Japan Defence Forum

[Aepsilons]

Akizui Class



The Akizuki-class destroyer is a destroyer class of the JMSDF - four ships are planned. This class is designed to escort the JMSDF's 4 larger Kongō-class destroyers which are tasked with protecting Japan against a North Korean ballistic missile attack. This class used to be designated "19DD" - referring to a date on the Japanese calendar, specifically the 19th fiscal year of the Heisei period (2007).


The Akizuki class is not really a new design but a modernized and slightly heavier variant of the Takanami class destroyer, whose purpose is to shield the Kongō class from air, surface and subsurface threats. There are many small improvements like, for example, cleaner lines to reduce the radar signature and decoys for torpedoes; but the principal changes can be summed up as more powerful engines, sensors, sonar and the indigenous ATECS battle management system that has been called the "Japanese AEGIS". The main gas turbine engines are standardized on a higher-powered version of the Rolls-Royce Spey SM1C, in contrast to the combination of Rolls-Royce SM1C and General Electric LM2500 turbines used in the Takanami class.


Main features of the class include enhanced C4ISR and Anti-Aircraft Warfare (AAW) capability, with an OYQ-11 advanced Combat Direction Sub-system (CDS) and FCS-3A AAW weapon sub-system.


Anti-submarine and Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities of the Akizuki class have been enhanced, with a new OQQ-22 integrated sonar suite sub-system (hull-sonar and OQR-3 towed array; - a Japanese equivalent of the American AN/SQQ-89), and the NOLQ-3D digitalized EW suite sub-system. These sub-systems communicate across a NOYQ-1B wide area network. In totality these systems are comparable to those of the Zumwalt-class destroyer.

There are 4 ships of this class:

1) JDS Akizuki
2) JDS Teruzuki
3) JDS Suzutsuki
4) JDS Fuyuzuki

The Japanese navy us right nowbthe most advanced navy of Asia. They sadly lack a nuke powered aircraft carrier. Hope they get that as well.

I believe , in my modest opinion, the JMSDF is not at the level where I believe she can be. We are severely limited due to the restrictive article 9 on our constitution. Japan has the capability, resources and capacity to launch Nimitz-class super aircraft carriers. Japan must have 3 of these, in addition to support from our smaller Izumi-class destroyers (helicopter carriers).

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

The Japanese navy us right nowbthe most advanced navy of Asia. They sadly lack a nuke powered aircraft carrier. Hope they get that as well.

They can't even build an Aegis DDG with their own technology, then forget about building a much more complex nuclear supercarrier.

 

[Aegis DDG]

@Nihonjin1050 Kon'nichiwa,Idai tōkō . Anata wa dokokarakitano? Sorry for my poor use of Nihongo as I only speak little. Do you think the Japanese can create an Nuclear Reactor miniaturization for an 75,000 ton Carrier and have EM launching technology for F-35? What is JMSDF greatest strong point other than Anti-Submarine warfare and Air defense.

 

[Aepsilons]

Takanami-class


The Takanami class is a fourth generation post-war destroyer for the JMSDF, and is an evolution of the previous Murasame-class destroyer. Major changes include an improved OPS-24B Active electronically scanned array fire control system and data link, as well as a new sonar system. In terms of weaponry, the 3-inch gun on the Murasame has been replaced with a larger 127 mm gun, and the older Sea Sparrow anti-air missile has been replaced by the new Evolved Sea Sparrow ESSM (RIM-162) missiles in a Mk-48VLS (Vertical Launch System). This changes have resulted in a larger hull displacement than the Murasame by about 100 tons.

All ships in the class are named for World War II destroyers.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

I believe , in my modest opinion, the JMSDF is not at the level where I believe she can be. We are severely limited due to the restrictive article 9 on our constitution. Japan has the capability, resources and capacity to launch Nimitz-class super aircraft carriers. Japan must have 3 of these, in addition to support from our smaller Izumi-class destroyers (helicopter carriers).

No you don't, you haven't demonstrated this capability yet.

Do you have the mature steam catapult that is comparable to the C13?

Do you have A4W nuclear reactor?

To build Nimitz supercarrier is not building a WWII crap carrier.

