JS ''Haruna'' (DDH-141) was the

lead ship The lead ship, name ship, or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable to naval ships and large civilian vessels. Large ships are very complex and may ...

of the ''Haruna''-class

helicopter destroyer A helicopter carrier is a type of aircraft carrier whose primary purpose is to operate helicopters, and has a large flight deck that occupies a substantial part of the deck, which can extend the full length of the ship like of the Royal Navy ( ...

of the

Japanese 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) ...

Overview

These ships were Japan's first helicopter-equipped destroyer (DDH), and their greatest feature was that it can carry and operate three helicopters in spite of its 5000t class. Such ships, including the development-improved ''Shirane''-class destroyer, can be said to be the only one in the world to this day, and strongly reflect Japan's special military ideology. In terms of equipment, it was the first self-defense ship to be equipped with a fin stabilizer to stabilize its attitude during helicopter operation, and a landing restraint device (bear trap) was installed to improve the safety and efficiency of flight work on a swaying ship. Until the introduction of the ''Kongō''-class destroyer ( Aegis ship), this class (including the ''Shirane''-class destroyer) were the largest escort ship of the JMSDF.

Construction and career

''Haruna'' was

laid down Laying the keel or laying down is the formal recognition of the start of a ship's construction. It is often marked with a ceremony attended by dignitaries from the shipbuilding company and the ultimate owners of the ship. Keel laying is one o ...

on 19 March 1970 and launched on 1 February 1972 by

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is a Japanese multinational engineering, electrical equipment and electronics corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. MHI is one of the core companies of the Mitsubishi Group and its automobile division is the predecessor of Mitsubishi Mo ...

Nagasaki is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. It became the sole port used for trade with the Portuguese and Dutch during the 16th through 19th centuries. The Hidden Christian Sites in the ...

Shipyard. She was commissioned on 22 March 1973, into the 1st Escort Corps and deployed in

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 ...

. It was dispatched in response to the 10th Yuyomaru incident that occurred in

Tokyo Bay is a bay located in the southern Kantō region of Japan, and spans the coasts of Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Chiba Prefecture. Tokyo Bay is connected to the Pacific Ocean by the Uraga Channel. The Tokyo Bay region is both the most populous a ...

on November 9, 1974. On November 26, she arrived at the incident site together with the escort vessels

JDS ''Takatsuki'' JDS may refer to: * ''J.D.s'', a queer punk zine * Janata Dal (Secular), an Indian political party * Japan Defense Ship, a ship prefix * Java Desktop System * JDS Development, an American real-estate company * JDS Uniphase Corporation * Jewish day ...

JDS ''Mochizuki'' JDS may refer to: * ''J.D.s'', a queer punk zine * Janata Dal (Secular), an Indian political party * Japan Defense Ship, a ship prefix * Java Desktop System * JDS Development, an American real-estate company * JDS Uniphase Corporation * Jewish day ...

, JDS ''Narushio'' and

JDS ''Yukikaze'' JDS may refer to: * ''J.D.s'', a queer punk zine * Janata Dal (Secular), an Indian political party * Japan Defense Ship, a ship prefix * Java Desktop System * JDS Development, an American real-estate company * JDS Uniphase Corporation * Jewish day ...

. She was dispatched to

and fired to sink the vessel from the 27th to the 28th. On November 27, the 51st Escort Corps was formed under the 1st Escort Corps, and was incorporated together with JDS ''Hiei'', when she was commissioned on the same day. In July 1975, she participated in a joint anti-submarine warfare training with the

US Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage of ...

along with JDS Hiei,

JDS Akizuki JDS ''Akizuki'' (DD-161) was the lead ship of the destroyer. The vessel was laid down in 1958 and served as a front line warship with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force until 1987, and as an auxiliary until 1993. Development and design '' ...

, JDS Makishio and JDS Narushio, south of

Honshu , historically called , is the largest and most populous island of Japan. It is located south of Hokkaidō across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyūshū across the Kanmon Straits. The island separ ...

. From July 3 to August 17, 1978, she participated in

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

dispatch training with the JDS ''Hiei'', JDS ''Kuroshio'', and eight P-2J aircraft. On March 27, 1981, the 52nd Escort Corps was formed under the 2nd Escort Corps, and was incorporated with JDS ''Kurama'', when she was commissioned on the same day. Home port was transferred to

Sasebo is a core city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. It is also the second largest city in Nagasaki Prefecture, after its capital, Nagasaki. On 1 June 2019, the city had an estimated population of 247,739 and a population density of 581 persons p ...

. From November 2 to December 2, 1982, she participated in the Hawaii dispatch training with the escort vessels

JDS Shirane JS ' (DDH-143) was the lead ship of the Shirane-class destroyer, her eponymous class of destroyer in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Construction and career The vessel was Keel laying, laid down by Ishikawajima-Harima in Tokyo ...

, JDS Asakaze and eight P-2Js. On March 30, 1983, the 52nd Escort Corps was abolished and became a ship under the direct control of the 2nd Escort Corps. On March 30, 1984, she was transferred to the 3rd Escort Group as their

flagship A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the fi ...

. From March 31, 1986, FRAM repair started at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works. This refurbishment improved anti-submarine search capability, individual ship air defense capability, combat command / information processing capability, and electronic warfare capability, and extended the age of the ship by eight years. This FRAM repair work was completed on October 31, 1987, and returned to the flagship of the 3rd Escort Crops. From June 16 to September 6, 1989, she was dispatched to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

with JDS Shimakaze and JDS Mineyuki and participated in the Japan-US joint exercise READIEX 89-4A. In 1990, participated in the Exercise RIMPAC 1990. From June 15 to September 5, 1995, she participated in the US dispatch training with JDS Sawakaze and three P-3C aircraft. From June 9 to September 3, 1997, she participated in the US dispatch training with JDS Hamagiri, JDS Myōkō and five P-3C aircraft. On March 20, 1998, her home port was transferred to

Maizuru is a city in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 78,644 in 34817 households and a population density of 230 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Maizuru is located in northern Kyoto Pref ...

