The Enoshima class is a class of coastal minesweepers of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.[1]
 JS Enoshima on 29 November 2013 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Enoshima |
| Builders | |
| Preceded by | Harishima class |
| Succeeded by | N/A |
| Built | 2009-2013 |
| In commission | 2012-present |
| Planned | 3 |
| Completed | 3 |
| Active | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Minesweeper |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 57 m (187 ft 0 in) |
| Beam | 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in) |
| Depth | 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Complement | 48 |
| Sensors and processing systems | |
| Armament | 1 × single JM61R-MS 20mm guns |
Development
editFrom the lessons learned[which?] from the 1991 dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to the Persian Gulf, the Maritime Self-Defense Force took the example of the Royal Navy's Sandown class minehunter, built after the 1994 plan, especially in order to improve its capabilities regarding mine clearance. However, while the Sandown class is basically a minesweeper that does not have minesweeping ability[clarification needed][clarification needed]. The waters around Japan have many muddy seabeds that are not suitable for minesweeping[why?], and abandonment of minesweeping ability is unacceptable[clarification needed]. For this reason, the class is also[clarification needed] given the ability to sweep with Australian-made DYAD[clarification needed]-sensitive minesweepers, but due to magnetic management issues[clarification needed], it was decided that it would not be installed all the time but would be received from the mother ship[clarification needed] at sea as needed[clarification needed]. Operational restrictions were large[clarification needed], and mobility was also[clarification needed] restricted.[2][3]
For this reason[clarification needed], it was built as a new type of minesweeper equipped with a domestic system that has the same performance as the overseas-made minesweeping system equipped in the Sugashima class, as well as realizing the installation of minesweepers on its own boat[clarification needed].[2]
Ships in the class
edit| Pennant no. | Name | Builders | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Home port |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSC-604 | Enoshima | Universal Shipbuilding Corporation, Keihin | 14 May 2009 | 25 October 2010 | 21 March 2012 | Yokosuka |
| MSC-605 | Chichijima | 24 May 2010 | 24 November 2011 | 21 March 2013 | Yokosuka | |
| MSC-606 | Hatsushima | Japan Marine United, Yokohama | 26 April 2012 | 6 December 2013 | 19 March 2015 | Yokosuka |
Citations
edit- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b Details of the new minesweeper Hirashima, Ships of the World. Vol. 694. Japan: Gaijinsha. August 2008. pp. 154–159.
- ^ Takahashi, Yoichi (May 2013). Mine Warships (Special Feature: Maritime Self-Defense Force's New Weapons)-(Notable New Weapons), Ships of the World. Vol. 778. Japan: Gaijinsha. pp. 92–97.