Shikishima-class patrol vessel

The Shikishima-class patrol vessel (しきしま級巡視船, Shikishima-kyū-junnshi-senn) is a class of PLH type patrol vessels of the Japan Coast Guard (JCG; former Maritime Safety Agency, MSA).[1][2] In the official classification, Shikishima and Akitsushima are treated as the only ships in their classes, respectively; and Reimei is treated as the lead ship of her class. The Shikishima class was once the world's largest coast guard vessel until it was surpassed by the Chinese Zhaotou-class patrol cutter in 2015.[3]

Akitsushima
Class overview
NameShikishima-class patrol vessel
BuildersIshikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries
Operators
Preceded byMizuho class
Succeeded byShunkō class
Subclasses
  • Shikishima
  • Akitsushima
  • Reimei class
Planned5
Building0
Completed5
Active5
General characteristics of Shikishima
TypePLH (Patrol vessel Large with Helicopter)
Tonnage6,500 GT
Displacement9,300 tons (full load)
Length150.0 m (492 ft 2 in)
Beam16.5 m (54 ft 2 in)
Draft9.0 m (29 ft 6 in)
Propulsion
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range20,000 nmi (37,000 km; 23,000 mi)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • OPS-14 2D Air search
  • MS 1596 navigation radar
  • JMA 8303 surface search radar
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × Eurocopter AS332

Backgrounds

Spent nuclear fuel generated at the nuclear power plants in Japan has been processed at nuclear reprocessing plants in Britain and France, into plutonium and radioactive waste. Then, according to the plan of power generation with the MOX fuel, the Government of Japan decided to transport this plutonium back to Japan.[4]

In the first transportation from France in 1984, armed JMSA officers were on board the ship to counter maritime hijacking. A second transportation operation was planned in the early 1990s, but due to the revision of the Japan-U.S. Nuclear power agreement in 1988, it was requested to strengthen the security system and the JMSA was to escort with a special tactical team (one of the ancestors of the Special Security Team) and a patrol vessel. On existing patrol boats, however, it was difficult to complete an escort operation with no port of call.[5] For this operation, the JMSA developed Shikishima under the FY 1989 program as an escort ship with a high endurance and enhanced surveillance capability.[4][6]

Although the transportation of plutonium was not carried out thereafter, Shikishima has been valuable as a large offshore platform that can be used for various security matters and long-distance rescue. As construction cost was expensive, construction of sister ships was not realized easily, but in the 2000s, in order to emphasize countermeasures against the piracy problems of the Malacca Strait and the Somali coast, the Senkaku Islands issue, conservation of marine interests In response to the change, construction was considered again. In response, the second ship constructed in the 2010 fiscal year plan was Akitsushima.[7]

Design

Like preceding PLHs, they have a long forecastle, but its internal structure is strengthened that the level of vulnerability resistance is comparable to warship standard. Bulletproof of the bridge structure is pretty much taken into consideration, polycarbonate bulletproof glass is prepared inside the window, metal fittings for the ballistic board are also attached to the outer wall.[8][9]

Shikishima is the only JCG vessel equipped with anti-air radar and Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannons to enhance anti-air capability whereas preceding patrol vessels have only surface-search and navigation radars and a single-mounted 35 mm or L/60 40 mm autocanon.[10] And as a secondary weapon, two JM61 20 mm gun systems were set up.[10] This system adopts the same rotary cannon as the conventional JM61-M, but it is remotely controlled with an optical director as opposed to JM61-M being manually trained and elevated.[10] It derived from one of the PG-821-class guided-missile patrol boats of the JMSDF, and later, added as a standard equipment of the JCG as the JM61-RFS.[10] In Akitsushima, L/70 40 mm autocanons are introduced in combination with Bofors Mk. 3 single-mounted turrets, instead of 35 mm twin cannons.[10] In Reimei-class that followed, lighter Mk. 4 turrets are introduced.[11]

Aviation facilities have also been enhanced. In Shikishima, two Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma helicopters are deployed as the shipboard helicopters, whereas the conventional PLHs are equipped with smaller Bell 212.[4] The air facilities of Akitsushima are further expanded to operate an even larger EC225LP, which is also followed by the Reimei-class.[11]

