Shiretoko-class patrol vessel

	Shiretoko (PL-101)
Class overview
Name	Shiretoko class
Operators	Japan Coast Guard; (former Maritime Safety Agency);
Preceded by	Daiou class
Succeeded by	Nojima
Built	1978–1982
In commission	1978–2016
Completed	28
Active	0
Retired	28
General characteristics
Type	1,000 ton-class PL (Patrol vessel, Large)
Tonnage	980 GT
Displacement	normal: 1,200 tons; full load: 1,360 tons;
Length	78.0 m (255 ft 11 in)
Beam	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	3.42 m (11 ft 3 in)
Depth	5.30 m (17 ft 5 in)
Propulsion	2 × shafts CP props; 2 × diesel engines; (7,000 ps/5,148kW);
Speed	20.0 knots (37.0 km/h; 23.0 mph)
Range	4,400 nmi (8,100 km; 5,100 mi)
Boats & landing ; craft carried	2 × 7 m class RHIBs; 2 × 4.8 m class RHIB;
Complement	41
Sensors and ; processing systems	JMA-1576 surface search radar; JMA-1596 navigation radar;
Armament	originally as designed on early ships; Bofors 40mm L/60 gun; Oerlikon 20mm cannon; later ships; Oerlikon KDC 35mm gun; early ships (modernization/replacement guns); JM61-M 20mm gun;

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

Background

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

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


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		21 October 2015
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	26 September 2016

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Japan Coast Guard Foundation 1990, p. 225.
^ ^a ^b ^c Saunders 2009, p. 439.
^ Japan Coast Guard Foundation 1990, pp. 180–183.
^ ^a ^b Japan Coast Guard Foundation 1990, pp. 197–198.
^ Nakanomyo 2015.

Bibliography

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.