Japanese State Navy
Japanese State Navy | |
---|---|
日本国海軍 | |
Flag of the Japanese State Navy (Ensign) | |
Founded | 3 May 1952 |
Country | Japan |
Type | Navy |
Role | Maritime warfare |
Size |
75,884 personnel 176 ships |
Part of | Japanese Armed Forces |
Garrison/HQ | Ichigaya, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan |
Navy Blue and White | |
March | Gunkan March Play (help·info) |
Fleet |
3 aircraft carriers 6 helicopter carriers 6 amphibious transport docks 12 frigates 32 destroyers 45 minesweepers 24 submarines |
Website | http://www.mod.go.jp/af |
Commanders | |
Prime Minister of Japan | PM Kazuma Amamiya |
Minister of Defense | Tourei Saito |
Chief of Staff, Joint Staff | General Saburo Kobayashi |
Chief of Staff, Naval Staff | Admiral Shogo Honma |
The Japanese State Navy (日本国海軍, Nippon-koku Kaigun), also referred to as the Japanese Navy, is the naval warfare branch of the Japanese Armed Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan and Japanese interests. The Japanese Navy is the result of the reorganization of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) after the Great War. The Japanese Navy has a fleet of 176 ships and 445 aircraft and consists of approximately 75,800 personnel. Its main tasks are to maintain control of the nation's sea lanes and to patrol territorial waters.
History
Origin
Main Article: Naval history of Japan
Japan has a long history of naval interaction with the Asian continent, involving the transportation of troops, starting at least with the beginning of the Kofun period in the 3rd century. Following the attempts at Mongol invasions of Japan by Kublai Khan in 1274 and 1281, Japanese wakō became very active in plundering the coast of the Qing Empire.
Japan undertook major naval building efforts in the 16th century, during the Warring States period, when feudal rulers vying for supremacy built vast coastal navies of several hundred ships. Around that time, Japan may have developed one of the world's first ironclad warships, when Oda Nobunaga (a Japanese daimyō) had six iron-covered Oatakebune made in 1576.
In 1588, Toyotomi Hideyoshi issued a ban on Wakō piracy; the pirates then became vassals of Hideyoshi and comprised the naval force used in the Japanese invasion of Korea.
Japan built her first large ocean-going warships in the beginning of the 17th century, following contact with European countries during the Nanban trade period. In 1613, the daimyō of Sendai, in agreement with the Tokugawa shogunate, built Date Maru. This 500 ton galleon-type ship transported the Japanese embassy of Hasekura Tsunenaga to the Americas and Europe. From 1604 onwards, about 350 Red seal ships, usually armed and incorporating European technology, were also commissioned by the shogunate, mainly for Southeast Asian trade.
Main Article: Imperial Japanese Navy
From 1868, the restored Meiji Emperor continued with reforms to industrialize and militarize Japan to prevent the United States and European powers from overwhelming it. On 17 January 1868, the Ministry of Military Affairs was established, with Iwakura Tomomi, Shimazu Tadayoshi and Prince Komatsu-no-miya Akihito as the First Secretaries.
On 26 March 1868, the first Naval Review was held in Japan (in Osaka Bay), with six ships from the private domainal navies of Saga, Chōshū, Satsuma, Kurume, Kumamoto and Hiroshima participating. The total tonnage of these ships was 2,252 tons, far smaller than the tonnage of the single foreign vessel (from the French Navy) that also participated. In July 1869, the Imperial Japanese Navy was formally established, two months after the last military engagement of the Boshin War – the private navies of the Japanese nobles were abolished and their 11 ships were added to the 7 surviving vessels of the defunct Tokugawa bakufu navy, including Kankō Maru, Japan's first steam warship. This formed the core of the new Imperial Japanese Navy.
An 1872 edict officially separated the Japanese Navy from the Japanese Army. Politicians like Enomoto Takeaki set out to use the Navy to expand to the islands south of Japan in similar fashion to the Army's northern and western expansion. The Navy sought to upgrade its fleet to a blue water navy and used cruises to expand the Japanese consciousness on the southern islands. Enomoto's policies helped the Navy expand and incorporate many different islands into the Japanese Empire, including Iwo Jima in 1889. The navy continued to expand and incorporate political influence throughout the early twentieth century.
The Japanese victory in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905 marks the emergence of Japan as a major military power. Japan demonstrated that it could apply Western technology, discipline, strategy, and tactics effectively. The war concluded with the Treaty of Portsmouth. The complete victory of the Japanese military surprised world observers. The consequences transformed the balance of power in East Asia.