 

[Aepsilons]

@Nihonjin1050 Kon'nichiwa,Idai tōkō . Anata wa dokokarakitano? Sorry for my poor use of Nihongo as I only speak little. Do you think the Japanese can create an Nuclear Reactor miniaturization for an 75,000 ton Carrier and have EM launching technology for F-35? What is JMSDF greatest strong point other than Anti-Submarine warfare and Air defense.

@Aegis DDG

Konnichiwa !watashi no yujin! Anata ga nihongo o hanasu? (you speak japanese! awesome!)

In fact, the JAEA [Japan Atomic Energy Agency] has developed the capability of using nuclear energy for military vessels. One of the main issues that the JSDF has with our constitution is that it prevents us from doing the following: 1) developing all sectors of the armed forces, 2) develop nuclear power for military defense. Japan, as you know, is a heavy industrialized society with advanced heavy industries ( IHI, MHI, KHI per se). The plan is to strip article 9 from our constitution so that there will be no limitation to our growth.

I believe that the United States can remain our long term strategic partner, but it is time that Japan has greater role in its own defense and in the security of Asia-Pacific.

It is to the benefit for the United States to have an awesome Japanese Armed Forces to work with it in upholding our shared vision of regional and international stability.

See you around buddy!

 

[UKBengali]

No you don't, you haven't demonstrated this capability yet.

Do you have the mature steam catapult that is comparable to the C13?

Do you have A4W nuclear reactor?

To build Nimitz supercarrier is not building a WWII crap carrier.

I would not say that Japan does not have the capability to do it.

They have some of the best shipbuilding and nuclear technology around and if they wanted they can modify for nuclear aircraft carrier.

 

[Aegis DDG]

@Aegis DDG

Konnichiwa !watashi no yujin! Anata ga nihongo o hanasu? (you speak japanese! awesome!)

In fact, the JAEA [Japan Atomic Energy Agency] has developed the capability of using nuclear energy for military vessels. One of the main issues that the JSDF has with our constitution is that it prevents us from doing the following: 1) developing all sectors of the armed forces, 2) develop nuclear power for military defense. Japan, as you know, is a heavy industrialized society with advanced heavy industries ( IHI, MHI, KHI per se). The plan is to strip article 9 from our constitution so that there will be no limitation to our growth.

I believe that the United States can remain our long term strategic partner, but it is time that Japan has greater role in its own defense and in the security of Asia-Pacific.

It is to the benefit for the United States to have an awesome Japanese Armed Forces to work with it in upholding our shared vision of regional and international stability.

See you around buddy!

I only knew little Japanese because I'm part Nihonjin (father) and an East African mother. I wish to learn more but I seem to just stick to Tigary/Amharic and English . And yes, Japanese industrial capacity is second to the world after the USA. If the Japanese wish to defend it maritime line of control then it needs to have an Carrier that is capable to defend lines of communication.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

I would not say that China does not have the capability to do it.

They have some of the best shipbuilding and nuclear technology around and if they wanted they can modify for nuclear aircraft carrier.

If the Japanese Empire didn't suffer the loss and getting occupied by the US, they probably could build a nuclear supercarrier in some decades later.

But today's Japan has been left behind due the restriction, so it is not easy to catch up.

China can nearly build a Boeing 707 equivalent in the 1980s, if continuing this pace, we could build a Boeing 747 equivalent.

When you once lost this capability, the production line was lost, the revelant technical staffs were lost, you have to restart everything from scratch.

 

[Aepsilons]

Murasame-class



The Murasame-class destroyer is a third-generation general purpose destroyer in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

The Murasame was a successor to the Asagiri class, and like its predecessor, it mainly tasked with ASW and ASuW. It shows a number of improvements to design and equipment, such as:

