Japan's Kongo Class DDG

[Tanz]

I was a bit surprised to see no post on any Modern Japanese ship :ohmy:

 

So, I  give you Japan's Kongo Class Aegis Destroyer

 

 

The destroyer is a modified version of the US Navy's Arleigh Burke Class destroyer. The Escort Flotillas of JMSDF operate four vessels.

The JMSDF built and commissioned four destroyers between 1990 and 1998. The keel for the lead vessel in class, JDS Kongo (DDG-173), was laid in May 1990. It was launched in September 1991 and commissioned in March 1993. JDS Kirishima (DDG-174) was laid down in April 1992, launched in August 1993 and commissioned in March 1995. JDS Myoko (DDG-175) was laid down in April 1993, launched in October 1994 and commissioned in March 1996. The last vessel of class, JDS Chokai (DDG-176), was laid down in May 1995. Chokai was launched in August 1996 for the commissioning in March 1998.

The Kongo Class has a length of 161m, beam of 21m and draft of 6.2m. The full load displacement of the ship is 9,500t. The destroyer can accommodate a crew of 300.

 

Armament:

The destroyer is armed with the RIM-66 SM-2MR block II surface-to-air missiles and the RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The mk41 strike length vertical-launching system (VLS) can carry a total of 90 SM-2MR missiles, of which, 21 missiles are housed in the bow cells and 61 missiles in the aft cells of the VLS.

Guns:

The main gun fitted is a 127mm / 54-calibre Oto-Breda compact gun. The gun can fire 40 rounds a minute within a range of 30,000m. There are two 20mm Phalanx close-in weapon systems (CIWS) mounted on the vessel.

Torpedoes and ASW rockets:

Two type 68 triple torpedo tubes are mounted on the destroyers for ASW roles. These tubes can launch six mk46 or Type 73 torpedoes. The ship is also equipped with RUM-139 vertically launched anti-submarine rockets. The RUM-139 rocket is powered by two-stage solid rocket fuel engines.

Radars and sensors:

The sensor suite includes an SPY-1D air search radar, an OPS-28 surface search radar and a missile director radar. The sonar is an OQS-102 bow-mounted low-frequency sonar. There is a NOLQ-2 intercept or jammer fitted on the destroyer.

Propulsion:

Kongo Class destroyers are equipped with a combined gas and gas (COGAG) propulsion system. Four Ishikawajima Harima / General Electric LM2500 gas turbines driving two shafts develop a power output of 75MW. The propulsion system provides a maximum speed of 30kt.

Helicopter:

This is the only drawback to this Class, while able to accommodate helicopters they have no hangars for them just like the US Navy Flight Ones of the Burke Class.

 

Top pic is my own of the Kirishima right before I went on-board over in Yokosuka :happy:

[XxHellSpawnxX]

Maybe this will be a Premium Ship :tongue:

[Crag_r]

I was about to say this looks suspiciously like a Arleigh Burke Class destroyer, but you explained why...

[Tanz]

Crag_r, on 05 September 2012 - 07:06 AM, said:

I was about to say this looks suspiciously like a Arleigh Burke Class destroyer, but you explained why...

Seems this design is a favored by a few other Navies.

[Ariecho]

Crag_r, on 05 September 2012 - 07:06 AM, said:

I was about to say this looks suspiciously like a Arleigh Burke Class destroyer, but you explained why...

ditto!

[MajorStoffer]

She's a little lighter on the broadside than her namesake, but the Japanese sure don't skimp on the missiles.

 

I remember seeing one of these in Vancouver when I was younger, though at the time (being, I believe, 11) didn't much care for anything other than, "ooh, look, cannon."