Ōsumi class LST
_and_USNS_Mercy_(T-AH-19)_in_the_South_China_Sea,_-14_Jun._2010_a.jpg)
LST 4003 Kunisaki with the American hospital ship USNS Mercy.
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | |
| Operators: | Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force |
| Planned: | 3 |
| Completed: | 3 |
| Active: | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Ōsumi class LST |
| Displacement: | 8,900 tons standard 14,000 tons full load |
| Length: | 178 m |
| Beam: | 25.8 m |
| Draught: | 17.0 m |
| Draft: | 6.0 m |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 22 knots (41 km/h) |
| Complement: | 138 crews + (330 troops) |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
OPS-14C air search radar,OPS-28D surface search radar,OPS-20 navigation radar, TACAN |
| Electronic warfare & decoys: |
4 × Mark 36 SRBOC |
| Armament: | 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS,2 × 12.7mm machine gun M2 |
| Aircraft carried: | up to 8 helicopters |
| Notes: |
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The Ōsumi class LST (おおすみ型輸送艦), is a Japanese amphibious transport dock. The class is also known as the Oosumi class. While the JMSDF describes the Ōsumi class as tank landing ships, they lack the bow doors and beaching capability traditionally associated with LSTs. Functionally, their well deck makes the Ōsumi class more like a dock landing ship (LSD).
As of 2014 there are 3 Ōsumi vessels active with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force.
Globalsecurity.org noted in its report on the Ōsumi class that "the program originated in a proposal for a small carrier for defensive and mine countermeasures (MCM) purposes, but this was deemed politically unacceptable, and the project was reworked as an amphibious ship" (actually a “Maritime Operational Transport", see below). Later the JMSDF returned to the idea with helicopter carriers with the larger Hyūga class.
The Ōsumi class increases its carrying capacity with a flat-top open air upper vehicle parking deck, it has an elevated island superstructure offset to starboard giving the appearance of a small aircraft carrier though the helicopter flight deck only comprises the stern of the ship. Small deck elevators accessing the enclosed lower parking deck are for vehicles rather than helicopters, the lower vehicle deck has access to the well deck. There is no enclosed aircraft hangar and any helicopters are tied down topside.
The MSDF developed the Maritime Operational Transport concept as an alternative to what was then (mid-1990s) the politically denied development of an amphibious doctrine. This concept is intended to "deliver JGSDF reinforcement units to an area where an enemy landing is possible or probable, or where an enemy has already landed but that is still under Japanese control. The point is that the landings would be on Japanese territory, not foreign soil. So, in theory, this concept does not involve amphibious assault. The tempo of helicopter transport and the types of helicopters required would be very different from those in an assault amphibious landing."
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Wikipedia