JDSAzuma
 JSAzuma
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Japan | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake | Azuma |
| Ordered | 1967 |
| Builder | Maizuru Heavy Industries,Maizuru |
| Laid down | 13 July 1968 |
| Launched | 14 April 1969 |
| Commissioned | 26 November 1969 |
| Decommissioned | 28 May 1999 |
| Homeport | Kure |
| Identification | Pennant number:ATS-4201 |
| Class overview | |
| Preceded by | N/A |
| Succeeded by | Kurobeclass |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Training ship |
| Displacement | 1,950–2,400tonnes(1,919–2,362long tons;2,150–2,646short tons) full load |
| Length | 98 m (321 ft 6 in) |
| Beam | 13 m (42 ft 8 in) |
| Draft | 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in) |
| Depth | 7.2 m (23 ft 7 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 ×Kawasaki-MAN V8 V22 / 30ATLdiesel engines |
| Speed | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 2 xlifeboats |
| Complement | 185 |
| Sensors and processing systems | |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried |
|
| Aviation facilities | Hangarandhelipad |
JDSAzuma(ATS-4201)is atraining support shipofJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force.JS Kurobewas built in 1989 for the purpose of training that could not properly supported byAzuma's equipment, and so she was removed from the register in 1999 when the new training shipTenryuwas built.
Development and design
[edit]In 1957, during the Second Defense Build-up Plan, the Maritime Self-Defense Force received 10 KD-2R-3 low-speed target aircraft from theUS Navyand began operating unmanned target aircraft (target drones). In the same year, theLanding Ship Support(LSSL)Hamagikuwas incorporated into theYokosuka District Forceand remodeled into an unmanned target aircraft mother boat. After that, the KD-2R-5 was also introduced, but the rear deck of the boat was narrow, which hindered the launch work of the target aircraft, so in 1964, theKusu-class patrol ship,JDS Kusuwas newly introduced. It was selected and refurbished as an unmanned target aircraft mother ship.[1]
However, at that time, with the aggravation of the airborne threat, the deployment of new-generation anti-aircraft weapon systems such as5-inch single-armed quick-firing gunsandtartar systemswere progressing, and the KD-2R low-speed target aircraft provided a sufficient training environment. Problems that could not be provided were being pointed out. For this reason, it was planned to introduce theBQM-34 Firebee,a high-speed jet-propelled target aircraft operated by the US military in the three armies at that time. At that time, the US military operated by ground launch or air launch, but the Maritime Self-Defense Force could not operate in this way due to the setting of the training sea area and the lack of launch aircraft. For this reason, this ship was built as the world's first platform for operating a Firebee high-speed target aircraft on board.[1][2]
Construction and career
[edit]Azumawaslaid downon 13 July 1968 atMaizuru Heavy Industries,Maizuruandlaunchedon 14 April 1969. The ship wascommissionedon 26 November 1969.
Reorganized into a ship under the direct control of theescort fleeton 24 June 1994.
Removed from the register on 28 May 1999. During the commissioning period of about 30 years, she engaged in a total of 1317 training support missions, including a total range of about 624,000nautical miles(about 29 laps of the earth), 504 firebees, 344 chakas, and 469 low-speed drones.[3]
References
[edit]
- ^abMori, Tsunehide (1991).9. Huấn luyện chi viện hạm 続 hạm thuyền メカニズム đồ giam.Grand Prix Publishing. pp. 256–269.ISBN978-4876871131.
- ^Koda, Yoji (April 2014).Quốc sản hộ vệ hạm kiến tạo の bộ み( đệ 16 hồi )DDHのエピローグ, huấn luyện chi viện hạm “あづま” thế giới の hải quân に đại きな ảnh hưởng を dữ えた2 sự án” 『 thế giới の hạm thuyền 』.Vol. 795. Gaijinsha. pp. 141–149.
{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: year (link) - ^"Đệ 1 diện “あづま, tự vệ hạm kỳ phản nạp” ".Maritime Self-Defense Force Newspaper.25 June 1999.