. On October 13, the same year, she participated in the International Fleet Review to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Korea in

Busan Busan (), officially known as is South Korea's most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.4 million inhabitants. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, w ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

, along with JDS Setogiri and JDS Myōkō. On February 18, 1999, during a firing circuit test of a high-performance 20mm machine gun (

CIWS A close-in weapon system (CIWS ) is a point-defense weapon system for detecting and destroying short-range incoming missiles and enemy aircraft which have penetrated the outer defenses, typically mounted on a naval ship. Nearly all classes of la ...

) while berthed at Maizuru Port, two live ammunition were fired accidentally and landed near Mt. Aoba, east of the port. On March 24, the same year, in the case of a suspicious ship off the

Noto Peninsula The Noto Peninsula (能登半島, ''Noto-hantō'') is a peninsula that projects north into the Sea of Japan from the coast of Ishikawa Prefecture in central Honshū, the main island of Japan. The main industries of the peninsula are agricultur ...

, the first "maritime security action" was announced, and it was dispatched with JDS Myōkō and JDS Abukuma to fire warning shots at the suspicious ship. On February 12, 2002, based on the Act on Special Measures Against Terrorism, dispatched to the

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...

along with JDS Sawakaze and JDS Tokiwa. She was on duty until June of the same year and returned to Japan on August 7. On July 15, 2003, she was dispatched to the Indian Ocean along with the escort ship (at that time) JDS Asagiri and JDS Towada. She was on duty until October of the same year and returned to Japan on November 19. In 2004, she participated in the Exercise RIMPAC 2004. On August 21, 2007, she made a goodwill visit to the

Russian Pacific Fleet , image = Great emblem of the Pacific Fleet.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Russian Pacific Fleet Great emblem , dates = 1731–present , country ...

base in

Vladivostok Vladivostok ( rus, Владивосто́к, a=Владивосток.ogg, p=vɫədʲɪvɐˈstok) is the largest city and the administrative center of Primorsky Krai, Russia. The city is located around the Zolotoy Rog, Golden Horn Bay on the Sea ...

. The arrival press conference was held in the

Golden Horn The Golden Horn ( tr, Altın Boynuz or ''Haliç''; grc, Χρυσόκερας, ''Chrysókeras''; la, Sinus Ceratinus) is a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey. As a natural estuary that connects with t ...

. On March 26, 2008, the escort corps was reorganized and transferred to the 3rd Escort Corps. In the same year, participated in the Exercise RIMPAC 2008. Removed from the register on March 18, 2009. The total cruising range was 959,652.1 miles (48 laps of the earth, equivalent to 2.3 round trips per month), the total number of helicopter landings were 55,013, and the total number of flights were 21,927 hours. In October 2009, she set off to a dismantling company located in

Etajima , also called , ''Nomijima'', ''Nomi Island'', or is an island in Hiroshima Bay located in southwestern Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The mess with island name originates from the ancient (and possibly legendary) strait at now town . Geography Th ...

, and was completed dismantled in January 2010.

Gallery

File:DDH141 Haruna JMSDF(Japanese Navy).jpg, JDS ''Haruna'' on 11 January 2003 File:US Navy 070318-N-5961C-262 Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) ship JS Haruna (DDH 141), USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and USS Russell (DDG 59) steam in formation during a photo exercise (PHOTOEX) between the Ronald Reagan C.jpg, JS ''Haruna'',

USS Lake Champlain Three ships of the United States Navy have been named USS ''Lake Champlain'', after the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812. *, was a cargo ship in use during 1918 and 1919 and then sold *, was an aircraft carrier in service from 1945 to 1 ...

and USS Russell underway on 18 March 2007 File:US Navy 070318-N-5961C-226 Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) ship JS Haruna (DDH 141) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) steam in formation during a photo exercise (PHOTOEX) between Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group and JM.jpg, JS ''Haruna'' and

USS Ronald Reagan USS ''Ronald Reagan'' (CVN-76) is a , nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class, she is named in honor of Ronald W. Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. She was buil ...

underway on 18 March 2007 File:US Navy 040625-N-8157C-053 The Japanese destroyer JDS Haruna (DDH 141) passes Hospital Point in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.jpg, JS ''Haruna'' in

Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the Naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the Re ...

on 26 June 2008 File:US Navy 080626-N-3931M-053 The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force ship JS Haruna (DDH 141) pulls into Pearl harbor for a scheduled port call before starting Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008.jpg, JS ''Haruna'' arriving at

on 26 June 2008 File:JS Haruna (DDH-141) arrives at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, 26 Jun 2008.jpg File:US Navy 081119-N-4010S-168 The amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) steams in formation with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Haruna (DDH 141).jpg, JS ''Haruna'' and

USS Harpers Ferry USS ''Harpers Ferry'' (LSD-49) is the lead ship of her class of landing ship dock of the United States Navy. This warship was named for the town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which, because of the U.S. arsenal there, was an important location ...

underway on 19 November 2008 File:DDH-141 Haruna＆DDH-143 Shirane.jpg, JS ''Haruna'' and JS Shirane on 28 September 2009

Citations

References

hazegray.org: ''Haruna'' DDH 141
{{DEFAULTSORT:Haruna Haruna-class destroyers Ships built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 1972 ships