Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces

Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces kaijo jieitai
Lineup	1952
Country	Japan
Armed forces	Self Defense Forces
Type	Armed forces ( navy )
management
Admiral Chief of Staff	Admiral Yutaka Murakawa
Deputy Admiral Chief of Staff	Admiral Hiroshi Yamamura
insignia
Naval war flag

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces ( Japanese 海上自衛隊 kaijo jieitai , English Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force , abbreviated JMSDF ) are the de facto navy of Japan and the maritime branch of the Self-Defense Forces . They are the successor to the Imperial Japanese Navy , which was disbanded after the defeat of the Japanese Empire in the Pacific War . Since the country renounced armed forces in Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution after its defeat in World War II , the element of self-defense is emphasized on behalf of the armed forces.

The JMSDF are approximately 44,000 strong and have an authorized limit of 46,000 soldiers . Her focus is on underground hunting .

assignment

The mission of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces is to protect the territorial integrity of the Japanese coastal waters and is determined by the country's island location and its dependence on natural mineral resources . Therefore, the main task of the JMSDF is to deter an invasion and to be able to fight it in an emergency. However, it should contribute to the most peaceful possible coexistence within the framework of international relations.

fleet

The official prefix of Japanese ship names is JDS ( JMSDF Defense Ship ). An overview of the ships and boats of the JMSDF can be found in the list of ships of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces .

Helicopter carrier

Ship class	photo	Ships	Remarks
Izumo		Izumo (DDH-183) Kaga (DDH-184)	Helicopter carrier, which for constitutional reasons is called a helicopter destroyer . Is to be converted to an aircraft carrier.
Hyūga		Hyūga (DDH-181) Ise (DDH-182)	Helicopter carriers , which for constitutional reasons are called helicopter destroyers , officially not suitable for VTOL aircraft .

destroyer

Ship class	photo	Ships	Remarks
Guided missile destroyer (DDG)
Maya		Maya (DDG-179)
Atago		Atago (DDG-177) Ashigara (DDG-178)
Congo		Kongō (DDG-173) Kirishima (DDG-174) Myōkō (DDG-175) Chōkai (DDG-176)
Hatakaze		Shimakaze (DDG-172)	Is to be replaced by the destroyer of the Maya class currently under construction .
Anti-submarine destroyer (DD)
Asahi		Asahi (DD-119) Shiranui (DD-120)
Akizuki		Akizuki (DD-115) Teruzuki (DD-116) Suzutsuki (DD-117) Fuyuzuki (DD-118)
Takanami		Takanami (DD-110) Onami (DD-111) Makinami (DD-112) Sazanami (DD-113) Suzunami (DD-114)
Murasame		Murasame (DD-101) Hurasame (DD-102) Yudachi (DD-103) Kirisame (DD-104) Insazuma (DD-105) Samidare (DD-106) Ikazuchi (DD-107) Akebono (DD-108) Ariake ( DD-109)
Asagiri		Asagiri (DD-151) Yamagiri (DD-152) Yūgiri (DD-153) Amagiri (DD-154) Hamagiri (DD-155) Setogiri (DD-156) Sawagiri (DD-157) Umigiri (DD-158)	To be replaced by the 30DX- class frigates currently under construction .
Hatsuyuki		Matsuyuki (DD-130) Asayuki (DD-132)
Accompanying Destroyer (DE)
Abukuma		Abukuma (DE-229) Jintsu (DE-230) Ohyodo (DE-231) Sendai (DE-232) Chikuma (DE-233) Tone (DE-234)	To be replaced by the 30DX- class frigates currently under construction .

Submarines

Ship class	photo	Ships	Remarks
Sōryū		Sōryū (SS-501) Unryū (SS-502) Hakuryū (SS-503) Kenryū (SS-504) Zuiryū (SS-505) Kokuryū (SS-506) Jinryū (SS-507) Sekiryū (SS-508) Seiryū ( SS-509) Shōryū (SS-510) Ōryū (SS-511)
Oyashio		Uzushio (SS-592) Makishio (SS-593) Isoshio (SS-594) Narushio (SS-595) Kuroshio (SS-596) Takashio (SS-597) Yaeshio (SS-598) Setoshio (SS-599) Mochishio ( SS-600)

Speed ​​boats

Ship class	photo	Ships	Remarks
Hayabusa		Hayabusa (PG-824) Wakataka (PG-825) Otaka (PG-826) Kumataka (PG-827) Umitaka (PG-828) Shirataka (PG-829)

Amphibious units

Ship class	photo	Ships	Remarks
Ōsumi		Ōsumi (LST-4001) Shimokita (LST-4002) Kunisaki (LST-4003)	Amphibious Transport Dock
LCU 1 (Yusotei)		LCU-1 (Yusotei 1-Go) (LCU-2001) LCU-2 (Yusotei 2-Go) (LCU-2002)
Landing Craft Air Cushion		LCAC-1 (Air Cushion-tei 1-Go) (LCAC-2101) LCAC-2 (Air Cushion-tei 2-Go) (LCAC-2102) LCAC-3 (Air Cushion-tei 3-Go) (LCAC-2103 ) LCAC-4 (Air Cushion-tei 4-Go) (LCAC-2104) LCAC-5 (Air Cushion-tei 5-Go) (LCAC-2105) LCAC-6 (Air Cushion-tei 6-Go) (LCAC- 2106)
YF 2121 LCM		(11 in service)

