JDS ''Akebono'' (DE-201) was a
destroyer escort (or
frigate
A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat.
The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...
) of the
Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. ''Akebono'' was one of the first indigenous Japanese warships to be built following
World War II. ''Akebono'' was
laid down in 1954 as a steam turbine powered "B type"
ASW escort, the only ship of its class, for comparison with two similar diesel powered ships, the s. ''Akebono'' entered service in 1956 and remained in use until 1976.
Design and construction
The Japanese Marine Safety Force (later to become the
Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force) authorised the purchase of three "B type" escort vessels as part of the
Financial Year 1953 programme. Of the three ships, two of which were to be powered by
diesel engines (the
''Ikazuchi'' class) and the third by steam turbines, to be called ''Akebono''.
[Gardiner and Chesneau 1995, p. 231.]
The equipment of the three escorts was similar, with two American
guns, four
40 mm Bofors Bofors 40 mm gun is a name or designation given to two models of 40 mm calibre anti-aircraft guns designed and developed by the Swedish company Bofors:
*Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun - developed in the 1930s, widely used in World War II and into the 1990s
...
guns, a
Hedgehog anti-submarine projector and eight
K-gun depth charge launchers. ''Akebono'' had a twin-shaft machinery installation, with geared steam turbines producing which could propel the ship at a top speed of compared with the of the less powerful ''Ikazuchi'' class.
''Akebono'' was laid down at the
Ishikawajima Tokyo shipyard on 10 December 1954. She was launched on 15 October 1955 and completed on 20 March 1956.
[Blackman 1960, p. 212.]
Operations
''Akebono'' was re-armed in March 1958, when her original 3-inch guns were replaced by more modern, autoloading 3 inch guns, with 1 Bofors gun, four K-guns also removed.
''Akebono'' was discarded in 1976.
References
*Blackman, Raymond V. B. ''Jane's Fighting Ships 1960–61''. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., 1960.
*Gardiner, Robert and Stephen Chumbley. ''Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995''. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akebono
Frigate classes
1955 ships
Akebono
Ships built by IHI Corporation