JS Chihaya

For other ships with the same name, see Japanese ship Chihaya.

JS Chihaya on 9 September 2019
History
Japan
Name	Chihaya (ちはや)
Namesake	Chihaya
Ordered	1996
Builder	Mitsui, Tamano
Laid down	13 October 1997
Launched	8 October 1998
Commissioned	17 March 2000
Homeport	Kure
Identification	MMSI number: 431999637 Callsign: JSLT Pennant number: ASR-403
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class and type	Chikugo-class destroyer escort
Displacement	1,700–1,800 long tons (1,727–1,829 t) full load
Length	93.0 m (305.1 ft)
Beam	10.8 m (35 ft)
Draught	3.5 m (11 ft)
Depth	7.0 metres (23.0 ft)
Propulsion	CODAD propulsion system 2 × shafts, 4 × diesel engines (16,000 hp (12,000 kW))
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range	5,500 nmi (10,200 km) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement	165
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	2 × 3"/50 caliber guns 2 × 40 mm AA guns 1 × ASROC ASW missile launcher 2 × triple 324 mm ASW torpedo tubes

JS Chihaya (ASR-403) is a submarine rescue ship of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Development and design

She was built as a replacement for the dilapidated JDS Fushimi. In terms of design, it is said to be an expanded and improved version of the submarine rescue mother ship JS Chiyoda, and while abolishing the submarine mother ship function, it is strengthening medical equipment.

For DSRV operation, the basic configuration of having a moon pool in the center of the hull is the same as the 56AS, but the poop deck has been extended to the vicinity of the bridge structure, and the standard displacement has been increased by 1,800 tons. As a result, the equipment that was previously stored in the exposed part can now be accommodated inside the ship. In addition, attention is paid to high-speed cruising ability so that it can quickly advance to the distress site, bulbous bow is adopted to reduce wave-making resistance, and a ship bottom closing device is installed at the bottom of the center well. This is a method of opening and closing the closing plate divided into two by hydraulic pressure, and structures such as a sliding type and an inward opening type were examined, but due to the certainty required for the mission of rescue, the double door method by opening outward was adopted.

The main engine is equipped with two Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding 12V42M-A diesel engines. This is the same series as the in-line 8-cylinder engine that was the main engine in JS Chiyoda, but the output was increased by using a V-type 12-cylinder engine. As a propulsion device, in addition to two variable pitch propeller axes, two side thrusters are provided on the bow and stern. Like the JS Chiyoda, they are equipped with a Dynamic Positioning System (DPS), which allows them to stand still at a point on the ocean.

Construction and career

Chihaya was laid down on 13 October 1997 at Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding, Tamano and launched on 8 October 1998. She's commissioned on 17 March 2000.

The government, which received a request from Ehime Prefecture to search for the body of the Ehime Maru accident that occurred on February 10, 2001, requested the Defense Agency to respond and began searching for the body from August 2001 with a disaster dispatch.

Participated in the International Submarine Rescue Training Pacific Reach 2002 held in April 2002. In addition to successful all operations despite stormy weather, DSRV succeeded not only in its originally planned soft mate (arrival at the sunken submarine), but also in its hard mate (opening the hatch, more practical rescue training). ing. At this point, the transport helicopter MH-53E Sea Dragon had succeeded in landing training, but because the regulations were not approved, the representative interviewers and senior Navy officials of the participating countries stayed aboard the flagship JS Bungo. Moved with SH-60J between JS Bungo and JS Chihaya.

In May 2008, a member of the explosives disposal corps on board set a record of 450 m in depth due to saturated diving, setting the second highest (at that time) record in the world after 534m in France.

In response to the Great East Japan Earthquake caused by the Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011, he was dispatched off Sanriku to dispatch a disaster. Engaged from June 26th to July 3rd.

From July 13, 2018, she provided support in response to the flooding in July 2018.

Gallery

• 
  JS Chihaya at Honolulu on 8 November 2001.
• 
  JS Chihaya and JS Chiyoda at Kobe on 19 December 2004.
• 
  JS Chihaya (far left) at Kure Naval Base on 4 May 2008.
• 
  JS Chihaya at Yokosuka on 18 September 2011.
• 
  JS Chihaya and JS Fuyushio at Yokosuka on 22 September 2013.
• 
  JS Chihaya and JS Kurobe at Yokosuka on 10 October 2015.
• 
  JS Chihaya at Kobe on 2 September 2017.
• 
  JS Chihaya at Kobe on 2 September 2017.
• 
  JS Chihaya at Kure Naval Base on 6 May 2018.