Shirane-class destroyer

Kurama (DDH-144) at sea in 2011
Class overview
Name	Shirane-class destroyer
Builders	Ishikawajima-Harima, Tokyo
Operators	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded by	Haruna-class destroyer
Succeeded by	Hyūga-class helicopter destroyer
Built	1977–1981
In commission	1980–2017
Planned	2
Completed	2
Retired	2
General characteristics
Type	Destroyer
Displacement	5,200 long tons (5,283 t) standard 7,500 long tons (7,620 t) full load
Length	159 m (522 ft)
Beam	17.5 m (57 ft 5 in)
Draft	5.3 m (17 ft 5 in)
Propulsion	2 × IHI boilers 850 psi (60 kg/cm², 5.9 MPa), 430 °C 2 × turbines 2 shafts 70,000 shp (52 MW)
Speed	31 knots (36 mph; 57 km/h)
Complement	350 360 (DDH-144) 20 staff
Sensors and processing systems	OPS-12 3D Air-search radar OPS-28 surface-search radar OQS-101 bow sonar SQS-35/SQR-18 VDS-TASS
Electronic warfare & decoys	NOLQ-1 integrated suite OLR-9B RWR Mark 36 SRBOC
Armament	Sea Sparrow SAM launcher ASROC Mk 112 octuple launcher 2 × FMC 5"/54 caliber Mark 42 guns 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS 2 × Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes (Mk-46 torpedoes)
Aircraft carried	3 × SH-60J(K) anti-submarine helicopters

The Shirane-class destroyers were a pair of Japanese destroyers originally built during the late 1970s. They are built around a large central hangar which houses up to three helicopters and they are the natural successor of the Haruna-class destroyers.

Design

The Shirane class incorporates an improved design based on the Haruna-class destroyers. The ships propulsion include two steam boilers with two shafts that produce 70.000 hp and gives a maximum speed of 32 knots.

Its armament includes two Mk.42 127mm guns, two 20-mm Phalanx close-in weapon systems, one surface-to-air RIM-7 Sea Sparrow launcher, torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets.^[1] The ships has been replaced by the new Izumo-class helicopter destroyers.

Ships in the class

Pennant no.	Name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Home port
DDH-143	Shirane	25 February 1977	18 September 1978	17 March 1980	25 March 2015	Yokosuka
DDH-144	Kurama	17 February 1978	20 September 1979	27 March 1981	22 March 2017	Sasebo

Operational use

On December 15, 2007, a fire broke out on board Shirane near the rudder house as it was anchored at Yokosuka. It took seven hours to extinguish the fire, which injured four crew members.^[2]

On 27 October 2009, JS Kurama collided with a South Korean container ship under the Kanmonkyo Bridge in the Kanmon Straits off the coast of Japan.^[3] While neither ship sunk, the bow of Kurama was badly damaged and burned for hours. Three Kurama crew members were reported injured.^[4]

References

1. "Shirane Class Helicopter Destroyers (JMSDF) - Naval Technology".
2. "Latest Stories". www.dawn.com. December 15, 2007. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
3. Mari Yamaguchi (2009-10-27). "World Naval Ships Forums - View Single Post - JDS Kurama (DDH-144) Collision". www.worldnavalships.com. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
4. "CBC News - World - Japanese destroyer collides with Korean ship". cbc.ca. 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2010-08-14.

External links

• GlobalSecurity.org; JMSDF DDH Shirane Class