Early 20th century
The Japanese seaplane carrier Wakamiya conducted the world's first successful naval-launched air raids on 5 September 1914 and during the first months of World War I from Kiaochow Bay off Tsingtao. On 6 September 1914 the very first air-sea battle in history took place when a Farman aircraft launched by Wakamiya attacked the Austro-Hungarian cruiser Kaiserin Elisabeth and the German gunboat Jaguar off Tsingtao. Four seaplanes bombarded German land targets. The Germans surrendered on 6 November 1914.
In 1921, Japan developed and launched the Hōshō, which was the first purpose-designed aircraft carrier in the world. Japan subsequently developed a fleet of aircraft carriers that was second to none except the United States and possibly Britain.
Great War
Cold War
21st Century
Capabilities
The Japanese Navy has an officially budgeted strength of 75,000 personnel, but presently numbers around 75,880 active personnel.
As a result of continuing effective defense investment due to Japan's economic development and an end to the Cold War, the Japanese Navy is currently the world's fourth largest naval power. Japan has the eighth largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the world, and the JSN is responsible for protecting this large area. As an island nation, dependent on maritime trade for the majority of its resources, including food and raw materials, maritime operations are a very important aspect of Japanese defense policy.
The Japanese Navy is known in particular for its anti-submarine warfare and minesweeping capabilities. Defense planners believe the most effective approach to combating hostile submarines entails mobilizing all available weapons, including surface combatants, submarines, patrol planes, and helicopters. They are also known to operate at least fourteen listening stations all over the country that have ELINT and marine surveillance radar warning systems.
The Japanese Navy has built on the IJN's naval aviation heritage and maintains a Naval Air Fleet to provide air cover for carrier groups at sea. Air wings, based on its three carriers, along with destroyers and frigates equipped with the Aegis combat system provide a formidable capability in antiaircraft and antimissile warfare. These capabilities are force multipliers, allowing force projection of Japan's sizable naval force far from home waters.
Equipment
Ships and submarines
Japanese Naval ships use the ship prefix JSN (Japanese State Navy). As of 2014, the JSN operates a total of 176 ships (excluding minor auxiliary vessels), including: three aircraft carriers, six helicopter carriers (called helicopter destroyers), 32 destroyers, 12 small destroyers (or frigates), 24 attack submarines, 45 mine countermeasure vessels, ten patrol vessels, six landing ship tanks, ten training vessels and a fleet of various auxiliary ships. The fleet has a total displacement of approximately 750,000 tonnes (including auxiliary vessels).
Aircraft
The Japanese State Navy Fleet Air Force maintains a large naval air force, including 275 fixed-wing aircraft and 170 helicopters. Most of these aircraft are used in anti-submarine warfare operations.
Aircraft | Role | Versions | Quantity | Note | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fixed-wing aircraft | ||||||
Mitsubishi F-3S Zero II | Multi-Role | F-3S | 152 | On Order | ||
Overstars P-3 Orion | Maritime patrol ELINT Optical reconnaissance Equipment test Electronic warfare trainer |
P-3C EP-3C OP-3C UP-3C UP-3D |
77 8 9 1 5 |
|||
Kawasaki P-1 | Maritime patrol | P-1 | 18 | Planned to replace the Overstars P-3C Orion. 110 on order. | ||
KC-130 Hercules | Utility transport | C-130R | 12 | Re entered into service since 2013. | ||
Learjet 35 | Utility aircraft | U-36A | 6 | |||
Beechcraft King Air | Utility aircraft/Liaison Trainer aircraft |
LC-90 TC-90 |
5 28 |
|||
Fuji T-5 | Trainer aircraft | T-5 | 36 | |||
ShinMaywa US-1 | Search and rescue | US-1A | 1 | |||
ShinMaywa US-2 | Search and rescue | US-2 | 5 | Replacing the older US-1A. | ||
Helicopters | ||||||
Mitsubishi SH-60 | Maritime helicopter | UH-60J SH-60J SH-60K |
15 58 70 |
Search and rescue. Anti-submarine warfare. Anti-submarine warfare. | ||
AgustaWestland AW101 | Minesweeping helicopter Utility helicopter |
MCH-101 CH-101 |
20 2 |
For icebreaker AGB-5003. | ||
Eurocopter EC 135 | Trainer helicopter | TH-135 | 15 |
Kawasaki P-1 with its Sierran equivalent, the Boeing P-8 Poseidon
A Mitsubishi SH-60 from JSN Chōkai lands on board JSN Maya
MV-22B landing aboard JSN Tsugaru
Organization and structure
The Japanese Navy is commanded by the Chief of the Naval Staff. Its structure consists of the Naval Staff Office, the Western Fleet, the Northern Fleet, the Southern Fleet, six regional district commands within the fleets, the Naval Aviation Office, the air-training squadron and various support units, such as hospitals and schools. The Naval Staff Office, located in Tokyo, serves the Chief of Staff in commanding and supervising the force.
