JS Asahi

Asahi (DD-119) is the lead ship of the Asahi-class destroyer of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. Her namesake came from “Morning sun”.

JS Asahi underway on 4 December 2017.
History
Japan
Name:	Asahi (あさひ)
Namesake:	Asahi
Owner:	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Builder:	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki
Laid down:	4 August 2015
Launched:	19 October 2016
Commissioned:	7 March 2018
Identification:	Pennant number: DD-119
Status:	Active
General characteristics
Class and type:	Asahi-class destroyer
Displacement:	5,100 tonnes standard 6,800 tonnes full load
Length:	151 m (495 ft 5 in)
Beam:	18.3 m (60 ft 0 in)
Draft:	5.4 m (17 ft 9 in)
Depth:	10.9 m (35 ft 9 in)
Propulsion:	COGLAG, two shafts, two GE LM2500 turbines
Speed:	30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement:	230
Sensors and processing systems:	OYQ-13 ACDS FCS-3A AAW system OPY-1 AAW system OQQ-24 ASW system OQR-4 Towed sonar array system NOLQ-3D-2 EW system OPS-48 surface search radar
Armament:	1 × Mk. 45 Mod 4 127 mm (5 in)/62 gun 8 × Type 90 Anti-ship missile in quad canisters 2 × 20 mm Phalanx Block1B CIWS 2 × HOS-303 triple 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo tubes Anti-torpedo System 32-cell Mk. 41 Vertical launching system RIM-162 ESSM SAM RUM-139 VL-ASROC Type 07 VL-ASROC
Aircraft carried:	1 × SH-60K helicopter

Development

The procurement of the destroyer began in 2013 in response to the reduction in the number of destroyers (namely the Hatsuyuki class) within the JMSDF. The two major characteristics of this destroyer is its bigger emphasis on anti-submarine warfare and the adoption of the COGLAG (combined gas turbine electric and gas turbine) propulsion system. A second destroyer was procured a year later.[1][2]

Construction and career

She was laid down on 4 August 2015 and launched on 19 October 2016. Commissioned on 7 March 2018 with the hull number DD-119.[3]

Gallery

• 
  JS Asahi next to JS Ashigara at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard, Nagasaki on 2 January 2017.
• 
  JS Asahi at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard, Nagasaki on 25 November 2017.
• 
  JS Asahi underway 29 August 2019.

References

1. "Defense Programs and Budget of Japan Overview of FY2013 Budget" (PDF). Japan Ministry of Defense. January 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
2. "Defense Programs and Budget of Japan Overview of FY2014 Budget" (PDF). Japan Ministry of Defense. December 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
3. Gady, Franz-Stefan. "Japan Commissions New Anti-Submarine Warfare Destroyer". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2020-10-02.