JS Shimakaze (DDG-172)

History

The modern Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has a total of 36 warships (as of December 2017) dedicated to the "destroyer" role. One of the courses involved is the second-ranked Hatakaze course, led by JS Hatakaze (DDG-171), whose sister is JS Shimakaze (DDG-172). Both are built to a 5,800-ton standard. The JS Shimakaze that this article focuses on was formulated on January 13, 1985 and launched on January 30, 1987.

She was commissioned to serve in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force on March 23, 1988, headquartered outside Maizuru, Japan.

The Shimakaze displaces 4,675 tons under standard load and up to 6,100 tons under full load. Dimensions include a length of 492.1 feet, a beam of 53.9 feet and a draft of 15.8 feet. There are 260 employees on board. A Mitsubishi (Sikorsky) SH-60 helicopter is carried from the aft flight deck.

Equipped with advanced anti-submarine (ASW) equipment, this rotor platform also serves as an over-the-horizon reconnaissance component.

The ship features a raised foredeck and a raised section just aft of the bow tower location. The bridge connects to the central main superstructure, covered by a lattice mast structure that houses sensors, radar, communications and various other necessary systems (including the SPS-52C air search radar). After the main mast, there is a break in the superstructure, and the flat pipes are located near the midship. Behind these structures is the stern superstructure with a shorter mast and an OPS-11C series air search radar.

The second tower faces the stern. The helicopter flight deck is directly above the tail.

Propulsion comes from 2 x Kawasaki (Rolls-Royce) Spey SM1A gas turbines and 2 x Rolls-Royce Olympus gas turbines producing over 72,000 hp on 2 x axles. This is an arrangement called COGAG (Combined Gas and Gas) that allows the vessel to switch between each pair of engines for optimum efficiency in performance and fuel economy. Therefore, the Spey engine is generally used for cruise, and the Olympus engine is used for high-speed cruise. Under ideal conditions, warships can travel at 30 knots.

The Flag Kaze-class is the first ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to use a pure gas turbine propulsion scheme.

Shimakaze is classified as a guided missile destroyer (DDG), meaning a weapon suite led by missile weapons. Weapons are a mix of missiles and projectiles, including 2 x 5"/54 caliber Mark 42 turret mounted deck guns supported by RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile launcher units.

The warship also carries an ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) launch system And a pair of 20mm phalanx close-in weapon systems (CIWS). To complete its offensive capabilities, it needs to be equipped with two 68-type triple torpedo tubes.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Wing