Harishima-class minesweeper

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MSC 601 HIRASHMA.jpg
JS Harishima
Class overview
NameHarishima
BuildersUSC, Keihin
Preceded bySugashima class
Succeeded byEnoshima class
Built2005-2008
In commission2008-present
Planned3
Completed3
Active3
General characteristics
TypeMinesweeper
Displacement
Length57 m (187 ft 0 in)
Beam9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
Depth4.4 m (14 ft 5 in)
Propulsion
Speed14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement48
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament1 × single

The Harishima class is a class of coastal minesweepers of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.[1]

Development[]

From the lessons learned from the 1991 dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to the Persian Gulf, the Maritime Self-Defense Force took the example of the Royal Navy's Sandown class minehunter, built after the 1994 plan, especially in order to improve its capabilities regarding mine clearance. However, while the Sandown class is basically a minesweeper that does not have minesweeping ability. The waters around Japan have many muddy seabeds that are not suitable for minesweeping, and abandonment of minesweeping ability is unacceptable. For this reason, the class is also given the ability to sweep with Australian-made DYAD-sensitive minesweepers, but due to magnetic management issues, it was decided that it would not be installed all the time, but would be received from the mother ship at sea as needed. Operational restrictions were large, and mobility was also restricted.[2][3]

For this reason, it was built as a new type of minesweeper equipped with a domestic system that has the same performance as the overseas-made minesweeping system equipped in the Sugashima class, as well as realizing the installation of minesweepers on its own boat.[2]

Ships in the class[]

Pennant no. Name Builders Laid down Launched Commissioned Home port
MSC-601 Universal Shipbuilding Corporation, Keihin 17 May 2005 27 September 2006 11 March 2008 Sasebo
MSC-602 17 May 2006 26 September 2007 6 March 2009 Sasebo
MSC-603 10 May 2007 29 September 2008 26 February 2010 Sasebo

Citations[]

  1. ^ https://www.mod.go.jp/j/approach/agenda/meeting/materials/seisan/sonota/pdf/04/001.pdf
  2. ^ a b Details of the new minesweeper Hirashima, Ships of the World. 694. Japan: Gaijinsha. August 2008. pp. 154–159.
  3. ^ Takahashi, Yoichi (May 2013). Mine Warships (Special Feature: Maritime Self-Defense Force's New Weapons)-(Notable New Weapons), Ships of the World. 778. Japan: Gaijinsha. pp. 92–97.
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