Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (海上自衛隊 Kaijō Jieitai?), or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) after World War II. The JMSDF has a large fleet and its main tasks are to maintain control of the nation's sea lanes and to patrol territorial waters. It has also stepped up its participation in UN-led peacekeeping operations (PKOs) and Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIOs).

Statistics

 * Active Duty Personnel: 55,000
 * Reserve Personnel: 34,600
 * Commander of the Navy: Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano
 * Active Vessels: 112
 * Number of Bases: 8 (Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kure, Maizuru, Okayama, Ominato, Sasebo, Yokosuka)

Active Vessels

 * Yura-class Utility Landing Ship (2) - 1981
 * JS Yura (LSU-4171)
 * JS Maizuru (LSU-4172)
 * 1-Go-class Landing Craft (2) - 1988
 * JS Yusotei 1-Go (LCU-2001)
 * JS Yusotei 2-Go (LCU-2002)
 * Oosumi-class Tank Landing Ship (3) - 1998
 * JS Oosumi (LST-4001)
 * JS Shimokita (LST-4002)
 * JS Kunisaki (LST-4003)
 * Shirane-class Helicopter Destroyer (2) - 1980
 * JS Shirane (DDH-143)
 * JS Kurama (DDH-144)
 * Hatsuyuki-class Destroyer (7) - 1982
 * JS Hatsuyuki (DD-12
 * JS Mineyuki (DD-124)
 * JS Sawayuki (DD-125)
 * JS Hamayuki (DD-126)
 * JS Isoyuki (DD-127)
 * JS Haruyuki (DD-128)
 * JS Yamayuki (DD-129)
 * JS Matsuyuki (DD-130)
 * JS Asayuki (DD-132)
 * Hatakaze-class Guided Missile Destroyer (2) - 1986
 * JS Hatakaze (DDG-171)
 * JS Shimakaze (DDG-172)
 * Asagiri-class Destroyer (8) - 1988
 * JS Asagiri (DD-151)
 * JS Yamagiri (DD-152)
 * JS Yuugiri (DD-153)
 * JS Amagiri (DD-154)
 * JS Hamagiri (DD-155)
 * JS Setogiri (DD-156)
 * JS Sawagiri (DD-157)
 * JS Umigiri (DD-158)
 * Abukuma-class Destroyer Escort (6) - 1989
 * JS Abukuma (DE-229)
 * JS Jintsu (DE-230)
 * JS Ooyodo (DE-231)
 * JS Sendai (DE-232)
 * JS Chikuma (DE-233)
 * JS Tone (DE-234)
 * Kongou-class Guided Missile Destroyer (4) - 1993
 * JS Kongou (DDG-173)
 * JS Kirishima (DDG-174)
 * JS Myoukou (DDG-175)
 * JS Choukai (DDG-176)
 * Murasame-class Destroyer (10) - 1996
 * JS Murasame (DD-101)
 * JS Harusame (DD-102)
 * JS Yudachi (DD-103)
 * JS Kirisame (DD-104)
 * JS Inazuma (DD-105)
 * JS Samidare (DD-106)
 * JS Ikazuchi (DD-107)
 * JS Akebono (DD-108)
 * JS Ariake (DD-109)
 * Takanami-class Destroyer (5) - 2003
 * JS Takanami (DD-110)
 * JS Onami (DD-111)
 * JS Makinami (DD-112)
 * JS Sazanami (DD-113)
 * JS Suzunami (DD-114)
 * Atago-class Guided Missile Destroyer (4) - 2007
 * JS Atago (DDG-177)
 * JS Ashigara (DDG-178)
 * JS Mirai (DDG-179)
 * JS Yukikaze (DDG-180)
 * Hyuuga-class Helicopter Destroyer (2) - 2009
 * JS Hyuuga (DDH-181)
 * JS Ise (DDH-182)
 * Akizuki-class Destroyer (4) - 2012
 * JS Akizuki (DD-115)
 * JS Teruzuki (DD-116)
 * JS Suzutsuki (DD-117)
 * JS Fuyuzuki (DD-118)
 * Harushio-class Submarine (1) - 1990
 * JS Wakashio (SS-587)
 * Oyashio-class Submarine (11) - 1998
 * JS Oyashio (SS-590)
 * JS Michishio (SS-591)
 * JS Uzushio (SS-592)
 * JS Makishio (SS-593)
 * JS Isoshio (SS-594)
 * JS Narushio (SS-595)
 * JS Kuroshio (SS-596)
 * JS Takashio (SS-597)
 * JS Yaeshio (SS-598)
 * JS Setoshio (SS-599)
 * JS Mochishi (SS-600)
 * Souryuu-class Submarine (8) - 2009
 * JS Souryuu (SS-501)
 * JS Unryuu (SS-502)
 * JS Hakuryuu (SS-503)
 * JS Kenryuu (SS-504)
 * JS Zuiryuu (SS-505) - undergoing sea trials
