Jump to content

Chikugo-class destroyer escort

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
JDS Niyodo on 16 February 1979
Class overview
NameChikugo class
Operators Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded byIsuzu class
Succeeded byIshikari class
Built1968–1976
In commission1971–2003
Completed11
Retired11
General characteristics
TypeDestroyer escort
Displacement1,700–1,800 long tons (1,727–1,829 t) full load
Length93.0 m (305.1 ft)
Beam10.8 m (35 ft)
Draught3.5 m (11 ft)
Depth7.0 metres (23.0 ft)
Propulsion
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range5,500 nmi (10,200 km) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement165
Sensors and
processing systems
  • TDS-1 Target Designation System
  • OPS-14 2D air search radar
  • OPS-17 surface search radar
  • FCS-1B gun FCS
  • OQS-3A bow sonar
  • SQS-35(J) VDS
  • SFCS-4 Underwater Battery FCS
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • NOLR-1 ESM (Earlier batch)
  • NOLR-5 ESM (Latter batch)
Armament

The Chikugo-class destroyer escort (or frigate) was a class of destroyer escorts built by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force as the successor of the Isuzu class, with the same ASW mission. This class was followed by JDS Ishikari. This is the first Japanese destroyer escort class to carry ASROC anti-submarine missiles.

The class entered service with Chikugo in 1971. Eleven ships were constructed and saw service until the mid-1990s and early 2000s. All vessels in the class were retired with Noshiro being the last to decommission in 2003.

Design

[edit]

This class was designed as the modified variant of the Isuzu class, the preceding destroyer escort class. The main anti-submarine weapon was changed from the M/50 375 mm (14.8 in) ASW rocket launcher to the ASROC Anti-submarine missile. The octuple launcher for ASROC was stationed at the mid-deck, and the entire ship design was prescribed by this stationing. To exploit the range of ASROC, this class was equipped with the long-range low-frequency (5 kHz) bow sonar, OQS-3A (Japanese version of the AN/SQS-23),[1] and in addition, the latter batch had SQS-35(J) Variable Depth Sonar system. These anti-submarine sensors and weapons could be compare with those of destroyers in the main fleet of this age, such as Minegumo class and Yamagumo class.[2]

In contrast to their anti-submarine capability, the anti-aircraft fire power was weakened compared to the preceding class. The foredeck gun was a Type 68 3"/50 caliber twin cannon controlled by a FCS-1B Gun Fire Control System, which was standard anti-air weapon system in the JMSDF of this age. But the afterdeck gun was the old-fashioned Bofors 40 mm L/60 twin cannon, lacking the anti-ship missile defense (ASMD) capability. The final batch of this class was planned to equipped with the new Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon, but this plan was frustrated because of the budgetary consideration.[2]

Ships in the class

[edit]
Hull no. Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned
DE-215 Chikugo December 9, 1968 January 13, 1970 July 31, 1971 April 15, 1996
DE-216 Ayase December 5, 1969 September 16, 1970 May 20, 1971 August 1, 1996
DE-217 Mikuma March 17, 1970 February 16, 1971 August 26, 1971 July 8, 1997
DE-218 Tokachi December 11, 1970 November 25, 1971 May 17, 1972 April 15, 1998
DE-219 Iwase August 6, 1971 June 29, 1972 December 12, 1972 October 16, 1998
DE-220 Chitose October 7, 1971 January 25, 1973 August 31, 1973 April 13, 1999
DE-221 Niyodo September 20, 1972 August 28, 1973 February 28, 1974 June 24, 1999
DE-222 Teshio July 11, 1973 May 29, 1974 January 10, 1975 June 27, 2000
DE-223 Yoshino September 28, 1973 August 22, 1974 February 6, 1975 May 15, 2001
DE-224 Kumano May 29, 1974 February 24, 1975 November 19, 1975 May 18, 2001
DE-225 Noshiro January 27, 1976 December 23, 1976 June 30, 1977 March 13, 2003

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Norman Friedman (2006). The Naval Institute guide to world naval weapon systems. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781557502629.
  2. ^ a b Abe, Yasuo (May 2003). "Looking back on Chikugo class escort vessels". Ships of the World (in Japanese) (610). Kaijinn-sha: 92–97.