Asahi-class destroyer escort

Class of destroyer escorts in the Japanese military

JDS Hatsuhi in 1967

Class overview
Name| Asahi-class destroyer escort
Builders| Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, New Jersey
Operators|

* Coastal Safety Force
* Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

Preceded by| Wakaba class
Succeeded by| Akebono class
Subclasses| Cannon class
Built| 1943
In commission| 1955–1975
Completed| 2
Laid up| 1
Retired| 2
General characteristics
Type| Destroyer Escort
Displacement|

* 1,240 tons standard
* 1,620 tons full load

Length| 93.3 m (306 ft)
Beam| 11 m (36 ft)
Draft| 3.5 m (11 ft) full load
Propulsion|

* 4 GM Mod. 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive
* 6,000 shp (4,500 kW), 2 screws

Speed| 21 knots (39 km/h)
Range| 10,800 nautical miles (20,000 km; 12,400 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement|

* 15 officers
* 201 enlisted men

Armament|

* 3 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 guns (3×1)
* 2 × 40 mm Bofors AA guns (1x2)
* 8 × 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns (8×1)
* 3 × Torpedo tubes for 21-inch Mark 15 torpedo (1×3)
* 8 × depth charge projectors
* 1 × Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar
* 2 x depth charge tracks

The Asahi-class destroyer escort was a class of destroyer escorts of Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. Two ships were lent from the Cannon class by the United States Navy and in commissioned from 1955 until 1975.

## Description

[edit]

In 1951, General Matthew Ridgway, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, proposed to lend a patrol frigate (PF) and a landing support boat (LSSL) to Japan under Allied occupation. In response to this, on April 26, 1952, the Coastal Safety Force was established within the Japan Coast Guard to serve as a receiver for these warships and as the base of the future Navy. Then, with the establishment of the National Safety Agency on August 1, the same year, the Coast Guard absorbed the route enlightenment department of the Japan Coast Guard and was reorganized into a security force, and together with the National Police Reserve (later the National Safety Force), which is a land unit, of the National Safety Agency.[1]

Of the rented vessels, all 18 PF vessels were delivered in 1953 and commissioned as comb-type guard vessels, which later became the starting point for the development of the Maritime Self-Defense Force escort vessels. In the budget for 1952, which is the year when the guards were established, the construction of support vessels (water vessels, heavy oil vessels, etc.) to improve the operational base of these guard vessels was prioritized, and the construction of combat ships was not carried out. Although domestic construction of security vessels began in 1953, the construction in the same year was two 1,600-ton instep security vessels (Harukaze class) and 1,000-ton B-type security vessels (JDS Akebono and Ikazuchi class) It was fastened to 3 ships.[2]

After that, the US-Japan Ship Loan Agreement was signed on May 14, 1954, and two Livermore-class destroyers and two Cannon-class destroyer escorts were to be rented. This type is the one that recommissioned this Cannon class. The Livermore class became the Asakaze-class destroyer.

## Ships in the class

[edit]

Asahi class  Hull no. | Name  | Builder  | Laid down  | Launched  | Commissioned  | Decommissioned

|
|
|
|
|
|

DE-262  | Asahi | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, New Jersey | 7 January 1943  | 27 May 1943  | 14 June 1955  | 13 June 1975
DE-263  | Hatsuhi | 14 January 1943  | 27 May 1943

## Gallery

[edit]

* JDS Asahi with her hull number painted 6 which indicates the affiliation of the 6th escort corps.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Koda. 2015. pp. 12–23.
2. ^ Koda. 2015. pp. 24–35.

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Combatant ship classes of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

Helicopter Destroyer (DDH)|

* Haruna
* Shirane
* Hyūga
* Izumo

Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG)|

* Amatsukaze
* Tachikaze
* Hatakaze
* Kongō
* Atago
* Maya

Destroyer (DD)|

* Asakaze (Gleaves)
* Ariake (Fletcher)
* Harukaze
* Akizuki (1959)
* Hatsuyuki
* Asagiri
* Murasame (1994)
* Takanami
* Akizuki (2010)
* Asahi

All Purpose Destroyer (DDA)|

* Murasame (1958)
* Takatsuki

Anti Submarine Destroyer (DDK)|

* Ayanami
* Yamagumo
* Minegumo

Destroyer Escort (DE)|

* Wakaba (Matsu)
* Asahi (Cannon)
* Akebono
* Ikazuchi
* Isuzu
* Chikugo
* Ishikari
* Yūbari
* Abukuma

Frigate Multi-Purpose/Mine (FFM)|

* Mogami

Patrol Frigate (PF)|

* Kusu (Tacoma)

Submarine (SS)|

* Kuroshio (Gato)
* Oyashio
* Hayashio
* Natsushio
* Ōshio
* Asashio
* Uzushio
* Yūshio
* Harushio
* Oyashio
* Sōryū
* Taigei

Ocean Minehunters/Minesweepers (MHS)|

* Yaeyama
* Awaji

Minesweeper Tenders (MST)|

* Nasami
* Miho
* Hayatomo
* Hayase
* Uraga

Minelayers (MMC)|

* Erimo
* Sōya

Coastal Minehunters/Minesweepers (MHC/MSC)|

* Ujishima
* Atada
* Yashiro
* Kasado
* Takami
* Hatsushima
* Uwajima
* Sugashima
* Harishima
* Enoshima

Amphibious Warfare (LST/LCU)|

* Ōsumi (LST-542)
* Atsumi
* Miura
* Yura
* LCU-2001
* Ōsumi

Diving Support Vessel (YDT)|

* YDT-01

Cable Laying Ship (ARC)|

* Tsugaru
* Muroto (1979)
* Muroto (2012)

Yacht (ASY)|

* Hashidate

Research Ship (AGS/AOS)|

* Akashi
* Futami
* Hibiki
* Nichinan
* Shōnan

Replenishment Ship (AO/AOE)|

* Hamana
* Sagami
* Towada
* Mashū

Patrol boat (PG)|

* PG 01 (Sparviero)
* Hayabusa

Submarine chaser (PC)|

* Kari
* Kamome
* Hayabusa
* Umitaka
* Mizutori

Training ship (TV/ATS/TSS)|

* Azuma
* Hatsuyuki
* Hatakaze
* Oyashio
* Kurobe
* Tenryū
* Kashima

Submarine rescue ship (ASR/AS)|

* Chihaya (1960)
* Fushimi
* Chiyoda (1983)
* Chihaya (1998)
* Chiyoda (2016)

Experimental ship (ASE)|

* Kurihama
* Asuka

Icebreaker (AGB)|

* Fuji
* Shirase (1981)
* Shirase (2008)

* List of combatant ship classes of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
* List of ships of the Japanese Navy

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