (臻名)

[edit] Destroyer Escorts (DE)

• Abukuma class destroyer escorts (6 in service) (阿武隈)
• Yubari class destroyer escorts (2 in service) (夕張)
• Ishikari class destroyer escorts (1 in service) (石狩)

[edit] Submarines (SS)

• Oyashio class submarines (11 in service) (親潮)
• Harushio class submarines (7 in service) (春潮)

[edit] Amphibious Forces

• Osumi class LST (3 in service)
• Yura class LSU/LCU (2 in service)
• Yusotei class LCU (2 in service)
• YF 2150 class LCM (2 in service)
• Landing craft air cushion (6 in service)

[edit] Minesweepers

• Yaeyama class ocean minesweepers (3 in service)
• Uwajima class MSC (coastal) (9 in service)
• Hatsushima Class MSC (coastal) (4 in service)
• Sugashima Class (coastal) (12 in service)

[edit] Patrol

• Hayabusa class (PG:Guided Missile Patrol Boat) (6 in service)
• 1 go class (PG:Guided Missile Patrol Boat) (3 in service)

[edit] Auxiliary

• Masyu class (AOE:Fast combat support ship) (2 in service)
• Towada class (AOE:Fast combat support ship) (2 in service)
• Kashima class (TV:Training Vessel) (1 in service)
• Yamagiri class (TV:Training Vessel) (2 in service)
• Shimayuki class (TV:Training Vessel) (1 in service)
• Asashio class (TSS:Training Submarine) (1 in service)
• Yukishio class (TSS:Training Submarine) (1 in service)
• Kurobe class (ATS:Training Support Ship) (1 in service)
• Tenryu class (ATS:Training Support Ship) (1 in service)
• Chihaya class (ASR:Submarine Rescue Vessel) (1 in service)
• Chiyoda class (AS:Submarine Tender) (1 in service)
• Asuka class (ASE:Auxiliary Ship Experiment) (1 in service)
• Kurihama class (ASE:Auxiliary Ship Experiment) (1 in service)
• Hibiki class (AOS:Axiliary Ocean Surveillance Ship) (2 in service)
• Hiuchi class (AMS:Auxiliary Multipurpose Support Ship) (1 in service, 2 under construction)
• Shirase class (AGB:Auxiliary Ice Breaker) (1 in service)
• Nichinann class (AGS:Oceanographic Research Ship) (1 in service)
• Suma class (AGS:Oceanographic Research Ship) (1 in service)
• Futami class (AGS:Oceanographic Research Ship) (2 in service)

[edit] Future vessels

• Hyuga class destroyers (1 under construction; more planned)
• 5000t class destroyers (4 planned)
• Sōryū class submarines (1 launched; 2 under construction; 1 more planned)
• New Shirase class Ice Breaker (1 under construction)

[edit] Aircraft

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[8]	Notes
AgustaWestland EH101	Italy  United Kingdom	Minesweeping helicopter	MCH-101	2[9]	12 more on order. Replacing the MH-53E and S-61A.
Beechcraft King Air	United States	Trainer Liaison Aerial survey	TC-90 LC-90 UC-90	31
Fuji T-5	Japan	Trainer		35
Learjet 35	United States	Utility aircraft	U-36A	4
Lockheed P-3 Orion	United States	Maritime patrol ELINT	P-3C EP-3C	80 5	Built by Kawasaki
MD Helicopters MD 500	Japan	Trainer helicopter	OH-6D OH-6J	5 4	Built by Kawasaki
NAMC YS-11	Japan	Utility transport	YS-11T	10
ShinMaywa US-1	Japan	Rescue flying boat	US-1A	7
ShinMaywa US-2	Japan	Rescue flying boat	US-2	1
Sikorsky S-61 Sea King	United States	Transport helicopter	S-61A	3
SH-60 Seahawk	United States  Japan	Naval helicopter	SH-60J SH-60K	103 14	Built by Mitsubishi
UH-60 Black Hawk	United States	Rescue helicopter	UH-60J	19	Built by Mitsubishi
Sikorsky S-80 Sea Stallion	United States	Minesweeping helicopter	MH-53E	10

[edit] Future Aircraft

• The Kawasaki P-1 is the MSDF's next generation patrol aircraft. It is planned to replace the P-3C Orion patrol aircraft already in service, with aircraft due to enter service in 2010. The P-1's maiden flight took place in Gifu airbase (Japan) on September 28, 2007.

[edit] See also

• Imperial Japanese Navy
• Japanese ship naming conventions
• Military ranks and insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (English)
• JMSDF overview at GlobalSecurity

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