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JDSAkishio

Coordinates:34°14′31″N132°33′19″E/ 34.24197°N 132.55527°E/34.24197; 132.55527
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JDS Akishio at the Kure Naval Museum.
History
Japan
Name
  • Akishio
  • (あきしお)
BuilderMitsubishi Heavy Industries
Laid down15 April 15, 1983
Launched22 January 1985
Commissioned5 March 1986
Decommissioned3 March 2004
IdentificationSS-579
FateOn display at theJMSDF Kure Museumsince 2007
General characteristics
Class and typeYūshio-classsubmarine
Displacement2,250 tonnes (2,210 long tons; 2,480 short tons) (Surface), 2,450 tonnes (2,410 long tons; 2,700 short tons) (Submerged)
Length76.2 m (250.0 ft)
Beam9.9 m (32.5 ft)
Draught10.2 m (33.5 ft)
Propulsion
  • 2 × Kawasaki-MAN V8V24/30AMTL diesel engines: 3,400 bhp (2,535 kW)
  • 1 × Electric motor: 7,200 shp (5,369 kW),
  • 1 × Shaft, with a five-bladed propellor
Speed
  • 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) (surface)
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) (submerged)
Test depth300 m (980 ft)
Complement75: 10 officer, 65 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1 × Hughes/Oki ZQQ 5 hull mounted sonar
  • 1 × ZQR 1towed array
Armament6 × 21 in (533 mm)torpedo tubes

Akishio(SS-579)is a retired Japanese diesel-electricYūshio-classsubmarine.She waslaid downin 1983,launchedin 1985,commissionedin 1986, and served until 2004. She served as part of both the 1st and 5th Submarine Squadrons of the 1st Submarine Flotilla. She took part in numerous drills, including thePacific Reach 2000drills. She is now on display outsideJMSDF Kure Museum.

Design and construction[edit]

Akishiowas 76.2 metres (250 ft) long, had abeam9.9 metres (32 ft) wide, had adraughtof 10.2 metres (33 ft) anddisplaced2,250 tonnes (2,210 long tons; 2,480 short tons) while surfaced, and 2,450 tonnes (2,410 long tons; 2,700 short tons) when submerged. She had ateardrop hull,and was powered by two Kawasaki-MAN V8V24/30AMTLdiesel engines,which produced 3,400brake horsepower(2,500 kW), aFujielectric motor, which produced 7,200shaft horsepower(5,400 kW), and was propelled by one shaft, with a five-bladedpropeller.She used her diesel engines while surfaced, and her electric motor when submerged. She had a top speed of 12knots(22 km/h; 14 mph) while surfaced, and 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) while submerged. She was armed with six 21-inch (533 mm)torpedo tubes,and had acomplementof 75: 10 officers and 65 enlisted men. She had a test depth of 300 metres (980 ft). She used a Hughes/Oki ZQQ 5 hull mountedsonar,and a ZQR 1towed arraysonar.[1]

Service history[edit]

Akishiowaslaid downinKobebyMitsubishi Heavy Industrieson 15 April 1983,launchedon 22 January 1985, andcommissionedon 5 March 1986.[2][3]Upon being commissioned, on 5 March 1986,Akishiowas immediately assigned to the1st Submarine Squadronof the1st Submarine Flotillaof theJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force.On 8 June 1990, she was reassigned to the5th Submarine Squadron,which was also part of the 1st Submarine Flotilla.[1]Her crew was trained by American submariners, from September to October, in 1991.[4]

Akishiotook part in thePacific Reach 2000drills, which took place from 2 to 14 October 2000, off ofSingapore.The navies of theUnited States,Japan,Singapore, andSouth Koreatook part. Because of theKursk submarine disasterwhich had happened earlier that year, the Pacific Reach 2000 drills involved submarine rescue exercises, whichAkishioperformed in. This was the first time Japanese ships had taken part in a multilateral submarine rescue drill, although they had taken part in similar exercises bilaterally, with theUS Navy.Japan's constitution places limits on their ability to perform collective-defence drills. Because of this, Japan joined the drills from a humanitarian standpoint, rather than a military one.[5][6]

She wasdecommissionedon 3 March 2004.[1]After being decommissioned,Akishiowas moved from the water, and placed on display outside theKure Maritime Museumon 5 April 2007. After being placed there, she became known as "Tetu-no-Kujira Kan",or" Iron Whale Museum ".[7]The museum has been criticized by many as being too militaristic. One of Japan's national newspapers,Asahi Shimbun,said that the museum focused too much upon military ships and weapons.[8]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^abcAkishio.
  2. ^Sharpe 1994,p. 351.
  3. ^Chant 1990,p. 50.
  4. ^OPNAV Report.
  5. ^MSDF to join drill to rescue submarine.
  6. ^Four Navies Test Sub Rescue.
  7. ^Iron Whale Museum.
  8. ^Logan & Reeves 2008,p. 46.

Books[edit]

  • Chant, Christopher (1990).Sea Forces of the World.New York: Crescent.ISBN9780517691298.
  • Logan, William; Reeves, Keir (2008).Places of Pain and Shame: Dealing with 'Difficult Heritage'.Routledge.ISBN9781134051496.
  • Sharpe, Richard (1994).Jane's fighting ships, 1994–95.Jane's Information Group.ISBN9780710611611.

Websites[edit]

34°14′31″N132°33′19″E/ 34.24197°N 132.55527°E/34.24197; 132.55527

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