Isuzu-class destroyer escort

The Isuzu class destroyer escort was a destroyer escort (or frigate) class built for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in the early 1960s. The latter batch (Kitakami and Ōi) were quite different from the earlier two vessels in their propulsion and weaponry, so sometimes they were classified as the "Kitakami-class".

JS Isuzu (DE-211)
Class overview
Name:	Isuzu class
Operators:	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded by:	Ikazuchi class
Succeeded by:	Chikugo class
In commission:	1961–1993
Completed:	4
Retired:	4
General characteristics
Type:	Destroyer escort
Displacement:	1,490 long tons (1,514 t) standard 1,700 long tons (1,727 t) full load
Length:	94.0 ft (28.7 m)
Beam:	10.2 ft (3.1 m)
Draught:	3.5 ft (1.1 m)
Depth:	7.0 ft (2.1 m)
Propulsion:	Diesel engines, 2 shafts
Speed:	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Complement:	183
Armament:	4 × 3"/50 caliber Mk.22 guns (Type 57) 1 × Y-gun depth charge throwers 1 × depth charge rack 4 × 533mm torpedo tubes Earlier batch (DE-211,212) 1 × Mk.108 ASW rocket launcher 2 × Mk.2 ASW torpedo racks Latter batch (DE-213,214) 1 × Bofors M/50 375mm ASW rocket launcher 2 × Type 68 triple 324mm torpedo tubes

This class was the first JMSDF surface combatant adopted shelter-deck design. Propulsion systems varied in each vessels because the JMSDF tried to find the best way in the propulsion systems of future DEs. The design concept of this class and the CODAD propulsion system of the Kitakami-class became prototype of them of the latter DEs and DDKs such as Chikugo-class and Yamagumo-class.[1][2]

The gun system was a scale-down version of the Ayanami-class, four 3"/50 caliber Mark 22 guns with two Mark 33 dual mounts controlled by a Mark 63 GFCS.[3] Main air-search radar was a OPS-2, Japanese variant of the American AN/SPS-12.[4]

In the earlier batch, the main Anti-submarine armament was a Mk.108 Weapon Alpha. The JMSDF desired this American brand-new ASW rocket launcher earnestly, but then, it became clear that it was not as good as it was supposed to be. So in the latter batch, it was changed with a M/50, Swedish 375mm quadruple ASW rocket launcher. And later, Weapon Alpha of the earlier batch was also replaced by a Type 71, Japanese version of the M/50.[5]

Ships

Pennant no.	Name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned
DE 211	Isuzu		January 17, 1961	July 29, 1961	March 25, 1992
DE 212	Mogami		March 7, 1961	October 28, 1961	June 20, 1991
DE 213	Kitakami		June 21, 1963	February 27, 1964	November 16, 1993
DE 214	Ōi		June 15, 1963	January 22, 1964	February 5, 1993

References

1. "1. Hull (Hardware of JMSDF destroyers)". Ships of the World (in Japanese). Kaijin-sha (742): 100–105. June 2011.
2. Yasuo Abe (June 2011). "2. Propulsion system (Hardware of JMSDF destroyers)". Ships of the World (in Japanese). Kaijin-sha (742): 106–111.
3. "2. Guns (Shipboard weapons of JMSDF 1952-2010)". Ships of the World (in Japanese). Kaijin-sha (721): 88–93. March 2010.
4. Tomohiko Tada (March 2010). "4. Radar/ECM/ESM (Shipboard weapons of JMSDF 1952-2010)". Ships of the World (in Japanese). Kaijin-sha (721): 100–105.
5. "3. Underwater weapons (Shipboard weapons of JMSDF 1952-2010)". Ships of the World (in Japanese). Kaijin-sha (721): 94–99. March 2010.

See also

• Media related to Isuzu class frigates at Wikimedia Commons