The is the main force of the
Self Defense Fleet
The is the main force of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, and was established at the same time as the establishment of the Self-Defense Forces (predecessor of the Ministry of Defense) on July 1, 1954. It operates ships and aircraft, and responds ...
of the
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
, abbreviated , also simply known as the Japanese Navy, is the maritime warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. The JMSDF was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) ...
, and played a central role in the Maritime Self-Defense Force, which mainly consists of escort vessels and various other ships. Together with the
Fleet Submarine Force
The Fleet Submarine Force belonged to the surface force for the self-defense fleet of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces. It is a fleet organized around submarines belonging to the Self-Defense Fleet of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
His ...
,
Mine Warfare Force, and
Fleet Air Force
In the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), the Fleet Air Force ( ja, 航空集団, kōkū shūdan) is its naval aviation branch, responsible for both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft and headquartered in Naval Air Facility Atsugi. As of 2012, ...
, it is responsible for Japan's maritime defense.
[http://www.clearing.mod.go.jp/kunrei_data/e_fd/1975/ez19750813_03614_000.pdf ]
Overview
The Fleet Escort Force command center is located in the Funakoshi district of
Yokosuka
is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
, the city has a population of 409,478, and a population density of . The total area is . Yokosuka is the 11th most populous city in the Greater Tokyo Area, and the 12th in the Kantō region.
The city ...
base (7-73, Funakoshi-cho, Yokosuka city, Kanagawa prefecture), and the commander of the escort fleet is assigned by the officer. The commander of the escort fleet manages the training of the escort fleet, which consists of a total of 48 escort ships and a large number of auxiliary ships, exclusively as a force provider (training manager), and is a force user (situation handling) that operates the escort ship in an emergency. (Responsible person) It is responsible for providing the commander of the Self-Defense Fleet and the subordinate corps to each district general manager. As of March 2020, four escort groups (Escort Flotilla) have been formed as the main force under the escort fleet.
Each escort group commander is assigned by an assistant sea general, and each escort group consists of one helicopter-mounted escort ship (DDH), one missile escort ship (DDG), and two general-purpose escort ships (DDH group). And two Escort Divisions (DDG Group) consisting of one missile escort ship (DDG) and three general-purpose escort ships (Escort Division), a total of 32 escort ships are prepared for emergencies.
By having four escort groups, one or two escort groups can always be trained in a highly trained state while performing periodic training (rotation), and a ready response system against threats can be established. Ships must undergo regular maintenance, repairs and refurbishment work in the dock, and after a long period of docking, crew retraining is required, and if there are new ships or new equipment, proficiency training This kind of rotation is needed to maintain maritime defense capabilities at all times, as there is a need for long-term pelagic dispatches for courtesy visits to foreign countries and joint military operations.
In addition to the 32 ships of the 4 escort group, a total of 16 escort ships (small B-type escort ship and old general-purpose escort ship) are deployed in 5 escorts under the direct control of the escort fleet. The local general manager will operate it. In the Summary of Defense Plan for 2014 and beyond, the number of escorts under the direct control of the escort fleet will be expanded to six, and the total number of escort vessels will be increased to 54.
Organization
Escort Flotilla 1 (Yokosuka)
* Escort Squadron 1:
DDH-183 ''Izumo'';
DDG-179 ''Maya'';
DD-101 ''Murasame'';
DD-107 ''Ikazuchi'' (Yokosuka)
* Escort Squadron 5:
DDG-173 ''Kongō'';
DD-108 ''Akebono'';
DD-109 ''Ariake'';
DD-115 A''kizuki'' (Sasebo)
Escort Flotilla 2 (Sasebo)
* Escort Squadron 2:
DDH-182 ''Ise'';
DDG-178 ''Ashigara'';
DD-102 Harusame;
DD-119 ''Asahi'' (Sasebo)
* Escort Squadron 6:
DDG-174 ''Kirishima'';
DD-110 ''Takanami'';
DD-111 ''Onami'';
DD-116 ''Teruzuki'' (Yokosuka)
Escort Flotilla 3 (Maizuru)
* Escort Squadron 3:
DDH-181 ''Hyūga'';
DDG-175 ''Myōkō'';
DDG-177 ''Atago'';
DD-118 ''Fuyuzuki'' (Maizuru)
* Escort Squadron 7:
DD-103 ''Yudachi'';
DD-112 ''Makinami'';
DD-114 ''Suzunami'';
DD-120 ''Shiranui'' (Ominato)
Escort Flotilla 4 (Kure)
* Escort Squadron 4:
DDH-184 ''Kaga'';
DD-105 ''Inazuma'';
DD-106 ''Samidare'';
DD-113 ''Sazanami'' (Kure)
* Escort Squadron 8:
DDG-172 ''Shimakaze'';
DDG-176 ''Chōkai'';
DD-104 ''Kirisame'';
DD-117 ''Suzutsuki'' (Sasebo)
Naval District Forces
* 11th Escort Squadron:
DD-152 ''Yamagiri'';
DD-153 ''Yūgiri'';
DD-154 ''Amagiri'' (Yokosuka)
* 12th Escort Squadron:
DD-158 ''Umigiri'';
DE-229 ''Abukuma'';
DE-234 ''Tone'' (Kure)
* 13th Escort Squadron:
DD-157 ''Sawagiri'';
DE-230 ''Jintsū'' (Sasebo)
* 14th Escort Squadron:
DD-151 ''Asagiri'';
DE-232 ''Sendai'';
DD-156 ''Setogiri'' (Maizuru)
* 15th Escort Squadron:
DD-155 ''Hamagiri'';
DE-231 ''Ōyodo'';
DE-233 ''Chikuma'' (Ominato)
1st Replenishment-at-Sea Squadron (Yokosuka):
AOE-422 ''Towada'' (Kure);
AOE-423 ''Tokiwa'' (Yokosuka);
AOE-424 ''Hamana'' (Sasebo);
AOE-425 ''Mashu'' (Maizuru);
AOE-426 ''Omi'' (Sasebo)
1st Training Support Squadron:
ATS-4202 ''Kurobe'';
ATS-4203 ''Tenryu''; (Kure)
Fleet Training Command (Yokosuka)
Citations
External links
Escort Fleet
{{Authority control
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Naval history of Japan