Ishikari-class

Summary

Description

JS Ishikari (DE-226) holds the distinction of being the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's (JMSDF) inaugural destroyer escort outfitted with a gas turbine engine and surface-to-surface missiles. As a replacement for the Chikugo class, Ishikari launched into service in 1981 and served until her decommissioning in 2007.

The ship's design broke new ground for JMSDF's destroyer escorts. Initially conceived to be part of a new ship class, PCE (Patrol Coastal ships, Escort), intended to supersede smaller submarine chasers and older destroyer escorts, Ishikari was eventually classified as a standard destroyer escort. She was the first JMSDF ship powered by a gas turbine, using the Rolls-Royce Olympus TM-3B engine for high-speed operation, and a Kawasaki 6DRV 35/44 diesel engine for cruising, both developed under license by Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI).

Her design featured a centrally placed superstructure—a departure from the traditional flush decker style favoured by the JMSDF. This allowed for space-saving but attracted criticism regarding the ship's ocean-going capabilities. Ishikari's C4ISR system was streamlined yet adequate, excluding air-search radar found on predecessor ships but integrating the OPS-28 surface search radar, FCS-2 gun fire-control system with air-search capability, and the OYQ-5 tactical data processing system capable of interfacing with other ships via Link-14.

The armament of Ishikari was a noteworthy shift from prior JMSDF ships focused on anti-submarine warfare. It featured eight Boeing Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles as the primary armament. The traditional Mark 16 GMLS for ASROC was omitted, and a modern Otobreda 76 mm gun was installed, which, with the incorporation of automation, significantly reduced the required number of crew members.

Built by Mitsui Shipbuilding & Engineering at their Tamano office in Okayama, Ishikari was commissioned on March 28, 1981. She served at the Ominato District Force, based at Mutsu in Aomori—strategically positioned as the northernmost district and a line of defense against the Russian Pacific Fleet. However, given its size, the decision was made not to continue with the production of the Ishikari class, and it was succeeded by the later Yūbari class only two years after its introduction.

Technical specifications