Kunigami-class patrol vessel

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Kunigami-class patrol vessel
Japan Coast Guard PL82 Nagura at the Port of Ishigaki.jpg
Nagura at the Port of Ishigaki
Class overview
NameKunigami-class patrol vessel
OperatorsEnsign of the Japanese Coast Guard.svg Japan Coast Guard
Preceded by Hateruma class
Succeeded by Iwami class
SubclassesTeresa Magbanua class
In commission2012–present
Planned21
Building1
Completed20
Active20
General characteristics
TypePL (Patrol vessel Large)
Tonnage1,700 GT
Length96.6 m (316 ft 11 in)
Beam11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)
Draft5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Armament1 × JM61 20mm gun or Bushmaster II 30mm gun

The Kunigami-class patrol vessel (くにがみ型巡視船, Kunigami-gata-junnsi-senn) is a class of 1,000 ton-class PL type patrol vessels of the Japan Coast Guard (JCG).

Background[]

In the 2000s, the JCG was building 1,000-ton class PLs with a high speed planing hull, such as Aso and Hateruma classes. Although these ships were excellent in security missions, they were also unsuitable for rescue missions because of their poor low-speed stability and cruising capacity.[1]

Since the mass retirement of the Shiretoko class was planned in the 2010s, general-purpose ships as replacements were needed. For this purpose, construction of this class was started under the FY2009 supplement budget.[2]

As a result of emphasis on versatility, the price soared, only two ships were built, more reasonable Iwami class was built from the following fiscal year. However, after that, additional construction was done to deploy on the Senkaku Islands in the FY2012 budgets. And construction is continuing from FY 2013 onwards, as construction costs have been reduced due to the mass production effect of this large-scale construction.[2]

Design[]

Due to the demand for multi-mission capabilities, displacement hull made of steel was adopted. Also, since low-speed stability was required, antiroll tanks was also installed in addition to fin stabilizers. The superstructure is made of aluminium alloy, but the bridge has bulletproofing structure introduced.[3]

A helipad is set on the stern deck. Although there is no hangar, they can supply fuel and electric power to a helicopter on board.[3]

As a main weapon, a JM61-RFS 20 mm rotary gun system with an optical director was installed on the early ships built under the FY2009 and FY2012. And more powerful Bushmaster II 30 mm chain gun system was installed on the late ships built under the FY2013 and following fiscal years.[4]

In service[]

JCG Kunigami class ships based at Ishigaki

The 10 Kunigami class ships leading JCG's increased focus on grey-zone challenges along with 2 Hateruma-class patrol vessels has made the base at Ishigaki JCG's largest base, surpassing Yokohama. The ships of FY2012 constitutes the main force of the task force deployed around the Senkaku Islands. And the ships built under the FY2013 and following fiscal years were deployed as replacements of the Shiretoko class.[2][5][6]

Ships in the class[]

Pennant no. Name Builder Commissioned Homeport
PL-09 Kunisaki
(former Kunigami)
Shimonoseki shipyard,
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
April 27, 2012 Moji
PL-10 Bukō
(former Motobu)
Yokohama
PL-81 Taketomi September 26, 2014 Ishigaki
PL-82 Nagura
PL-83 Kabira November 7, 2014
PL-84 Zampa February 25, 2015
PL-85 Tarama Isogo shipyard,
Japan Marine United
November 25, 2015
PL-86 Ikema
PL-87 Irabu Tamano Shipyard,
Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding
PL-88 Tokashiki Shimonoseki shipyard,
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
February 4, 2016
PL-89 Aguni Tamano Shipyard,
Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding
February 24, 2016
PL-90 Izena Shimonoseki shipyard,
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
PL-11 Rishiri October 27, 2016 Wakkanai
PL-12 Esan Otaru
PL-13 Motobu Isogo shipyard,
Japan Marine United
November 29, 2016 Naha
PL-14 Yonakuni Tamano Shipyard,
Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding
November 25, 2016 Ishigaki
PL-01 Oki Shimonoseki shipyard,
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
February 27, 2017 Sakaiminato
PL-02 Erimo Kushiro
PL-91 Tsuruga Isogo shipyard,
Japan Marine United
May 15, 2020 Tsuruga
PL-92 Echizen Tamano Shipyard,
Mitsui E&S
July 30, 2020 Tsuruga

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Equipment and Technology Department of the Japan Coast Guard (July 2016). "Characteristics of JCG new type vessels and their design methods". Ships of the World. Kaijin-sha (840): 142–145.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Ships of Japan Coast Guard". Ships of the World. Kaijin-sha (840): 48–49. July 2016.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Details of Kunigami class new patrol vessels". Ships of the World. Kaijin-sha (762): 10–13. July 2012.
  4. ^ Nakanomyo, Masami (October 2015). "History of shipboard guns on JCG's patrol vessels". Ships of the World. Kaijin-sha (825): 168–173.
  5. ^ Sato, Yuji (18 October 2016). "The Japan Coast Guard protects the Senkaku Islands to the last". Japan Foreign Policy Forum. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  6. ^ Saitō, Katsuhisa (26 April 2021). "The Senkaku Confrontation: Japan's Coast Guard Faces Chinese "Patrol Ships"". Nippon Communications Foundation. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
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