In service

At present, she is frequently sent on long cruises to Southeast Asia to foster international cooperation against piracy in the Strait of Malacca. She is also assigned to the policing mission of Senkaku Islands because of her cruising capability.[4]

In 2015, during the Emperor's and Empress's visit (行幸啓, Gyōkōkei) to Palau, Akitsushima was used as an accommodation ship. Slopes and handrails were set up so that both elderly Majesties could get on board comfortably.[12]

Due to the increased activities of the China Coast Guard and the introduction of the Zhaotou class, the Japan Coast Guard procured three additional Shikishima-class vessels between 2016 and 2018 due to the need to "strengthen security around the Senkaku islands".[13][14][15]

Ships in the class
Hull no. Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Homeport
PLH 31ShikishimaAugust 24, 1990June 27, 1991April 8, 1992Kagoshima
PLH 32AkitsushimaMay 10, 2011July 4, 2012November 28, 2013[6]Yokohama
PLH 33ReimeiJune 7, 2017March 8, 2019February 19, 2020Kagoshima
PLH 34AkatsukiFebruary 16, 2018April 10, 2020February 16, 2021Kagoshima
PLH 35AsazukiFebruary 25, 2019December 15, 2020November 12, 2021

See also

References
  1. Asanaga & Ōtsuka 1995, pp. 120–130.
  2. Wertheim 2013, pp. 383–384.
  3. Martinson, Ryan D. (3 July 2015). "East Asian Security in the Age of the Chinese Mega-Cutter". CIMSEC. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  4. Henmi 2001.
  5. "Shikishima Class Patrol Vessels - Homeland Security Technology". homelandsecurity-technology.com. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  6. "Large Patrol Vessel Akitsushima (PLH-32) Enters Japan's Coast Guard Service". navyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  7. Ishibashi 2012.
  8. Kaijin-sha 2004.
  9. Kaijin-sha 2014.
  10. Nakanomyo 2015.
  11. Kaijin-sha 2020, pp. 40–42.
  12. Manabe Mitsuyuki; Koseki Toshiki (2015-04-01). "Accommodation "Akitsushima" To the details to be tailored to both Majesties". Mainichi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2015-04-04.
  13. "2016 Outline of Japan Coast Guard Budget" (PDF). Japan Coast Guard. January 2016. p. 13. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  14. "2017 Outline of Japan Coast Guard Budget" (PDF). Japan Coast Guard. January 2017. p. 13. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  15. "2018 Maritime Safety Agency Summary of Budget Decisions" (PDF). Japan Coast Guard. December 2017. p. 13. Retrieved 21 March 2021.

Bibliography
  • Asanaga, Youichirou; Ōtsuka, Yukitaka (1995). 海上保安庁 船艇と航空 [Maritime Safety Agency - Its Vessels and Aviation] (in Japanese). Seizando-shoten Publishing. ISBN 4-425-77041-2.
  • Henmi, Masakazu (December 2001). "PLH building program and its background". Ships of the World (in Japanese). Kaijin-sha (590): 141–145. NAID 40002156215.
  • Ishibashi, Mikio (July 2012). "Japan Coast Guard PLH Fleet in future". Ships of the World (in Japanese). Kaijin-sha (762): 128–133. NAID 40019332994.
  • Kaijin-sha, ed. (July 2004). "Looking at World's largest patrol ship Shikishima". Ships of the World (in Japanese). Kaijin-sha (628): 6–9. NAID 40006239088.
  • Kaijin-sha, ed. (February 2014). "New PLH Akitsushima completed". Ships of the World (in Japanese). Kaijin-sha (792): 62–65. NAID 40020105520.
  • Kaijin-sha, ed. (October 2020). "Ships of Japan Coast Guard - Patrol Vessels". Ships of the World (in Japanese). Kaijin-sha (933): 39–90. NAID 40022358584.
  • Nakanomyo, Masami (November 2015). "History of shipboard guns on JCG's patrol vessels". Ships of the World (in Japanese). Kaijin-sha (825): 168–173. NAID 40020597434.
  • Wertheim, Eric (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World (16th ed.). Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1591149545.
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