JS Yūdachi (DD-103)

For other ships with the same name, see Japanese destroyer Yūdachi.

JS Yūdachi (DD-103) is the third ship of Murasame-class destroyers. She was commissioned on 4 March 1999.^[1]

JS Yūdachi on 7 September 2019.
History
Japan
Name	Yūdachi (ゆうだち)
Ordered	1994
Builder	Mitsui, Tamano
Laid down	18 March 1996
Launched	19 August 1997
Commissioned	4 March 1999
Homeport	Ōminato
Identification	MMSI number: 431999643 Pennant number:DD-103
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class and type	Murasame-class destroyer
Displacement	4,550 tons standard, 6,200 tons hull load
Length	151 m (495 ft 5 in)
Beam	17.4 m (57 ft 1 in)
Draft	5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	2 × IHI-GE LM2500 gas turbines 2 × KHI-RR SM1C gas turbines 60,000 shp (45 MW) 2 shafts, cp props
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement	165
Sensors and processing systems	OYQ-9 CDS (w/ Link-11) OYQ-103 ASWCS FCS-2-31 fire-control systems OPS-24B air search radar OPS-28 surface search radar OQS-5 hull sonar OQR-2 TASS
Electronic warfare & decoys	NOLQ-3 suite Mk. 36 SRBOC Chaff and Decoy Launching System AN/SLQ-25 torpedo decoys
Armament	1 × OTO Melara 76 mm gun 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS 8 × SSM-1B anti-ship missiles in quad canisters 2 × triple 324 mm torpedo tubes 16-cell Mk. 48 VLS with Evolved Sea Sparrow SAM 16-cell Mk. 41 VLS with VL-ASROC
Aircraft carried	1 × SH-60J/K anti-submarine helicopter

Design

The hull design was completely renovated from first-generation DDs. In addition to increasing the size in order to reduce the underwater radiation noise, both superstructure and hull was inclined to reduce the radar cross-section. There is however no angled tripod mainmast like the one of the American Arleigh Burke-class destroyer because of the heavy weather of the Sea of Japan in winter. The aft was designed like a "mini-Oranda-zaka" as with the Kongō class to avoid interference between helicopters and mooring devices.^[2] Destroyers built under the First Defense Build-up Plan, including the former Murasame class, adopted a unique long forecastle style called "Oranda-zaka".

The engine arrangement is COGAG as same as Asagiri class, but a pair of engines are updated to Spey SM1C. And the remaining one pair are replaced by LM2500, same as Kongō class.^[2]

Construction and career

Yūdachi was laid down on 18 March 1996 at Sumitomo Heavy Industries Yokosuka as the 1994 plan and launched on 19 August 1997. Commissioned on 4 March 1999, was incorporated into the 6th Escort Corps of the 4th Escort Corps and deployed to Ōminato.

On 6 March 2016, as the 24th dispatched anti-piracy action surface corps, she departed from Ominato base for the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia with the escort ship JS Yūgiri and returned to Ominato on 8 September. In addition, on 1 September, on the way back to Japan, a goodwill training was conducted with the Philippine Navy's BRP Rajah Humabon.^[3][4]

Gallery

•  

  JS Yūdachi alongside JS Yūgiri in March 2016.

•  

  JS Yūdachi alongside JS Fuyuzuki and JS Hyūga at Yokosuka on 25 September 2017.

Citations

1. "DD-101 Murasame Class". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
2. Abe 2000, pp. 152–157.
3. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

References

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to JS Yūdachi (DD-103).

• Abe, Yasuo (July 2000). "History of JMSDF Destroyers". Ships of the World (in Japanese). Kaijinn-sha (571). NAID 40002155847.
• Saunders, Stephen. IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2013-2014. Jane's Information Group (2003). ISBN 0710630484
• Heihachiro Fujiki (August 2003). "Development of multi-purpose DDs for "8-8 escort flotilla". Ships of the World (in Japanese). Kaijinn-sha (614): 94–99.