Shiretoko-class patrol vessel

The Shiretoko-class patrol vessel (Japanese: しれとこ型巡視船) is a class of PL type patrol vessels of the Japan Coast Guard (JCG; former Maritime Safety Agency, MSA). PL stands for "Patrol vessel Large", and the class name "Shiretoko" is named after Shiretoko, the northeastern area of the island of Hokkaidō, Japan

Shiretoko (PL-101)
Class overview
NameShiretoko class
Operators
Preceded byDaiou class
Succeeded byNojima
Built1978–1982
In commission1978–2016
Completed28
Active0
Retired28
General characteristics
Type1,000 ton-class PL (Patrol vessel, Large)
Tonnage980 GT[1]
Displacement
  • normal: 1,200 tons[1]
  • full load: 1,360 tons[2]
Length78.0 m (255 ft 11 in)[1]
Beam9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)[1]
Draught3.42 m (11 ft 3 in)[1]
Depth5.30 m (17 ft 5 in)[1]
Propulsion
Speed20.0 knots (37.0 km/h; 23.0 mph)[1]
Range4,400 nmi (8,100 km; 5,100 mi)[1]
Boats & landing
craft carried
  • 2 × 7 m class RHIBs
  • 2 × 4.8 m class RHIB
Complement41[1]
Sensors and
processing systems
  • JMA-1576 surface search radar[2]
  • JMA-1596 navigation radar[2]
Armament

Background

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In 1977, Act on Territorial Waters and Contiguous Water Area and the Act on Temporary Measures Concerning Fishery Waters was confirmed by the National Diet of Japan to adapt for the UNCLOS III. As a direct result of these acts, the coverage area of the MSA was dramatically extended, so the update of their equipment became an urgent issue. In consequence of these situations, the MSA had put some series of patrol vessels into commission from late 1970s to early 1980s.[3] This class was one of these series, planned to form the main fleet in the high-endurance mission.[4]

Design

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This class was designed as the enlarged and mass-production variant of the Daiou class, preceding large patrol vessels. Like the Daiou-class, the hull is ice resistant, but the hull structure has been further strengthened by increasing the thickness of the ice belt and the number of ribs.[4]

As designed, it was to be equipped with one Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun and one Oerlikon 20 mm cannon;[1] latter-batch vessels had their weapon changed to the newer Oerlikon KDC 35 mm gun, and the obsolete 20mm machine gun was dropped. And later, ships of the early-batch had their weapon converted to the JM61-M 20 mm gun.[5]

Ships in the class

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Pennant number Ship name Builder Commission Decommission
PL101 Shiretoko Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding 8 November 1978 26 March 2012
PL102 Esan Sumitomo Heavy Industries 16 November 1978 19 December 2008
PL103 Kusakaki (former Wakasa) Kawasaki Heavy Industries 21 October 2015
PL104 Atsumi (former Yahiko, Shimanto, Kii) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
PL105 Ojika (former Motobu) Sasebo Heavy Industries 29 November 1978 20 October 2000
PL106 Rishiri Shikoku Dockyard 12 September 1979 18 March 2006
PL107 Matsushima Tohoku Zosen 14 September 1979 7 February 2009
PL108 Iwaki Naikai Zosen Corporation 10 August 1979 12 March 2006
PL109 Shikine Usuki Shipyard 20 September 1979 4 September 2009
PL110 Suruga Kurushima Zosen 28 September 1979 5 February 2010
PL111 Rebun Narasaki Shipbuilding Corporation 21 November 1979 12 December 2008
PL112 Chōkai Nipponkai Heavy Industries 30 November 1979 12 March 2008
PL113 Nojima (former Ashizuri) Sanoyas Shipyard 31 October 1979 18 March 2006
PL114 Tosa (former Oki) Tsuneishi Shipbuilding 16 November 1979 29 January 2009
PL115 Yōtei (former Noto) Miho Shipyard 30 November 1979 21 December 2015
PL116 Yonakuni Hayashikane Shipbuilding 31 October 1979 2 February 2005
PL117 Suruga (former Daisetsu, Kudaka, Kurikoma, Iwami, Rebun) Hakodate Dock 31 January 1980 20 January 2016
PL118 Shimokita Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries 12 March 1980 26 March 2012
PL119 Suzuka Kanasashi Zosen 7 March 1980 5 February 2010
PL120 Kunisaki Koyo Dockyard Company 29 February 1980 18 October 2016
PL121 Amaki (former Genkai) Oshima Shipbuilding 31 January 1980 5 February 2008
PL122 Itoshima (former Gotou, Iwami) Onomichi Dockyard 29 February 1980 21 October 2015
PL123 Koshiki Kasado Dockyard 25 January 1980 5 February 2010
PL124 Hateruma Osaka Shipbuilding 12 March 1980 27 February 2008
PL125 Katori Tohoku Zosen 17 October 1980 21 October 2016
PL126 Oshika (former Kunigami, Matsushima) Kanda Shipbuilding 21 October 1980 20 January 2016
PL127 Etomo Naikai Zosen Corporation 17 March 1982 26 September 2016
PL128 Esan (former Masyu, Amagi, Yonakuni) Shikoku Dockyard 12 March 1982

References

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Bibliography

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  • Saunders, Stephen (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710628886.
  • Japan Coast Guard Foundation [in Japanese] (1990). 海上保安庁船艇航空機整備の歩み [History of vessels and aircraft of Maritime Safety Agency] (in Japanese). Japan Coast Guard Foundation. NCID BA33890789.
  • Nakanomyo, Masami (November 2015). "History of shipboard guns on JCG's patrol vessels". Ships of the World (in Japanese) (825). Kaijin-sha: 168–173. NAID 40020597434.

See also

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