Current ships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

The JMSDF is one of the world's largest navies and the second largest navy in Asia. It operates two Helicopter Carriers, two Helicopter Destroyers, eight Destroyers, thirty Frigates, six Light Frigates and sixteen SSK attack submarines. Despite its size the JMSDF is a defense force.

Contents 1 Helicopter Carriers 2 Destroyers 3 Frigates 4 Light Frigates 5 Submarines 6 Patrol 7 Minesweeper Ship 8 Training Ship 9 Amphibious Forces 10 Auxiliary Ship 11 Future JMSDF vessels

Helicopter Carriers

Helicopter Destroyers-(DDH)

• Hyūga class destroyers (two in service)

Destroyers

Helicopter Destroyers-(DDH)

• Shirane class destroyers (two in service)

Guided Missile Destroyers-(DDG)

• Atago class destroyers (two in service)
• Kongō class destroyers (four in service)
• Hatakaze class destroyers (two in service)

Frigates

The JMSDF does not use the term frigate. Thus some smaller type escort vessels in the JMSDF are classified as destroyers, when in fact, internationally these vessels are classified as frigates.

Destroyers-(DD) (Frigates)

• Takanami class destroyers (five in service)
• Murasame class destroyers (nine in service)
• Asagiri class destroyers (seven in service)
• Hatsuyuki class destroyers (nine in service)

Light Frigates

Destroyer Escorts-(DE) (Light Frigates)

• Abukuma class destroyer escorts (six in service)

Submarines

Submarines-(SS) (Attack Submarines)

• Sōryū class submarines (three in service; one launched; two under construction; one more planned)
• Oyashio class submarines (eleven in service)
• Harushio class submarines (two in service)

Patrol

Patrol Boats-(PG) (Guided Missile Patrol craft)

• Hayabusa class Patrol boats (six in service)

Minesweeper Ship

Minesweeper Tender

• Uraga class MST (two in service)

Minesweeper Ocean

• Yaeyama class MSO (three in service)

Minesweeper Coastal

• Hirashima class MSC (three in service)
• Sugashima Class MSC (twelve in service)
• Uwajima class MSC (seven in service)

Minesweeper Controller

• Nijima Class MCL (one in service)
• Ieshima Class MCL (one in service)

Training Ship

Training Vessel

• TV Kashima
• Shimayuki Class TV (two in service)
• Yamagiri Class TV (one in service)

Training Submarine

• Asashio Class TSS (two in service)

Training Support Ship

• ATS Tenryu
• ATS Kurobe

Amphibious Forces

• Ōsumi class LST (three in service)
• Yura class LSU (two in service)
• 1-go class LCU (two in service)
• YF 2121 class LCM (ten in service)
• YF 2150 class LCM (two in service)
• Landing Craft Air Cushion (6 in service)

Auxiliary Ship

Fast Combat Support Ship

• Mashu Class AOE (two in service)
• Towada Class AOE (three in service)

Repairing or Cable Laying Ship

• ARC Muroto

Submarine Rescue Vessel

• ASR Chihaya

Submarine Rescue Tender

• AS Chiyoda

Oceanographic Research Ship

• AGS Shonan
• AGS Nichinan
• AGS Suma
• Futami class AGS (one in service)

Ocean Surveillance Ship

• Hibiki class AOS (two in service)

Auxiliary Ship Experiment

• ASE Asuka
• ASE Kurihama

Auxiliary Ice Breaker

• AGB Shirase

Multi Purpose Support Ship

• Hiuchi class support ship (five in service)

Auxiliary Vessel Special Service Yacht

• ASY Hashidate

Future JMSDF vessels

• Akizuki class destroyer (two launched, two planned)
• 19000t class destroyer (one building, one planned)
• Enoshima class Minesweeper (Formerly known as the Next Generation Minesweeper, one launched, at least one other hull currently under construction)
• DDR [Destroyer Revolution]*

- *5400 tonnes Light Escort Destroyer project, also referred to as 'the next generation escort ship'. Program in existence since 2009, current plans are to start construction on the first of class by 2021 at the latest. Full scale R&D activities scheduled from 2011 onwards.