Murasame-class Destroyer (1996)

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

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 are named for World War II destroyers.

Specifications

 * Type: Multirole Destroyer (Hull designation symbol DD)
 * Service Period: March 12, 1996
 * Characteristics
 * Length: 495 feet (150.88 meters)
 * Beam: 57 feet 1 inch (17.4 meters)
 * Draft: 17 feet 1 inch (5.21 meters)
 * Displacement: 5,096 tons standard; 6,832 tons full load
 * Crew: 165
 * Propulsion: 2 x IHI LM-2500 gas turbines, 2 x Kawasaki-Rolls Royce Spey SM1C gas turbines, 60,000 shp (45 MW), 2 shafts
 * Speed: 30 knots (55.56 km/h)
 * Sensor Suite:
 * OQS-5 hull sonar
 * OYQ-9 combat direction system
 * OPS-24 AESA Radar
 * OPS-28 Surface Search and Target Acquisition Radar
 * OYQ-103 ASW control system
 * Countermeasures:
 * NOLQ-3 Integrated Electronic Warfare Suite
 * Armament
 * 1 x Otobreda 76mm/62-caliber Super Rapid Fire naval gun
 * 1 x 16-cell Mk.41 VLS (fires RUM-139 VL-ASROC)
 * 4 x 8-cell Mk.48 VLS (fires RIM-162C ESSM)
 * 2 x 4-canister Mk.141 SSM Launcher (fires SSM-1B AShMs)
 * 2 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS
 * 2 x Type 68 triple fire torpedo tubes
 * Aircraft Carried: 1 x Mitsubishi SH-60J Seahawk

Unit Run

 * 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)