List of active Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships

JMSDF 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 155 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 18 to 22 boats.^[6]

Class	Picture	Type	Boats	Displacement[lower-alpha 1]	Note
Submarines (18 in Service)
Sōryū-class		Attack submarine	JS Sōryū JS Unryū JS Hakuryū JS Kenryū JS Zuiryū JS Kokuryū JS Jinryū JS Sekiryū JS Seiryū JS Shōryū JS Oryū	4,200 tonnes	Additional Subs building to be commissioned.
Oyashio-class		Attack submarine	JS Uzushio JS Makishio JS Isoshio JS Narushio JS Kuroshio JS Takashio JS Yaeshio JS Setoshio JS Mochishio	4,000 tonnes	2 of 11 built converted to training ships.

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
Hyūga-class		Helicopter destroyer (or helicopter carrier)	JS Hyūga JS Ise	19,000 tonnes

Landing ships

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Landing ships - LST (3 in Service)
Ōsumi-class		Landing ship tank	JS Ōsumi JS Shimokita JS Kunisaki	14,000 tonnes	The Japanese MoD is planning to perform a major refit on the Osumi-class to improve their amphibious capabilities.[7]
Landing craft - LCU (9 in Service)
LCU-2001-class		Utility landing craft	JS LC No.1 JS LC No.2	540 tonnes
YL-09-class		landing craft mechanized	JS YL-11 JS YL-12 JS YL-13 JS YL-14 JS YL-15 JS YL-16 JS YL-17	50 tonnes

Destroyers - DDG/DD

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

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Destroyers - DDG/DD (37 in Service)
Maya-class		Guided missile destroyer (or cruiser) (Aegis)		10,500 tonnes	JS Maya is expected to be in commission by March 2020.
Atago-class		Guided missile destroyer (or cruiser) (Aegis)	JS Atago JS Ashigara	10,000 tonnes
Kongō-class		Guided missile destroyer (or cruiser) (Aegis)	JS Kongō JS Kirishima JS Myōkō JS Chōkai	9,500 tonnes
Hatakaze-class		Guided missile destroyer	JS Hatakaze JS Shimakaze	5,900 tonnes
Asahi-class		Destroyer	JS Asahi	6,800 tonnes	JMSDF commissions first Asahi-class destroyer. [9] JS Shiranui is expected to be in commission by March 2019.
Akizuki-class		Destroyer	JS Akizuki JS Teruzuki JS Suzutsuki JS Fuyuzuki	6,800 tonnes
Takanami-class		Destroyer	JS Takanami JS Onami JS Makinami JS Sazanami JS Suzunami	6,300 tonnes
Murasame-class		Destroyer	JS Murasame JS Harusame JS Yudachi JS Kirisame JS Inazuma JS Samidare JS Ikazuchi JS Akebono JS Ariake	6,100 tonnes
Asagiri-class		Small destroyer (or frigate)	JS Asagiri JS Yamagiri JS Yūgiri JS Amagiri JS Hamagiri JS Setogiri JS Sawagiri JS Umigiri	4,900 tonnes
Hatsuyuki-class		Small destroyer (or frigate)	JS Matsuyuki JS 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)	JS Abukuma JS Jintsu JS Oyodo JS Sendai JS Chikuma JS Tone	2,550 tonnes

Mine countermeasure vessels

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Mine countermeasure vessels (25 in Service)
Uraga-class		Minesweeper	JS Uraga JS Bungo	5,500 tonnes	Categorized as "mine-countermeasures support ship".
Awaji-class		Minesweeper	JS Awaji JS Hirado	690 tonnes	JMSDF commissions second Awaji-class minesweeper [10]
Enoshima-class		Minesweeper	JS Enoshima JS Chichijima JS Hatsushima	570 tonnes
Hirashima-class		Minesweeper	JS Hirashima JS Yakushima JS Takashima	570 tonnes
Sugashima-class		Minesweeper	JS Sugashima JS Notojima JS Tsunoshima JS Naoshima JS Toyoshima JS Ukushima JS Izushima JS Aishima JS Aoshima JS Miyajima JS Shishijima JS Kuroshima	570 tonnes
Uwajima-class		Minesweeper	JS Nagashima	570 tonnes
Ieshima-class		Minesweeper controller	JS Kumejima JS Yugeshima	570 tonnes	Reconverted Uwajima-class minesweeper.

Patrol vessels

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

Training vessels

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

Auxiliary fleet

Replenishment ships

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

Miscellaneous

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Miscellaneous (16 in Service)
Hiuchi-class		Training support ship	JS Hiuchi JS Suo JS Amakusa JS Genkai JS Enshu	1,000 tonnes
		Cable laying ship	ATC Muroto
		Submarine rescue vessel	JS Chiyoda	7,100 tonnes	JMSDF commissions new submarine rescue ship [11]
		Submarine rescue vessel	JS Chihaya	6,900 tonnes
		Oceanographic research ship	AGS Shonan AGS Nichinan AGS Futami
Hibiki-class		Ocean surveillance ship	JS Hibiki JS Harima		JMSDF orders third, more advanced, Hibiki-class ship. [12]
		Experiment ship	ASE Asuka
		Ice breaker	AGB Shirase	20,000 tonnes
		Yacht	ASY Hashidate

Future JMSDF vessels

• 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.^[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]

Notes

References

External links

• Website on the Imperial Japanese Navy: JMSDF vessels

Bibliography

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