Anti-mine vehicles

Ship class	photo	Ships	Remarks
Uraga		Uraga (MST-463) Bungo (MST-464)	Minesweeper
Awaji		Awaji (MSO-304) Hirado (MSO-305)	Sea minesweeper another unit is under construction
Enoshima		Enoshima (MSC-604) Chichijima (MSC-605) Hatsushima (MSC-605)	Coast minesweeper
Hirashima		Hirashima (MSC-601) Yakushima (MSC-602) Takashima (MSC-603)	Coast minesweeper
Sugashima		Sugashima (MSC-681) Notojima (MSC-682) Tsunoshima (MSC-683) Naoshima (MSC-684) Toyoshima (MSC-685) Ukushima (MSC-686) Izushima (MSC-687) Aishima (MSC-688) Aoshima ( MSC-689) Miyajima (MSC-690) Shishijima (MSC-691) Kuroshima (MSC-692)	Coast minesweeper
Uwajima		Nagashima (MSC-680)	Coast minesweeper

Supplier

Ship class	photo	Ships	Remarks
Mashu		Mashu (AOE-425) Grandma (AOE-426)
Towada		Towada (AOE-422) Tokiwa (AOE-423) Hamana (AOE-424)

Aircraft

Status: end of 2012

Japanese P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft in Hawaii

A Mitsubishi SH-60 on deck landing in March 2007

A Japanese MCH-101

Aircraft	origin	use	version	active	Ordered	Remarks
Planes
Lockheed P-3 Orion	United States	Maritime reconnaissance aircraft ELINT reconnaissance aircraft ELINT trainer test vehicle reconnaissance aircraft	P-3C EP-3C UP-3D UP-3C OP-3C	80 5 3 1 4		To be replaced by the Kawasaki P-1 as a sea reconnaissance aircraft
Kawasaki P-1	Japan	Maritime patrol	XP-1	2	10
Shin Meiwa PS-1	Japan	SAR plane	US-1A	2		Is determined by the Shin Meiwa US-2 replaced
Shin Meiwa US-2	Japan	SAR plane		5	9
King Air	United States	VIP transporter trainer aircraft	King Air 90	5 27
Learjet 36	Canada	VIP transporter		4th
Fuji T-5	Japan	Trainer aircraft		50
helicopter
Mitsubishi SH-60	Japan	Anti-submarine helicopter	SH-60J SH-60K	97
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk	United States	SAR helicopter	UH-60J	19th
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stalion	United States	Mine clearance helicopter	MH-53E	10		Is the AgustaWestland AW101 replaced
AgustaWestland AW101	European Union / Japan	Transport helicopter mine clearance helicopter	CH-101 MCH-101	7th	7th	Is built under license by Kawasaki as the KHI-101
Kawasaki BK 117	Japan	Training helicopter		2
Eurocopter EC 135	Germany	Training helicopter	EC135 T2 +	13	2
Hughes OH-6	United States / Japan	Training helicopter	OH-6D OH-6DA	9		Built by Kawasaki under license

Ranks and Rank Badges

Officers

Rank group	Flag officers			Staff officers			Subaltern officers
Sleeve badge
Shoulder pieces
Rank	幕僚 長 た る 海 将 (Bakuryō-chō taru Kaishō or Kaibakuchō)	海 将 (Kaishō)	海 将 補 (Kaishō-ho)	1 等 海佐 (Ittō Kaisa)	2 等 海佐 (Nitō Kaisa)	3 等 海佐 (Santō Kaisa)	1 等 海 尉 (Ittō Kaii)	2 等 海 尉 (Nitō Kaii)	3 等 海 尉 (Santō Kaii)
Rank (Bundeswehr)	admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Sea captain	Frigate captain	Corvette Captain	Lieutenant captain	First lieutenant at sea	Lieutenant at sea
NATO rank code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1

NCOs and men

Rank group	Deck officer	NCOs				Teams
Sleeve badge
Rank	准 海 尉 (Jun Kaii)	海 曹 長 (Kaisō-chō)	1 等 海 曹 (Ittō Kaisō)	2 等 海 曹 (Nitō Kaisō)	3 等 海 曹 (Santō Kaisō)	海士 長 (Kaishi-chō)	1 等 海士 (Ittō Kaishi)	2 等 海士 (Nitō Kaishi)
Rank (Bundeswehr)	Staff-boatswain ( Warrant Officer )	Staff Captain	Chief Boatswain	Captain / Boatswain	Chief Mate / Mate	Hauptgefreiter / Obergefreiter	Private	sailor
NATO rank code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1

literature

• Bruno Hofbauer: Kaijō Jieitai - The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces . In: MarineForum , 9-2019, pp. 20-24.

Web links

Commons : Maritime Self-Defense Forces  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Official website of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces (English) (Japanese)
• The Maritime Self-Defense Forces at GlobalSecurity.org (English)
• The JMSDF in a destination description of the Library of Congress of the United States (English)
• Maritime Staff Office (JMSDF) on Warships of JMSDF (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Mission description at the Japanese Ministry of Defense ( English ). Archived from the original on April 21, 2007. Retrieved on August 11, 2007.
2. ↑ Overview of Japan's Defense Policy ( English , PDF; 636kB) Ministry of Defense . P. 3ff .. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
3. ↑ World Air Forces 2013 ( English , PDF; 4.0MB) In: Flightglobal Insight (English) . 2013. Archived from the original on December 16, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
4. ↑ Another EC135 delivered to the Japanese Navy. Flug Revue, December 5, 2014, accessed December 5, 2014 .