Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)

 

The Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force is a well-equipped and modern military navy. The the Chief of the Maritime Staff is Katsutoshi Kawano. Its structure consists of five regional district commands:

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

District Tasks

In each district, it is located a major JMSDF base, and contains one or two regional escort squadrons, composed of two to three destroyers or destroyer escorts (DE). These destroyers are not the newest ones and tend to be of older classes, mainly former escort force ships. The destroyer escorts, on the other hand, tend to be purpose built vessels.

The Self-Defense Fleet, headquartered at Yokosuka, consists of the JMSDF’s military shipping. It is composed of four Escort Flotillas (based in Yokosuka, Sasebo, Maizuru, Ominato and Kure), the Fleet Air Force headquartered at Atsugi, two Submarine Flotillas based at Kure and Yokosuka.

The composition of forces in each escort flotilla has some reminiscences of the old style in the Japanese Imperial Navy. At that time, the fleet was composed by 8 battleships and 8 cruisers. Now they have similar structure as an 8-8 fleet of 8 DD and 8 on-board helicopters.

In addition, in each force the 8 DD are distributed as follows: one helicopter destroyer (DDH) acting as a command ship, two guided-missile destroyers (DDG) and 5 standard or ASW destroyers (DD). Future plans include the reorganization of the Escort Flotillas into a DDH group and DDG group, enabling faster overseas deployments.

As of 2014, the JMSDF operates a total of 124 ships (excluding minor auxiliary vessels), including:

 

• 4 helicopter carriers DDH (called helicopter destroyers)
• 26 destroyers DD
• 11 small destroyers FDD (or frigates)
• 6 destroyer escorts DE (or corvettes)
• 16 attack submarines
• 29 mine countermeasure vessels
• 6 patrol vessels
• 3 landing ship tanks
• 8 training vessels.

The fleet has a total displacement of approximately 450,000 tonnes (including auxiliary vessels).

On the other hand, this fleet is supported  a naval aviation that maintains a large naval air force,  including 201 fixed-wing aircraft and 145 helicopters. Most of these aircraft are used in anti-submarine warfare operations.

Hierarchical Tree of the JMSDF

 

JMSDF Chief of Staff / Maritime Staff Office

• Mobile Flotilla
  • Fleet Escort Force
    • Escort Flotilla 1 (Yokosuka)
      • Escort Squadron 1 (DDG,DDH,DDx2)
      • Escort Squadron 5 (DDG,DDx3)
    • Escort Flotilla 2 (Sasebo)
      • Escort Squadron 2 (DDG,DDH,DDx2)
      • Escort Squadron 6 (DDG,DDx3)
    • Escort Flotilla 3 (Maizuru)
      • Escort Squadron 3 (DDG,DDH,DDx2)
      • Escort Squadron 7 (DDG,DDx3)
    • Escort Flotilla 4 (Kure)
      • Escort Squadron 4 (DDG,DDH,DDx2)
      • Escort Squadron 8 (DDG,DDx3)
    • 1st Replenishment Squadron
    • 1st Transportation Squadron
  • Fleet Submarine Force
    • Submarine Flotilla 1
      • Submarine Squadron 1
      • Submarine Squadron 3
      • Submarine Squadron 5
    • Submarine Flotilla 2
      • Submarine Squadron 2
      • Submarine Squadron 4

 

Helicopter destroyers DDH

 

Izumo-class: DDH-183 Izumo, under construction DDH-184 (name to be assigned). On 27th August the DDH-184 (24DDH) was launched and received her name: Kaga

Hyuga-class: The DDH-16 Hyūga and DDH-18 Ise were provisionally named “DDH-16” and “DDH-18” respectively. The numbers derived from the Japanese calendar, specifically the 16th year and 18th year of the Heisei reign (2004 and 2006), when the provisional name were given.

Shirane-class: DDH-143 Shirane was decommissioned on March 2015. the Izumo-class is planned to replace Shirane-class. DDH-144 Kurame is still active.

Tank Landing Ships

 

Osumi-class: Three units named: LST 4001 Ōsumi, LST 4002 Shimokita , LST 4003 Kunisaki

The Japanese MoD is planning to perform a major refit on the Osumi-class to improve their amphibious capabilities

Destroyers – DDG/DD

 

Atago-class (guided missile destroyer-aegis-):

DDG-177 Atago

DDG-178 Ashigara

Kongo-class (guided missile destroyer-aegis-):

DDG-173 Kongō
DDG-174 Kirishima
DDG-175 Myōkō
DDG-176 Chōkai

Hatakaze-class (guided missile destroyer):

DDG-171 Hatakaze
DDG-172 Shimakaze

Akizuki-class:

DD-115 Akizuki (Autumn Moon)
DD-116 Teruzuki (Bright Moon)
DD-117 Suzutsuki (Clear Moon)
DD-118 Fuyuzuki (Winter Moon)

Takanami-class:

DD-110 Takanami
DD-111 Ōnami
DD-112 Makinami
DD-113 Sazanami
DD-114 Suzunami

Murasame-class:

DD-101 Murasame
DD-102 Harusame
DD-103 Yudachi
DD-104 Kirisame
DD-105 Inazuma
DD-106 Samidare
DD-107 Ikazuchi
DD-108 Akebono
DD-109 Ariake

Asagiri-class (small DD or frigate):

DD-151 Asagiri Converted to training vessel (TV-3516) on 16 February 2005 re converted to DD-151 on March 2012

DD-152 Yamagiri Converted to training vessel (TV-3515) on 18 March 2004,
re-converted to DD-152 on March 2011
DD-153 Yūgiri
DD-154 Amagiri
DD-155 Hamagiri
DD-156 Setogiri
DD-157 Sawagiri
DD-158 Umigiri

Hatsuyuki-class (small DD or frigate):

DD-129 Yamayuki
DD-130 Matsuyuki
DD-132 Asayuki

The JMSDF uses the official term Destroyers despite some smaller vessels being analogous to frigates by most international classifications

Destroyer escorts – DE

Abukuma-class:

DE-229 Abukuma
DE-230 Jintsu
DE-231 Oyodo
DE-232 Sendai
DE-233 Chikuma
DE-234 Tone

 

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