Mitsubishi Wakasa 1,000-ton-class Patrol Vessel

History

Wakasa is a 1,000-ton-class large patrol vessel built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding for the Japan Coast Guard. The ship was named and launched on 18 August 2026 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Enoura shipyard in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

The vessel was ordered under the Japan Coast Guard's fiscal 2024 construction program and is scheduled for delivery in fiscal 2027 after completion of hull, machinery, electrical and other outfitting work and subsequent trials. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding classifies the design as a 1,000-ton-class patrol vessel despite its substantially higher reported gross tonnage.

Published figures for Wakasa differ slightly between sources. The supplied report gives a gross tonnage of about 1,700 tonnes and a length of 96.6 m, while an IBTimes JP report gives about 1,500 gross tonnes and an overall length of about 96.0 m. A Defense Post report identifies Wakasa as the 24th Kunigami-class large patrol vessel and rounds its dimensions to 97 m by 12 m.

Development and construction

Wakasa was constructed as the first vessel associated with the Japan Coast Guard's 2024 patrol-vessel construction program described in the supplied material. That program includes four PL patrol vessels of the approximately 1,000-ton class and covers fiscal years 2024 through 2027, with a stated overall budget of approximately 38.4 billion yen.

The launch began the next stage of construction rather than operational service. Mitsubishi is to complete installation and outfitting of the ship's hull systems, machinery, electrical equipment and other onboard systems before trials. Delivery to the Japan Coast Guard is planned during fiscal 2027.

The vessel forms part of a wider Japan Coast Guard fleet-renewal effort approved by relevant ministers in December 2022. The broader program includes patrol ships of several sizes intended to replace older vessels and strengthen maritime patrol capacity. Other contemporary construction includes approximately 3,500-ton patrol vessels such as Amami, whose delivery by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Maritime Systems was reported by Naval Today, and Hiroshima, whose launch was reported by Baird Maritime.

Design

Wakasa is a large Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel with an overall length of approximately 96 m and a beam of approximately 11.5 m. Its reported gross tonnage varies between approximately 1,500 and 1,700 tonnes depending on the source, although Mitsubishi identifies the vessel within the 1,000-ton patrol-vessel category.

The supplied specifications state a maximum speed of at least 25 knots and a standard complement of 42 personnel. Defense Post reports that the Kunigami design uses two diesel engines with a combined output of about 18,000 hp and gives an approximate range of 4,000 nautical miles. That report also describes high-speed patrol and rescue boats as part of the design's equipment.

Sensors and mission equipment

Defense Post describes the Kunigami configuration associated with Wakasa as carrying LiDAR sensors, surface-search and navigation equipment, and a thermal-imaging system. The ship also has a helicopter landing deck for rotary-wing operations. The supplied material states that no aircraft hangar is fitted.

Armament

The supplied information describes armament across related 1,000-ton-class PL vessels as either one 20 mm multi-barrel weapon on specified earlier hulls or one 30 mm single-barrel gun on later vessels. Defense Post likewise describes Kunigami vessels as carrying 20 mm or 30 mm guns together with a fire-control system and a remotely controlled water cannon. The available material does not unambiguously establish which gun installation is fitted to Wakasa, so no single weapon caliber is presented here as confirmed for the ship.

Program status

Wakasa was launched on 18 August 2026 and is undergoing outfitting before trials. The vessel is scheduled to be handed over to the Japan Coast Guard in fiscal 2027. The supplied material gives an intended service life of 25 years.

Operators

• Japan Coast Guard — planned recipient. Delivery is scheduled for fiscal 2027 following outfitting and trials.

Specifications (Wakasa)

General characteristics

• Type: 1,000-ton-class large patrol vessel
• Gross tonnage: approximately 1,500-1,700 tonnes depending on source
• Length: approximately 96.0-96.6 m
• Beam: approximately 11.5 m
• Complement: 42
• Propulsion: two diesel engines, reported combined output approximately 18,000 hp

Performance

• Maximum speed: at least 25 knots
• Range: approximately 4,000 nautical miles as reported for the Kunigami configuration

Armament and aviation facilities

• Gun armament: 20 mm or 30 mm weapon reported for vessels of the design; exact Wakasa installation is not conclusively established in the supplied material
• Other equipment: remotely controlled water cannon reported for the Kunigami configuration
• Aviation facilities: helicopter landing deck; no hangar

Related equipment

The Kunigami design followed earlier Japan Coast Guard 1,000-ton-class patrol vessels. The Hateruma-class patrol vessel was built from 2005 to 2010 and is described as preceding the Kunigami class. Hateruma-class ships also combine high-speed patrol capability with a helicopter deck, but have different dimensions, propulsion and performance characteristics.