JS Samidare in Pearl Harbor
Class overview
Name	Murasame class
Builders	IHI Tokyo Shipyard and Japan Marine United
Operators	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded by	Asagiri class
Succeeded by	Takanami class
Built	1993–2000
In commission	1996–present
Planned	14
Completed	9
Cancelled	5
Active	9
General characteristics
Type	General-purpose destroyer
Displacement	4,550 tons standard, 6,200 tons full load
Length	151 m (495 ft 5 in)
Beam	17.4 m (57 ft 1 in)
Draft	5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	2 × IHI-GE LM2500 gas turbines 2 × KHI-RR SM1C gas turbines 60,000 shp (45 MW) 2 shafts, cp props
Speed	30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h)
Complement	165
Sensors and processing systems	OYQ-9 CDS (w/ Link-11) OYQ-103 ASWCS FCS-2-31 fire-control systems OPS-24B air search radar OPS-28 surface search radar OQS-5 hull sonar OQR-2 TASS
Electronic warfare & decoys	NOLQ-3 suite Mk 36 SRBOC Chaff and Decoy Launching System AN/SLQ-25 torpedo decoys
Armament	1 × OTO Melara 76 mm gun 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS 8 × Type-90 SSM-1B Anti-ship missile in quad canisters 2 × triple 324 mm torpedo tubes 16-cell Mk 48 VLS with Evolved Sea Sparrow SAM 16-cell Mk 41 VLS with VL-ASROC
Aircraft carried	1 × SH-60J/K anti-submarine helicopter

The Murasame-class destroyer (むらさめ型護衛艦, Murasame-gata-goei-kan) is a class of destroyers, serving with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). This is the first class of the second-generation general-purpose destroyers of the JMSDF.^[1]

Background

Since FY1977, the JMSDF started construction of general-purpose destroyers (汎用護衛艦, Hanyou-goei-kan) under the eight ships / eight helicopters concept.^[2] In this concept, each flotillas would be composed of one helicopter destroyer (DDH), five general-purpose destroyers (DD), and two guided-missile destroyers (DDG).^[3] By FY1986, construction of twenty first-generation DDs (twelve Hatsuyuki class and eight Asagiri class) required for all four flotillas had been completed.^[2]

In the original plan, it was supposed to shift to destroyer escorts for local District Forces afterwards. However, if the use of these first-generation DDs was continued to the full extent of ships' life, the relative performance obsolescence was concerned. Thus the JMSDF decided to advance the construction of the new generation DDs. And this was the first class of the second-generation DDs.^[1]

Except for Kirisame, all ships of the class are named after Imperial Japanese Navy destroyers sunk in World War II.

Design

The hull design was completely renovated from first-generation DDs. In addition to increasing the size in order to reduce the underwater radiation noise, both superstructure and hull were inclined to reduce the radar cross-section. There is however no angled tripod mainmast like the one of the American Arleigh Burke-class destroyer because of the heavy weather of the Sea of Japan in winter. The aft was designed like a "mini-Oranda-zaka" as with the Kongō class to avoid interference between helicopters and mooring devices.^{[4][Note 1]}

The engine arrangement is COGAG as same as Asagiri class, but a pair of engines are updated to Spey SM1C. And the remaining one pair are replaced by LM2500, same as Kongō class.^[4]

Equipment

The basic configuration of the equipment is the same as first-generation DDs, but they are updated and enhanced throughout. Concepts of its combat system were partly based on those of Kongō class. Two large-screen displays and OJ-663 consoles are introduced in its OYQ-9 combat direction system as Aegis Weapon System (AWS). And OYQ-103 ASW combat systems, based on OYQ-102 of Kongō class and indirectly AN/SQQ-89, present an integrated picture of the tactical situation by receiving, combining, and processing active and passive sensor data from the hull-mounted array, towed array and sonobuoys.^[6]

The advanced OPS-24 active electronically scanned array radar and OPS-28 surface search and target acquisition radar introduced into the fleet with the latter batch of the Asagiri class remain on board, and there are some new systems like the NOLQ-3 electronic warfare suite and OQS-5 bow-mounted sonar.^[4]

To enhance the low-observability and combat readiness capability, vertical launching systems were adopted on its missile systems: Mk 41 for VL-ASROC and Mk 48 for Sea Sparrow replace the traditional swivel octuple launchers. And the surface-to-surface missile system is alternated by the SSM-1B of Japanese make.^[4] Currently, ships of this class have been switching the point defense missile system from the traditional Sea Sparrow (RIM-7M) to the Evolved Sea Sparrow by FY2012.^[7]

The aircraft facility is expanded to accommodate two shipboard helicopters. One Mitsubishi SH-60J/K is a basic load, and another can be accommodated in case of overseas operation.^[2]

Ships in the class

Gallery

• 
  JS Murasame, JS Harusame, JS Yudachi and JS Kirisame in Pearl Harbor
• 
  JS Harusame
• 
  JS Inazuma
• 
  JS Ariake
• 
  JS Ariake
• 
  JS Ikazuchi
• 
  JS Ikazuchi
• 
  Type 90 (SSM-1B) launcher of Murasame class
• 
  76 mm 62 cal compact gun

See also

• List of naval ship classes in service

Notes

References

External links

• Media related to Murasame class destroyers at Wikimedia Commons
• GlobalSecurity.org; JMSDF DD Murasame Class