Saturday, December 31, 2022

Japan commissions third, launches sixth Mogami-class multi-purpose frigates

 

The JS Noshiro (FFM-3) as it leaves MHI Nagasaki Shipyard after being commissioned with the JMSDF. Photo c/o Naval News.



The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) has commissioned its third Mogami-class multipurpose frigate.

The ship, which was commissioned as the JS Noshiro (FFM-3), was commissioned with the JMSDF on 15 December 2022 during ceremonies held at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard.

The commissioning also marks its final departure from the Nagasaki Shipyard to its assignment 

The ship, which was named after the Noshiro River and shares a name with a World War II light cruiser and a Cold War-era destroyer escort, had its keel laying on 15 July 2020, and was launched on 22 June 2021.

Meanwhile, MHI Nagasaki Shipyard also launched the sixth Mogami-class frigate on 21 December 2022, with the ship named "Agano" (FFM-6). 

The ship was named after the Agano River, which originates from the Fukushima Prefecture and flows through the Niigata Prefecture to the Sea of Japan.

It also shares the same name as the lead ship of the Agano-class light cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

The new Mogami-class frigates were designed with efficiency and high level of automation in mind, together with a more compact design for reduced construction cost, and stealthy hull and superstructure design for reduced cross-section against radar detection.

It has a length of 132.5 meters, a width of 16.3 meters, and has a crew of 90 officers and sailors.

The ship has a maximum speed of more than 30 knots, and powered by a Combined Diesel and Gas (CODAG) propulsion configuration with two MAN 12V28/33D STC diesel engines and a Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine engine.

It is armed with a BAE Systems Mk.45 Mod 4 127mm naval gun, two Japan Steel Works RCWS for 12.7mm machine guns, a 16-cell Mk. 41 VLS, an 11-cell Raytheon SeaRAM CIWS, and two quadruple launchers for MHI Type 17 anti-ship missiles.


The Mogami-class are to replace the JMSDF's ageing fleet of Abukuma-class destroyer escorts that have been in service since the late 1980s.




[1] Naval News
[2] Naval Today
[3] Japan Maritime Self Defense Force

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