| Shirane-class destroyer | |
|---|---|
 Kurama (DDH-144) at sea in 2011 | |
| Class overview | |
| Name: | Shirane class destroyer |
| Builders: | Ishikawajima-Harima, Tokyo |
| Operators: |
 Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force |
| Preceded by: | Haruna class |
| Built: | 1977–1981 |
| In commission: | 1980– |
| Completed: | 2 |
| Active: | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | destroyer |
| Displacement: |
5,200 long tons (5,283 t) standard 7,500 long tons (7,620 t) full load |
| Length: | 159 m (522 ft) |
| Beam: | 17.5 m (57 ft 5 in) |
| Draft: | 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) |
| Propulsion: |
2 × IHI boilers 850 psi (60 kg/cm², 5.9 MPa), 430 °C 2 × turbines 2 shafts 70,000 shp (52 MW) |
| Speed: | 31 knots (36 mph; 57 km/h) |
| Complement: |
350 360 (DDH-144) 20 staff |
| Armament: |
• Sea Sparrow SAM launcher • ASROC Mk 112 octuple launcher • 2 × FMC 5"/54 caliber Mark 42 guns • 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS • 2 × Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes (Mk-46 torpedoes) |
| Aircraft carried: | 3 × SH-60J(K) anti-submarine helicopters |
The Shirane class destroyers are a class of Japanese destroyer originally built during the late 1970s and still in active service. They are built around a large central hangar which houses up to three helicopters and they are the natural successor of the Haruna-class destroyers.
Design[]
The Shirane Class incorporates an improved design based on the Haruna Class destroyers. The Shirane class is also the first Japanese ships to be fitted with 3D radars, the NEC OPS-12. The ships propulsion include two steam boilers with two shafts that produce 70.000 hp and gives a maximum speed of 32knots. Its armament includes two 42-mk 127mm guns, two 20-mm Phalanx close-in weapon systems, one Surface-to-air RIM-7 Sea Sparrow launcher, torpedos and anti-submarine rockets.[1] The ships are expected to be replaced by the new Izumo-class helicopter destroyer.
Ships in the class[]
| Pennant no. | Name | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Home port |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DDH-143 | Shirane | 25 February 1977 | 18 September 1978 | 17 March 1980 | Expected in 2014 | Yokosuka |
| DDH-144 | Kurama | 17 February 1978 | 20 September 1979 | 27 March 1981 | Sasebo |
Operational use[]
On December 15, 2007, a fire broke out on board the Shirane near the rudder house as it was anchored at Yokosuka. It took seven hours to extinguish and injured four crew members.[2]
On 27 October 2009, the JS Kurama collided with a South Korean container ship under the Kanmonkyo Bridge in the Kanmon Straits off the coast of Japan.[3] While neither ship sunk, the bow of the Kurama was badly damaged and burned for hours. Three Kurama crew members were reported injured.[4]
References[]
- ↑ http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/shirane-class-helicopter-destroyers-japan/
- ↑ "Latest Stories". www.dawn.com. December 15, 2007. http://www.dawn.com/2007/12/15/welcome.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
- ↑ Mari Yamaguchi (2009-10-27). "World Naval Ships Forums - View Single Post - JDS Kurama (DDH-144) Collision". www.worldnavalships.com. http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showpost.php?p=80985&postcount=3. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
- ↑ "CBC News - World - Japanese destroyer collides with Korean ship". cbc.ca. 2009-10-27. http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/10/27/japan-destroyer-collision-fire-sea.html. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shirane class destroyers. |
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The original article can be found at Shirane-class destroyer and the edit history here.