JS Yūdachi (DD-103)

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

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

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

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. 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.

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.

Gallery

• 
  JS Yūdachi alongside JS Yūgiri in March 2016.
• 
  JS Yūdachi alongside JS Fuyuzuki and JS Hyūga at Yokosuka on 25 September 2017.

References

• Abe, Yasuo (July 2000). "History of JMSDF Destroyers". Ships of the World (in Japanese) (571). Kaijinn-sha. 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) (614). Kaijinn-sha: 94–99.