JDS Amatsukaze
.jpg) JDS Amatsukaze (DDG-163)
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Japan | |
| Name | Amatsukaze |
| Builder | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Laid down | 29 November 1962 |
| Launched | 5 October 1963 |
| Commissioned | 15 February 1965 |
| Decommissioned | 29 November 1995 |
| Homeport | |
| Nickname(s) | Jet coaster |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Guided missile destroyer |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 131.0 m (429 ft 9 in) overall |
| Beam | 13.4 m (44 ft 0 in) |
| Draft | 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in) |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 33 knots (38 mph; 61 km/h) |
| Complement | 290 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys | NOLR-1B intercept |
| Armament |
|
JDS Amatsukaze (DDG-163) was a guided missile destroyer (DDG) of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the only ship of her class. She was the first Japanese surface combatant equipped with surface-to-air missiles. She was launched on 5 October 1963 and decommissioned in 1995.
Amatsukaze was planned as the DDG variant of the preceding Akizuki-class anti-aircraft destroyers, mounting the American Tartar Guided Missile Fire Control System weapon system. However, the Tartar system turned out to be larger than expected, so Amatsukaze's design was altered completely, with an enlarged hull and with a shelter-deck design based on that of the Template:Sclass-[1] and uprated steam turbines.[2]
Tartar missiles
Amatsukaze was one of the earliest foreign ships equipped with the American Tartar system. (The other is the French Kersaint-class DDG).[3] Because of the financial burden of this expensive weapon system, the other equipment aboard Amatsukaze was almost the same as that of the Template:Sclass- at first, but the JMSDF applied a spiral model to Amatsukaze, allowing continual updating of her equipment as described in the following table.
| 1965 | 1995 | |
|---|---|---|
| SAM | RIM-24B Improved Tartar | RIM-66 SM-1MR |
| SUM | none | RUR-5 ASROC with Mk.112 octuple launcher |
| Torpedo launcher |
Mk.2 over-the-side launchers | Mk.32 triple torpedo tubes |
| 3D radar | AN/SPS-39 | AN/SPS-52 |
| GFCS | Mk.63 mod.14 | FCS-2-21D |
| Sonar | AN/SQS-4 (search) AN/SQR-8 (attack) |
AN/SQS-23 |
| EW | NOLR-1B (intercept) | NOLR-6B (intercept) OLR-9B (missile warning) OLT-3 (jammer) |
The Tartar weapon system made a strong positive impression on the JMSDF, but it was too expensive for the JMSDF to be able to afford another Tartar-equipped DDG at once. As a result, the JMSDF had to wait 10 years to build another DDG, the first Template:Sclass- destroyer.[4]
Ships in class
| Building no. | Pennant no. | Name | Laid down | Launched | Completed | Decommissioned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2303 | DDG-163 | Amatsukaze | 29 November 1962 | 5 October 1963 | 15 February 1965 | 29 November 1995 |
References
- ^ "1. Hull (Hardware of JMSDF destroyers)". Ships of the World (in Japanese) (742). Kaijin-sha: 100–105. June 2011.
- ^ Yasuo Abe (June 2011). "2. Propulsion system (Hardware of JMSDF destroyers)". Ships of the World (in Japanese) (742). Kaijin-sha: 106–111.
- ^ Keiichi Nogi [in Japanese] (March 2010). "1. Missiles (Shipboard weapons of JMSDF 1952-2010)". Ships of the World (in Japanese) (721). Kaijin-sha: 82–87.
- ^ Heihachiro Fujiki (August 2007). "A history of JMSDF's missile destroyers". Ships of the World (in Japanese) (678). Kaijinn-sha: 98–103.