List of active Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships

Naval ensign of Japan.

List of active ships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is a list of ships in active service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The JMSDF is one of the world's largest navies and the second largest navy in Asia in terms of fleet tonnage.^[1] As of 2016, the JMSDF operates a total of 154 vessels (including minor auxiliary vessels), including; four helicopter destroyers (or helicopter carriers), 26 destroyers, 10 small destroyers (or frigates), six destroyer escorts (or corvettes), 19 attack submarines, 30 mine countermeasure vessels, six patrol vessels, three landing ship tanks, 8 training vessels and a fleet of various auxiliary ships.^[2][3]

As of 2013, a procurement list added to the current National Defense Program Guidelines has revealed that, among other things, an additional 48 escort vessels of various classes are planned to be added to the MSDF fleet in the coming decade.^[4] In addition, as of 7 July 2013, it was being reported that plans were under way to procure two more Aegis equipped destroyers in order to bolster ongoing BMD efforts, the first to be contracted for in fiscal year 2015 and the other in fiscal year 2016.^[5]

Submarine fleet

Submarines

The JMSDF plans to increase the number of submarines from the current 17 to 22 boats.^[6]

Class	Picture	Type	Boats	Displacement[lower-alpha 1]	Note
Submarines (17 in Service)
Sōryū-class		Attack submarine	JS Sōryū JS Unryū JS Hakuryū JS Kenryū JS Zuiryū JS Kokuryū JS Jinryū	4,200 tonnes	5 more to be commissioned.
Oyashio-class		Attack submarine	JS Michishio JS Uzushio JS Makishio JS Isoshio JS Narushio JS Kuroshio JS Takashio JS Yaeshio JS Setoshio JS Mochishio	4,000 tonnes

Surface fleet

Helicopter destroyers - DDH

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Helicopter destroyers - DDH (4 in Service)
Izumo-class		Helicopter destroyer (or helicopter carrier)	JS Izumo JS Kaga	27,000 tonnes	JS Kaga (DDH-184) was launched August 27, 2015 and will be commissioned March 2017.
Hyūga-class		Helicopter destroyer (or helicopter carrier)	JDS Hyūga JDS Ise	19,000 tonnes
Shirane-class		Helicopter destroyer	JDS Kurama	7,500 tonnes	To be replaced by Kaga, the second Izumo-class ship.

Landing ships

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Landing ships - LST (3 in Service)
Ōsumi-class		Landing ship tank	JDS Ōsumi JDS Shimokita JDS Kunisaki	14,000 tonnes	The Japanese MoD is planning to perform a major refit on the Osumi-class to improve their amphibious capabilities.[7]

Destroyers - DDG/DD

The JMSDF uses the official term Destroyers despite some smaller vessels being analogous to frigates by most international classifications.^[8]

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Destroyers - DDG/DD (36 in Service)
Atago-class		Guided missile destroyer (Aegis)	JDS Atago JDS Ashigara	10,000 tonnes
Kongō-class		Guided missile destroyer (Aegis)	JDS Kongō JDS Kirishima JDS Myōkō JDS Chōkai	9,500 tonnes
Hatakaze-class		Guided missile destroyer	JDS Hatakaze JDS Shimakaze	5,900 tonnes
Asahi-class		Destroyer	JS Asahi	5,100 tonnes	JDS Asahi (DD-119) was launched October 19, 2016 and will be commissioned March 2018.
Akizuki-class		Destroyer	JS Akizuki JS Teruzuki JS Suzutsuki JS Fuyuzuki	6,800 tonnes
Takanami-class		Destroyer	JDS Takanami JDS Onami JDS Makinami JDS Sazanami JDS Suzunami	6,300 tonnes
Murasame-class		Destroyer	JDS Murasame JDS Harusame JDS Yudachi JDS Kirisame JDS Inazuma JDS Samidare JDS Ikazuchi JDS Akebono JDS Ariake	6,100 tonnes
Asagiri-class		Small destroyer (or frigate)	JDS Asagiri JDS Yamagiri JDS Yūgiri JDS Amagiri JDS Hamagiri JDS Setogiri JDS Sawagiri JDS Umigiri	4,900 tonnes
Hatsuyuki-class		Small destroyer (or frigate)	JDS Matsuyuki JDS Asayuki	4,000 tonnes

Destroyer escorts - DE

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Destroyer escorts - DE (6 in Service)
Abukuma-class		Destroyer escort (or corvette)	JDS Abukuma JDS Jintsu JDS Oyodo JDS Sendai JDS Chikuma JDS Tone	2,550 tonnes

