Hyūga-class helicopter destroyer

The is a class of helicopter carrier built for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Two - ''Hyūga'' and ''Ise'' - were built; upon completion the class were the largest ships built for the Japanese navy since the Second World War. ''Hyūga'' was described in a PBS documentary as the "first Japanese aircraft carrier built since WWII".

The ''Hyūga''s were followed by the larger , the first being commissioned in March 2015. The ''Izumo''s will replace the helicopter destroyers; the ''Hyūga''s were originally meant to replace the ''Shirane''s.

The specifications of the ''Hyūga'' class are comparable to light aircraft carriers, such as the Italian and Spanish . Under the JMSDF's naming conventions, the ships are called ''goei-kan'' (護衛艦, lit. "escort ship") in Japanese and destroyer in English, as same as all the other combatant ships of JMSDF.

During development, ''Hyūga'' and ''Ise'' were provisionally named "16DDH" and "18DDH" respectively. The numbers derived from the Japanese calendar, specifically the 16th year and 18th year of the Heisei reign (2004 and 2006), when the provisional name were given.

Design and specifications

The ''Hyūga''s are primarily anti-submarine warfare carriers operating SH-60K anti-submarine helicopters. They also have enhanced command-and-control capabilities to serve as flagships. During peacetime, ''Hyūga''s and ships could operate together to conduct military operations other than war, peacekeeping and relief operations.

The ships are armed with a 16-cell VLS carrying the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile surface-to-air missile, and Phalanx close in weapon system for self-defense. They are also equipped with the ATECS command system and FCS-3 fire control with active electronically scanned array radar system.

Globalsecurity.org suggests a maximum capacity of 18-24 H-60 class helicopters, or a smaller number of larger helicopters, even though the official complement was reported as three Mitsubishi H-60 and one AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters, or three Mitsubishi H-60 and one Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters. The ships have also operated JGSDF Fuji AH-64D Apache attack helicopters during joint amphibious exercises with the United States. It is speculated that future modifications may allow the operation of VTOL/STOVL fixed-wing aircraft, such as Harriers or F-35 Lightning II.

In 2013, the USMC operated V-22 Ospreys on ''Hyūga'' during joint amphibious exercises.

In 2016, MV-22 Ospreys operated off ''Hyūga'' in the participation of relief efforts following the Kumamoto earthquake.

Ships in the class

Construction of the first ship, JS ''Hyūga'', was started in 2006 and it was launched on 23 August 2007. The second was launched and named JS ''Ise'' on 21 August 2009.

''Hyūga'' was named after (present-day Miyazaki Prefecture) on the east coast of Kyūshū, and ''Ise'' after (present-day Mie Prefecture). They inherited the names of the battleships and of the Imperial Japanese Navy. These two ships had been built during World War I and served in World War II. Following the Battle of Midway, ''Hyūga'' and ''Ise'' were converted into a hybrid battleship/aircraft carriers in 1943 with the replacement of the aft gun turrets and barbettes by a small aircraft handling deck and hangar deck with which they could launch a squadron of Yokosuka D4Y dive-bombers and Aichi E16A seaplanes.;

In November 2009, ''Hyūga'' participated in "Annualex 21G" joint naval exercise with the US aircraft carrier and other USN and JMSDF ships to maintain the interoperability between the two navies.

On 11 March 2011, the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami struck the northeast part of Japan. ''Hyūga'' immediately moved to off the coast of Miyagi prefecture and started search and rescue operations.防衛省・自衛隊：海上自衛隊の活動
Ministry of Defense ''Ise'', which went into service on 16 March, also will join aid delivery operation for refuge shelters.

On 8 November 2013, Super-Typhoon ''Haiyan'' crossed the Visayas, Philippines. ''Ise'' joined the relief operation, using its helicopters to provide relief supplies to remote areas cut off by the storm.

Gallery

File:JS Hyūga (DDH-181) in formation with USS George Washington in the East China Sea after Keen Sword 2013, -16 Nov. 2012 a.jpg, and JS ''Hyūga''
File:US Navy 091117-N-6233H-098 The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH 181) leads a formation of U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force sips during Annual Exercise (ANNUALEX 21G).jpg, On exercise with a US Navy
File:SH-60K (8440) vliegt boven Hyūga tijdens oefening Dawn Blitz 2015, -4 september 2015 a.jpg, JS ''Hyūga'' operating AH-64D and SH-60K helicopters
File:Hyuuga 01.JPG, ''Hyūga'' aircraft hangar
File:Hyuuga 09.JPG, Aircraft elevator
File:Hyu-ga kannkyou.JPG, Flight deck
File:FCS-3 (DDH-182).jpg, FCS-3
File:JMSDF DDH 182 Ise.jpg, ''Ise'' in Kure
File:DDH 182 Ise port side view.jpg, ''Ise'' port side view
File:A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit lands aboard the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) helicopter 131112-M-ZZ999-012.jpg, U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey

Notes

References

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External links

Hyuga Class helicopter destroyer

Japan Launches Carrier ... Sorta
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hyuga Class Helicopter Destroyer
Destroyer classes