Chikugo-class Destroyer Escort

The Chikugo-class destroyer escort (or frigate) of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force is the successor of Isuzu-class, with the same ASW mission. This class was followed by JDS Ishikari. This is the first post World War II Japanese destroyer escort to carry ASROC Anti-submarine missiles.

This class was designed as the modified variant of the Isuzu-class, the preceding destroyer escort class. The main anti-submarine weapon was changed from the M/50 375mm (14.8 in) ASW rocket launcher to the ASROC Anti-submarine missile. The octuple launcher for ASROC was stationed at the mid-deck, and the entire ship design was prescribed by this stationing. To exploit the range of ASROC, this class was equipped with the long-range low-frequency (5 kHz) bow sonar, OQS-3A (Japanese version of the AN/SQS-23), and in addition, the latter batch had SQS-35(J) Variable Depth Sonar system. These anti-submarine sensors and weapons could be compare with those of destroyers in the main fleet of this age, such as Minegumo-class and Yamagumo-class.

In contrast to their anti-submarine capability, the anti-aircraft fire power was weakened compared to the preceding class. The foredeck gun was a Type 68 3"/50 caliber twin cannon controlled by a FCS-1B Gun Fire Control System, which was standard anti-air weapon system in the JMSDF of this age. But the afterdeck gun was the old-fashioned Bofors 40 mm L/60 twin cannon, lacking the anti-ship missile defense (ASMD) capability. The final batch of this class was planned to equipped with the new Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon, but this plan was frustrated because of the budgetary consideration.

Specifications

• Type: Destroyer Escort (Hull designation symbol DE)
• Service Period: 1971-2003
• Characteristics:
  • Length: 305 feet 1.2 inches (93 meters)
  • Beam: 35 feet (10.67 meters)
  • Draught: 11 feet (3.35 meters)
  • Displacement: 2,016 tons (Full Load)
• Crew: 165
• Propulsion: CODAD propulsion system, 2 x shafts,, 4 x diesel engines (16,000 hp)
• Range: 5,500 nautical miles (10,186 kilometers) at 20 knots (37.04 km/h)
• Speed: 25 knots (46.3 km/h)
• Sensor Suite:
  • TDS-1 Target Designation System
  • OPS-14 2D air search radar
  • OPS-17 surface search radar
  • FCS-1B gun FCS
  • OQS-3A bow sonar
  • SQS-35(J) VDS
  • SFCS-4 Underwater Battery FCS
• Countermeasures:
  • NOLR-1 ESM (Earlier batch)
  • NOLR-5 ESM (Latter batch)
• Armament:
  • 2 x 3"/50 caliber guns
  • 2 x 40 mm AA guns
  • 1 x ASROC ASW missile launcher
  • 2 x Triple 324 mm ASW torpedo tubes

Unit Run

Hull no.	Name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned
DE-215	JDS Chikugo	December 9, 1968	January 13, 1970	July 31, 1971	April 15, 1996
DE-216	JDS Ayase	December 5, 1969	September 16, 1970	May 20, 1971	August 1, 1996
DE-217	JDS Mikuma	March 17, 1970	February 16, 1971	August 26, 1971	July 8, 1997
DE-218	JDS Tokachi	December 11, 1970	November 25, 1971	May 17, 1972	April 15, 1998
DE-219	JDS Iwase	August 6, 1971	June 29, 1972	December 12, 1972	October 16, 1998
DE-220	JDS Chitose	October 7, 1971	January 25, 1973	August 31, 1973	April 13, 1999
DE-221	JDS Niyodo	September 20, 1972	August 28, 1973	February 28, 1974	June 24, 1999
DE-222	JDS Teshio	July 11, 1973	May 29, 1974	January 10, 1975	June 27, 2000
DE-223	JDS Yoshino	September 28, 1973	August 22, 1974	February 6, 1975	May 15, 2001
DE-224	JDS Kumano	May 29, 1974	February 24, 1975	November 19, 1975	May 18, 2001
DE-225	JDS Noshiro	January 27, 1976	December 23, 1976	June 30, 1977	March 13, 2003