Introduction of stealth technology.
Both superstructure and hull have angled rather than the traditional vertical surfaces. There is however no angled tripod mainmast like the one of the American Arleigh Burke-class destroyer because of the heavy weather of the Sea of Japan in winter.
New-generation C4I system.
This class is equipped with the new generation OYQ-9 combat direction system and the OYQ-103 ASW control system. The OYQ-9 CDS is composed of one AN/UYK-43, one AN/UYK-44, and AN/UYQ-21 workstations. The totality of the OYQ-103 and associated sub-systems is the Japanese equivalent of the American AN/SQQ-89 ASWCS.
Enhanced electronics.
The advanced OPS-24 active electronically scanned array radar and OPS-28 surface search and target acquisition radar introduced into the fleet with the Asagiri class remains on board, and there are some new system such as the NOLQ-3 integrated electronic warfare system and OQS-5 hull sonar. The NOLQ-3 EW suite is thought to be the Japanese equivalent of the American AN/SLQ-32.
Modified missile systems.
To enhance the low-observability and combat readiness capability, the Mk.41 vertical launching system (for the RUM-139 VL ASROC) and Mk.48 VLS (for the Sea Sparrow) replace the traditional swivel octuple launchers. And the surface-to-surface missile system is alternated by the SSM-1B of Japanese make. Currently, ships of this class have been switching the point defense missile system from the traditional Sea Sparrow to the Evolved Sea Sparrow.

The Murasame-class destroyers' weapon systems include the Evolved Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile, Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile, RUM-139 VL ASROC, the SSM 1B anti-ship missile, two Mark 15 20 mm Phalanx CIWS gun mounts, two torpedo mounts in a triple tube configuration and a 76 mm 62cal rapid-fire naval gun.

With the exception of Kirisame, all ships of the class are named for World War II destroyers.

I only knew little Japanese because I'm part Nihonjin (father) and an East African mother. I wish to learn more but I seem to just stick to Tigary/Amharic and English . And yes, Japanese industrial capacity is second to the world after the USA. If the Japanese wish to defend it maritime line of control then it needs to have an Carrier that is capable to defend lines of communication.

Hai! Anata wa nihonjin no chi o motte iru! You have blood of the Japanese race in you then.
That's good you're trying to learn your Japanese heritage @Aegis DDG , its good to know both your mother's heritage and father's heritage. Always remember your blood and identity!

Back to topic: As we know that Japan is dependent on foreign sources of energy, our trade lines are not only necessary, but vital to the strategic interests of Japan. In an every - tense and unpredictable world, our naval forces must have the capability to project power around the world to secure Japan's interests. Currently we have 2 ships that can fulfill carrier roles; the 2 Izumo class of carriers. We need at least 3 Nimitz-class of super carriers to fully augment the size of the Japanese Navy. As you may know, our Maritime Self Defense Force, currently, dwarfs the navies of UK, Germany, France, and Russia.

Now imagine when we strip the title 'Maritime Self Defense Force' for our historic name, "Imperial Japanese Navy".

When Article 9 is removed, we can finally reach our full potential in military power , namely naval power.

 

[Aepsilons]

Asagiri-class



The Asagiri-class destroyer was built during the 1980s for service with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force.


This class of general purpose destroyer is an extended version of its predecessor Hatsuyuki-class destroyers, and is mainly tasked with ASW and ASUW. The Asagiri-class vessels feature several enhancements and/or improvements over the Hatusyuki class, such as:


COGAG Propulsion System.

Compared with the COGOG propulsion system of the Hatsuyuki class, this class has the COGAG propulsion system with enhanced capacity. The COGAG propulsion system is composed of four Kawasaki-Rolls-Royce Spey SM1A gas turbines.

Advanced radar systems.
This class is equipped with the OPS-28 surface search radar. The OPS-28 is analogous to the American Target Acquisition System Mk.23 with the Track while scan capability. Later ships of this class introduced the OPS-24 air search 3D radar. The OPS-24 is the first shipboard active electronically scanned array radar in the world.

Full-configuration destroyer CDS.
The earlier batch was equipped the OYQ-6 combat direction system (CDS). This system employed one AN/UYK-20 computer as the same as OYQ-5 tactical data processing system of the Hatsuyuki class, but it can exchange tactical data via Link-11, which the OYQ-5 does not support. Later, all OYQ-6 systems were upgraded to the OYQ-7, integrated with OYQ-101 ASW Direction System.
All ships of this class were later retrofitted with the terminal for the MOF system, the key operational C4I system of the JMSDF which uses the Superbird SHF-SATCOM.

