Murasame-class destroyer (1994)

For other ships with the same name, see Murasame-class destroyer and Japanese destroyer Murasame.
JS Murasame in Pearl Harbor
Class overview
Name: Murasame-class destroyer
Builders: IHI Tokyo Shipyard and Marine United
Operators:  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded by: Asagiri-class destroyer
Succeeded by: Takanami-class destroyer
Built: 1993–2000
In commission: 1996–
Planned: 14
Completed: 9
Cancelled: 5
Active: 9
General characteristics
Type: Destroyer
Displacement: 4,550 long tons (4,623 t) standard 6,100 long tons (6,198 t) full load
Length: 151 m (495 ft)
Beam: 17.4 m (57 ft 1 in)
Draft: 5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)
Propulsion:
Speed: 30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h)
Complement: 165
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 × SH-60J(K) anti-submarine helicopter

The Murasame-class destroyer is a third-generation general purpose destroyer in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

The Murasame was a successor to the Asagiri class, and like its predecessor, it mainly tasked with ASW and ASuW. It shows a number of improvements to design and equipment, such as:

Introduction of stealth technology.
Both superstructure and hull have angled rather than the traditional vertical surfaces. There is however no angled tripod mainmast like the one of the American Arleigh Burke-class destroyer because of the heavy weather of the Sea of Japan in winter.
New-generation C4I system.
This class is equipped with the new generation OYQ-9 combat direction system and the OYQ-103 ASW control system. The OYQ-9 CDS is composed of one AN/UYK-43, one AN/UYK-44, and AN/UYQ-21 workstations. The totality of the OYQ-103 and associated sub-systems is the Japanese equivalent of the American AN/SQQ-89 ASWCS.
Enhanced electronics.
The advanced OPS-24 active electronically scanned array radar and OPS-28 surface search and target acquisition radar introduced into the fleet with the Asagiri class remains on board, and there are some new system such as the NOLQ-3 integrated electronic warfare system and OQS-5 hull sonar. The NOLQ-3 EW suite is thought to be the Japanese equivalent of the American AN/SLQ-32.
Modified missile systems.
To enhance the low-observability and combat readiness capability, the Mk.41 vertical launching system (for the RUM-139 VL ASROC) and Mk.48 VLS (for the Sea Sparrow) replace the traditional swivel octuple launchers. And the surface-to-surface missile system is alternated by the SSM-1B of Japanese make. Currently, ships of this class have been switching the point defense missile system from the traditional Sea Sparrow to the Evolved Sea Sparrow.

The Murasame class was designed to replace the JMSDF's smaller destroyers that were reaching block obsolescence, ensuring the fleet could maintain its strength while increasing its firepower. It was originally planned that 14 of these would be built, but this was reduced to nine when the Takanami class (a modified variant of the Murasame) was designed and construction begun.

The Murasame-class destroyers' weapon systems include the Evolved Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile, Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile, RUM-139 VL ASROC, the SSM 1B anti-ship missile, two Mark 15 20 mm Phalanx CIWS gun mounts, two torpedo mounts in a triple tube configuration and a 76 mm 62cal rapid-fire naval gun.

With the exception of Kirisame, all ships of the class share their names with World War II destroyers.

Ships in the class

Pennant no. Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Home port
DD-101 JS Murasame 18 August 1993 23 August 1994 12 March 1996 Yokosuka
DD-102 JS Harusame 11 August 1994 16 October 1995 24 March 1997 Yokosuka
DD-103 JS Yudachi 18 March 1996 19 August 1997 4 March 1999 Sasebo
DD-104 JS Kirisame 3 April 1996 21 August 1997 18 March 1999 Sasebo
DD-105 JS Inazuma 8 May 1997 9 September 1998 15 March 2000 Kure
DD-106 JS Samidare 11 September 1997 24 September 1998 21 March 2000 Kure
DD-107 JS Ikazuchi 25 February 1998 24 June 1999 14 March 2001 Yokosuka
DD-108 JS Akebono 29 October 1999 25 September 2000 19 March 2002 Kure
DD-109 JS Ariake 18 May 1999 16 October 2000 6 March 2002 Sasebo

Photographs

References

Media related to Murasame class destroyers at Wikimedia Commons


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