Murasame-class destroyer (1994)

Class overview
JS Murasame in Pearl Harbor
Name:	Murasame-class destroyer
Builders:	IHI Tokyo Shipyard and Japan Marine United
Operators:	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded by:	Asagiri-class destroyer
Succeeded by:	Takanami-class destroyer
Built:	1993–2000
In commission:	1996–
Planned:	14
Completed:	9
Cancelled:	5 (Converted to order for Takanami-class destroyers)
Active:	9
General characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	4,550 long tons (4,623 t) standard 6,100 long tons (6,198 t) full load
Length:	151 m (495 ft)
Beam:	17.4 m (57 ft 1 in)
Draft:	5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)
Propulsion:	2 × Ishikawajima Harima LM-2500 gas turbines 2 × Kawasaki Rolls Royce Spey SM1C gas turbines 60,000 shp (45 MW) 2 shafts
Speed:	30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h)
Complement:	165
Armament:	1 × 76 mm 62cal rapid fire gun (OTO Melara 3) 2 × missile canister up to 8 Type 90 (SSM-1B) 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS 2 × Type 68 triple torpedo tubes VLS Mk 48 (16 cells) • Evolved Sea Sparrow SAM VLS Mk 41 (16 cells) • RUM-139 VL ASROC
Aircraft carried:	1 × SH-60J(K) anti-submarine helicopter

The Murasame-class destroyer is a third-generation general purpose destroyer in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

The Murasame was a successor to the Asagiri class, and like its predecessor, it mainly tasked with ASW and ASuW. It shows a number of improvements to design and equipment, such as:

The Murasame class was designed to replace the JMSDF's smaller destroyers that were reaching block obsolescence, ensuring the fleet could maintain its strength while increasing its firepower. It was originally planned that 14 of these would be built, but this was reduced to nine when the Takanami class (a modified variant of the Murasame) was designed and construction begun.

The Murasame-class destroyers' weapon systems include the Evolved Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile, Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile, RUM-139 VL ASROC, the SSM 1B anti-ship missile, two Mark 15 20 mm Phalanx CIWS gun mounts, two torpedo mounts in a triple tube configuration and a 76 mm 62cal rapid-fire naval gun.

With the exception of Kirisame, all ships of the class share their names with World War II destroyers.

JS Murasame (DD-101), JS Harusame (DD-102), JS Yudachi (DD-103) and JS Kirisame (DD-104) in Pearl Harbor

JS Harusame (DD-102)

JS Inazuma (DD-105)

JS Samidare (DD-106)

JS Ariake (DD-109)

JS Ikazuchi (DD-107)

...
Wikipedia