Enlarged aircraft facility.
The hangar is enlarged in order to accommodate two helicopters, but generally only one helicopter is used operationally

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Hai! Anata wa nihonjin no chi o motte iru! You have blood of the Japanese race in you then.
That's good you're trying to learn your Japanese heritage @Aegis DDG , its good to know both your mother's heritage and father's heritage. Always remember your blood and identity!

Back to topic: As we know that Japan is dependent on foreign sources of energy, our trade lines are not only necessary, but vital to the strategic interests of Japan. In an every - tense and unpredictable world, our naval forces must have the capability to project power around the world to secure Japan's interests. Currently we have 2 ships that can fulfill carrier roles; the 2 Izumo class of carriers. We need at least 3 Nimitz-class of super carriers to fully augment the size of the Japanese Navy. As you may know, our Maritime Self Defense Force, currently, dwarfs the navies of UK, Germany, France, and Russia.

Now imagine when we strip the title 'Maritime Self Defense Force' for our historic name, "Imperial Japanese Navy".

When Article 9 is removed, we can finally reach our full potential in military power , namely naval power.

Yeah, wait until the US is totally bankrupt, then they will possibly sell you CVN-73/74/76.

But don't expect that you can build these marvels by yourself.

 

[Aepsilons]

Hatsuyuki-class


It was the first class to use Combined gas or gas (COGOG) propulsion system. The all-gas-turbine propulsion system is composed of two Kawasaki-Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1C gas turbines for cruising and two Kawasaki-Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines for high speed operation. It introduced the concept of total ship systems engineering with an integrated combat system. The core of the combat system is the OYQ-5 Tactical Data Processing System (TDPS). The OYQ-5 TDPS is composed of one AN/UYK-20 computer and five OJ-194B workstations, and capable of receiving data automatically from other ships via Link-14 (STANAG 5514).

This is the first destroyer class in the JMSDF equipped with the Sea Sparrow Improved basic point defense missile system and Boeing Harpoon surface-to-surface missile system for AAW and ASuW respectively. The IBPDMS of this class uses FCS-2 fire-control systems of Japanese make and one Mk 29 octuple launcher at the afterdeck.

 

[Aepsilons]

Abukuma class


The Abukuma class destroyer escort (or frigate) is the general-purpose destroyer escort of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. It is the successor of the earlier Yubari-class.

This class was planned to replace the earlier Isuzu-class and possess both ASW capability as the successor of the Chikugo-class and ASuW capability as the successor of the Yubari-class, but there are many points enhanced as followes:

Introduction of the stealth technology.
This class is the first combatant ship of the JMSDF which is introduced the stealth technology. Their superstructure have traditional vertical surfaces, but their hulls are angled to reduce their radar cross sections.
Enhanced electronics.
This is the first destroyer escort class with the Naval Tactical Data System by the OYQ-7 combat direction system. And also, this is the first destroyer escort class which has the ECM capability with the OLT-3 jammer.
Modified weapon systems.
The Short Range Air Defense system comprises the OPS-14 air-search radar, the OPS-28 surface search and target acquisition radar, one Otobreda 76 mm rapid-firing gun controlled by the FCS-2 fire-control system and Phalanx CIWS. The OPS-14 is the Japanese equivalent of the American AN/SPS-49 radar, and the OPS-28 is the one of the American TAS Mk.23. Phalanx CIWS has given the ships an improved self-defense capability against anti-ship missiles. Mk.31 RAM GMWS Point Defense Missile System was planned, but it is not installed yet.
The ASW system comprises an OQS-8 hull-sonar (Japanese equivalent of the American DE-1167), ASROC anti-submarine rocket from the Type 74 octuple launcher (Japanese license-built version of the American Mark 16 GMLS) and lightweight ASW torpedoes from two HOS-301 triple 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo tubes. A Tactical Towed-Array Sonar System was planned but it is not installed yet.
The JMSDF intended to build eleven ships of this class, but finally, only six was built because Hatsuyuki-class destroyers started deploying in distinct forces. All six vessels of the class are named after World War II cruisers.

 

[JayMandan]

Very informative thread. Keep it up. Thanks. And also, beware of these overnationalistic haters/trolls, some people do this for a living.