Mine countermeasure vessels

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Mine countermeasure vessels (25 in Service)
Uraga-class		Minesweeper	JDS Uraga JDS Bungo	5,500 tonnes	Categorized as "mine-countermeasures support ship".
Yaeyama-class		Minesweeper	JDS Hachijyo	1,200 tonnes
Enoshima-class		Minesweeper	JDS Enoshima JDS Chichijima JDS Hatsusima	570 tonnes
Hirashima-class		Minesweeper	JDS Hirashima JDS Yakushima JDS Takashima	570 tonnes
Sugashima-class		Minesweeper	JDS Sugashima JDS Notojima JDS Tsunoshima JDS Naoshima JDS Toyoshima JDS Ukushima JDS Izushima JDS Aishima JDS Aoshima JDS Miyajima JDS Shishijima JDS Kuroshima	570 tonnes
Uwajima-class		Minesweeper	JDS Yugeshima JDS Nagashima	570 tonnes
Ieshima-class		Minesweeper controller	JDS Maejima JDS Kumejima	570 tonnes

Patrol vessels

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Patrol vessels (6 in Service)
Hayabusa-class		Patrol boat	JDS Hayabusa JDS Wakataka JDS Otaka JDS Kumataka JDS Umitaka JDS Shiritaka	240 tonnes

Training vessels

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Training vessels (8 in Service)
Kashima class		Cadet training ship	JDS Kashima	4,050 tonnes
Shimayuki-class		Training vessel	JDS Setoyuki JDS Shimayuki JDS Yamayuki	3,000 tonnes	Reconverted Hatsuyuki-class destroyers.
Asashio-class		Training submarine	JDS Asashio	2,500 tonnes	Reconverted Harushio-class submarines.
Oyashio-class		Training submarine	JDS Oyashio	4,000 tonnes	Reconverted Oyashio-class submarines.
Kurobe (ATS-4202)		Training support ship	JDS Kurobe
Tenryu (ATS-4203)		Training support ship	JDS Tenryu

Auxiliary fleet

Replenishment ships

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Replenishment ships (5 in Service)
Mashu-class		Replenishment oiler	JDS Mashu JDS Omi	25,000 tonnes
Towada-class		Replenishment oiler	JDS Hamana JDS Tokiwa JDS Towada	15,000 tonnes

Miscellaneous

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Miscellaneous (16 in Service)
Hiuchi-class		Training support ship	JDS Hiuchi JDS Suo JDS Amakusa JDS Genkai JDS Enshu	1,000 tonnes
		Cable laying ship	ARC Muroto
		Submarine rescue vessel	ASR Chihaya
		Submarine rescue tender	AS Chiyoda
		Oceanographic research ship	AGS Shonan AGS Nichinan AGS Futami
Hibiki-class		Ocean surveillance ship	JDS Hibiki JDS Harima
		Experiment ship	ASE Asuka
		Ice breaker	AGB Shirase	20,000 tonnes
		Yacht	ASY Hashidate

Future JMSDF vessels

• Asahi-class destroyer (25DD, New 5,000-ton destroyer program first revealed in the MoD's FY2013 budget request, JS Asahi (DD-119)^[9] and a second in FY2014, DD-120.^[10] Seemingly an ASW optimised development of the Akizuki class likely intended for Sea lines of communication duties rather than the escort of Aegis destroyers as in the case of the Akizuki. Planned to cost even less to operate and maintain than the already low cost Akizuki class, partly through the use of COGLAG [Combined Gas turbine Electric And Gas turbine] propulsion. ¥72.3 billion has been requested for the construction of the first unit in the class, and to respond to a reduction of Hatsuyuki-class destroyers)
• 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.)
• In 2013 plans for an additional 2-4 AEGIS destroyers was presented. The first pair should be in service by 2018.^[11]
• Also in late 2013, it was being reported that a new high speed small destroyer (frigate) class was to be procured. Full displacement would be in the 3,000-ton range. No other details such as development history were immediately available, though it was implied that the vessels would be optimised for Anti-surface warfare. Peacetime roles would be primarily outer island warning and surveillance. In accordance with current MSDF/MOD practice, these vessels would likely be referred to as escort ships despite their actual role/s.^[12]
• The Japanese government is reported to be considering the procurement of a LCS (corvette) type vessel. In March 2014, Japan and the U.S. agreed to undertake studies concerning joint development between the two countries of a high-speed littoral combat ship. Exact details are unknown, but press reports indicate it may be a trimaran, similar to the Independence-class LCS.^[13]
• In 2014, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera expressed the intention of buying one amphibious assault ship from the United States to provide more amphibious capabilities than the current Osumi class landing ships. The Wasp class amphibious assault ship is most likely candidate for acquisition.^[14]
• In August 2015, a new subclass of the Atago-class, dubbed the 27DDG Destroyer, was announced. With an empty displacement of 8,200 tons and utilising COGLAG propulsion, the new class is intended to be equipped with both a laser based point defense system (developed by the Technical Research & Development Institute) and provision to be fitted with a naval railgun also currently under development by Japan. The first two ships of the new class are expected to enter service in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Notes

References

External links

• Website on the Imperial Japanese Navy: JMSDF vessels

Bibliography

• IISS (2010). Military Balance 2010. Routledge, London. ISBN 1857435575.