 * JS Unnamed (SS-506) - under construction
 * JS Unnamed (SS-507) - under construction
 * JS Unnamed (SS-508) - under construction
 * Sagami-class Combat Support Ship (1) - 1979
 * JS Sagami (AOE-521)
 * Futami-class Ocean Survey Vessel (2) - 1979
 * JS Futami (AGS-5102)
 * JS Wakata (AGS-5104)
 * Suma-class Ocean Survey Vessel (1) - 1982
 * JS Suma (AGS-5103)
 * Chiyoda-class Submarine Rescue Tender (1) - 1985
 * JS Chiyoda (AS-405)
 * Towada-class Combat Support Ship (3) - 1987
 * JS Towada (AOE-422)
 * JS Tokiwa (AOE-423)
 * JS Hamana (AOE-424)
 * Kurobe-class Training Support Ship (1) - 1989
 * JS Kurobe (ATS-4202)
 * Hibiki-class Ocean Surveillance Ship (2) - 1991
 * JS Hibiki (AOS-5201)
 * JS Harima (AOS-5202)
 * Asuka-class Experimental Testbed Vessel (1) - 1995
 * JS Asuka (ASE-6102)
 * Nichinan-class Ocean Survey Vessel (1) - 1999
 * JS Nichinan (AGS-5105)
 * Hashidate-class Yacht (1) - 1999
 * JS Hashidate (ASY-91)
 * Tenryu-class Training Support Ship (1) - 2000
 * JS Tenryu (ATS-4203)
 * Chihaya-class Submarine Rescue Ship (1) - 2000
 * JS Chihaya (ASR-403)
 * Hiuchi-class Support Ship (5) - 2002
 * JS Hiuchi (AMS-4301)
 * JS Suo (AMS-4302)
 * JS Amakusa (AMS-4303)
 * JS Genkai (AMS-4304)
 * JS Enshu (AMS-4305)
 * Mashu-class Combat Support Ship (2) - 2004
 * JS Mashi (AOE-425)
 * JS Omi (AOE-426)
 * Shirase-class Icebreaker (1) - 2009
 * JS Shirase (AGB-5003)
 * Shonan-class Ocean Survey Vessel (1) - 2010
 * JS Shonan (AGS-5106)
 * Kashima-class Training Ship (1) - 1995
 * JS Kashima (TV-3508)
 * Shimayuki-class Training Vessel (3) - 1999
 * JS Shimayuki (TV-3513)
 * JS Shirayuki (TV-3517)
 * JS Setoyuki (TV-3518)
 * Asashio-class Training Submarine (3) - 2002
 * JS Asashio (TSS-3601)
 * JS Hayashio (TSS-3606)
 * JS Fuyushio (TSS-3607)
 * Niijima-class Minesweeper Controller (1) - 1981
 * JS Niijima (MCL-722)
 * Uwajima-class Minesweeper (6) - 1990
 * JS Maejima (MSC-675)
 * JS Kumejima (MSC-676)
 * JS Makishima (MSC-677)
 * JS Tobishima (MSC-678)
 * JS Yugeshima (MSC-679)
 * JS Nagashima (MSC-680)
 * Ieshima-class Minesweeper Controller (1) - 1990
 * JS Ieshima (MCL-728)
 * Yaeyama-class Minesweeper (3) - 1993
 * JS Yaeyama (MSO-301)
 * JS Tsushima (MSO-302)
 * JS Hachijyo (MSO-303)
 * Uraga-class Minesweeper Tender (2) - 1997
 * JS Uraga (MST-463)
 * JS Bungo (MST-464)
 * Sugashima-class Minesweeper (12) - 1999
 * JS Sugashima (MSC-681)
 * JS Notojima (MSC-682)
 * JS Tsunoshima (MSC-683)
 * JS Naoshima (MSC-684)
 * JS Toyoshima (MSC-685)
 * JS Ukushima (MSC-686)
 * JS Izushima (MSC-687)
 * JS Aishima (MSC-688)
 * JS Aoshima (MSC-689)
 * JS Miyajima (MSC-690)
 * JS Shishijima (MSC-691)
 * JS Kuroshima (MSC-692)
 * Hirashima-class Minesweeper (3) - 2006
 * JS Hirashima (MSC-601)
 * JS Yakushima (MSC-602)
 * JS Takashima (MSC-602)
 * Enoshima-class Minesweeper (3) - 2011
 * JS Enoshima (MSC-604)
 * JS Unnamed (MSC-605)
 * JS Unnamed (MSC-606)
 * Hayabusa-class Patrol Ship (6) - 2002
 * JS Hayabusa (PG-824)
 * JS Wakataka (PG-285)
 * JS Otaka (PG-286)
 * JS Kumataka (PG-287)
 * JS Umitaka (PG-288)
 * JS Shiritaka (PG-289)

Future Procurement

 * The Japanese government is looking at the idea of building two or three aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines since the removal of Article Nine of the Japanese Constitution.
 * The JMSDF is also planning on building up to eight large fleet replenishement oilers for their navy.