JS Kirishima
JS Kirishima (DDG-174) is a Kongō-class guided missile destroyer in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Kirishima was named for Mount Kirishima. She was laid down by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagasaki, Nagasaki on 7 April 1992, and was launched on 19 August 1993.
|  JS Kirishima underway on 22 February 2008 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
|  Japan | |
| Name | 
 | 
| Namesake | Mount Kirishima | 
| Ordered | 1990 | 
| Builder | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | 
| Laid down | 7 April 1992 | 
| Launched | 19 August 1993 | 
| Commissioned | 16 March 1995 | 
| Homeport | Yokosuka | 
| Identification | 
 | 
| Status | Active | 
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Kongō-class destroyer | 
| Displacement | 
 | 
| Length | 528.2 ft (161.0 m) | 
| Beam | 68.9 ft (21.0 m) | 
| Draft | 20.3 ft (6.2 m) | 
| Propulsion | 
 | 
| Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h) | 
| Range | 
 | 
| Complement | 300 | 
| Sensors and processing systems | 
 | 
| Electronic warfare & decoys | NOLQ-2 intercept / jammer | 
| Armament | 
 | 
| Aircraft carried | 1 × SH-60K helicopter | 
It was not until 16 March 1995 that she was commissioned. She is based at the JMSDF base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, and as of 2014, is the flagship of Rear Admiral Hidetoshi Iwasaki.[1]
History
    
In 2003 the Kirishima was deployed to the Indian Ocean as logistical support for US forces engaged in the War on Terror. This prompted some opposition including protests and boatloads of protesters attempting to block the ship from leaving its harbor at Yokosuka.[2] It was later replaced in the deployment by the destroyer JS Kongō.[3]
Kirishima underwent modification at Nagasaki to add the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMD) capability to its weapons suite.[4]
This ship was one of several in the JMSDF fleet participating in disaster relief after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[5]
The ship was also deployed in preparation for North Korea's launch of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 in March 2012.[6]
From 26 June to 1 August 2014, Kirishima participated in RIMPAC alongside JS Ise.[7] In November, it participated in the Keen Sword 15 exercises with the US. The ship was responsible for guarding the USS George Washington, the US aircraft carrier then forward-deployed to Japan.[1]
Gallery
    
 JS Kirishima, date unknown JS Kirishima, date unknown
.jpg.webp) JS Kirishima at Yokosuka on 13 July 2009 JS Kirishima at Yokosuka on 13 July 2009
_missile_is_launched_from_the_Japan_Maritime_Self-Defense_Force_destroyer_JS_Kirishima_(DD_174)%252C_succe.jpg.webp) JS Kirishima launching a SM-3 on 29 October 2010 JS Kirishima launching a SM-3 on 29 October 2010
 JS Kirishima and JS Sawayuki on 10 June 2012 JS Kirishima and JS Sawayuki on 10 June 2012
_vertrekt_uit_Pearl_Harbour_voor_deelname_aan_de_RIMPAC_2014%252C_-7_juli_2014_a.jpg.webp) JS Kirishima at Pearl Harbor on 7 July 2014 JS Kirishima at Pearl Harbor on 7 July 2014
References
    
- Kelly, Tim Japan raises military profile in maritime war games with U.S. 21 November 2014 Japan Times Retrieved 13 May 2017
- McNeill, David Japanese activists rally to antiwar cry 14 January 2003 Japan Times Retrieved 13 May 2017
- Defense Agency to rotate Aegis ships 4 April 2003 Japan Times Retrieved 13 May 2017
- "Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense to Third Japanese Destroyer : Naval Forces : Defense News Air Force Army Navy News". Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2008. "Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense to Third Japanese Destroyer" DefenseTalk. 16 January 2008
- Seawaves,"Warships Supporting Earthquake in Japan" Archived 23 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- PAC-3 deployment in Okinawa complete 6 April 2012 Japan Times Retrieved 13 May 2017
- "Participating Force". Retrieved 14 December 2020.
External links
    
 Media related to JS Kirishima (DDG-174) at Wikimedia Commons
 Media related to JS Kirishima (DDG-174) at Wikimedia Commons