Japan commissions its second Asahi-class destroyer

The JMSDF destroyer JS Shiranui (DD-120). Photo c/o Wikipedia.


The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) held the commissioning of its second and final Asahi-class guided missile destroyer, the JS Shiranui (DD-120) on 27 February 2019 in Nagasaki.

The JS Shiranui, which means “unknown fire”, was delivered by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and built in their Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works facility. It was assigned to servce with the JMSDF’s Escort Division 7 under Escort Flotilla 3 based in JMSDF Ominato Base in Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture.

The ship was launched in October 2017, and entered sea trials in July 2018.

The Asahi-class destroyers are 5,100-ton general purpose guided missile destroyers, and are closely based on the earlier Akizuki-class but with more focus on anti-submarine warfare, which includes having the first-ever periscope detection radar in JMSDF service, to allow detection of submarines even when submerged to periscope level. It is also equipped with a new towed array sonar system.

The ships of the class are propelled by two General Electric LM2500 gas turbine engines in a Combined Gas Tubine-Electric and Gas Turbine (COGLAG) configuration, has a top speed of 30 knots, and a crew of 220 men and women. The ships can accommodate a Sikorsky SH-60K naval helicopter on the flight deck, with another stored in the hangar.

Armaments include a 127mm/62 caliber naval gun, two Phalanx 20mm close-in weapon system (CIWS), the Type 90 anti-ship cruise missile, a vertical-launching systems (VLS) for the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM), and two triple 324mm anti-submarine torpedo tubes.



[1] Naval Today
[2] Jane’s Defence Weekly
[3] Defense World

Japan commissions its second Asahi-class destroyer Japan commissions its second Asahi-class destroyer Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal on March 06, 2019 Rating: 5

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