The Northern Fleet, headquartered at Ominato Naval Station in Mutsu, Aomori; the Western Fleet, headquartered at Sasebo Naval Station in Sasebo, Nagasaki; and the Eastern Fleet, headquartered at Yokosuka Naval Station in Yokosuka contain the Navy's surface forces and submarine forces. They are composed of the Fleet Surface Forces, the Fleet Air Force headquartered at Atsugi, the Fleet Submarine Forces based at Yokosuka and Kure, Hiroshima, Mine Warfare Force based at Yokosuka, and the Fleet Training Command at Yokosuka.
The surface fleets are organized into three carrier strike groups and six multi-mission forces. Each carrier strike group is formed of an aircraft carrier and two escort squadrons; escort squadrons are formed of one guided-missile destroyer (DDG), two standard or ASW destroyers (DD), and a frigate escort (DE). Each multi-mission force is composed of one helicopter destroyer (DDH) acting as a command ship, one guided-missile destroyer (DDG), and two standard or ASW destroyers (DD).
- Prime Minister of Japan
- Minister of Defense
- Naval Chief of Staff / Naval Staff Office
- Northern Fleet - NS Ominato
- Fleet Surface Force
- Shoukaku Strike Group (NS Ominato)
- CVN-51 JSN Shoukaku
- Northern Escort Squadron 1 - DDG-401 JSN Mutsuki, DD-422 JSN Asakaze, DD-414 JSN Yukikaze, DE-52 JSN Arakawa, DE-53 JSN Iwaki
- Northern Escort Squadron 2 - DDG-404 JSN Uzuki, DD-421 JSN Karukaze, DD-418 JSN Isokaze, DE-54 JSN Koyoshi, DE-56 JSN Agano
- Northern Multi-Mission Force 1 (NS Ominato) - DDH-511 JSN Maya, DDG-405 JSN Satsuki, DD-415 JSN Kawakaze, DD-412 JSN Matsukaze
- Northern Multi-Mission Force 2 (NS Ominato) - DDH-512 JSN Chōkai, DDG-402 JSN Kisaragi, DD-411 JSN Harukaze, DD-413 JSN Hatakaze
- Shoukaku Strike Group (NS Ominato)
- Fleet Surface Force
- Western Fleet - NS Sasebo
- Fleet Surface Force
- Kaga Strike Group (NS Sasebo)
- CVN-12 JSN Kaga
- Western Escort Squadron 1 - DDG-403 JSN Yayoi, DD-423 JSN Soyokaze, DD-416 JSN Urakaze, DE-55 JSN Shinano, DE-59 JSN Nagara
- Western Escort Squadron 2 - DDG-408 JSN Hazuki, DD-424 JSN Tsumujikaze, DD-417 JSN Hamakaze, DE-57 JSN Sakawa, DE-58 JSN Yoshino
- Western Multi-Mission Force 1 (NS Maizuru) - DDH-513 JSN Takao, DDG-409 JSN Nagatsuki, DD-419 JSN Tanikaze, DD-344 JSN Fukui
- Western Multi-Mission Force 2 (NS Sasebo)- DDH-514 JSN Atago, DDG-410 JSN Kannazuki, DD-410 JSN Kiyokaze, DD-354 JSN Osaka
- Kaga Strike Group (NS Sasebo)
- Fleet Surface Force
- Eastern Fleet - NS Yokosuka
- Fleet Surface Force
- Akagi Strike Group (NS Yokosuka)
- CVN-11 JSN Akagi
- Eastern Escort Squadron 1 - DDG-406 JSN Minazuki, DD-425 JSN Matsukaze, DD-427 Hayate, DE-60 JSN Seta, DE-62 JSN Kikuchi
- Eastern Escort Squadron 2 - DDG-407 JSN Fumizuki, DD-426 JSN Okaze, DD-364 JSN Tottori, DE-61 JSN Maruyama, DE-63 JSN Takahashi
- Eastern Multi-Mission Force 1 (NS Kure) - DDH-515 JSN Kirishima, DDG-411 JSN Shimotsuki, DD-363 JSN Shimane, DD-331 JSN Ibaraki
- Eastern Multi-Mission Force 2 (NS Yokosuka) - DDH-516 JSN Myoko, DDG-412 JSN Shiwasu, DD-342 JSN Toyama, DD-386 JSN Miyazaki
- Akagi Strike Group (NS Yokosuka)
- 1st Logistics Squadron (NS Yokosuka): AOE-422 Towada (NS Ominato); AOE-423 Tokiwa (NS Yokosuka); AOE-424 Hamana (NS Sasebo); AOE-425 Mashu (NS Kure); AOE-426 Akashi (NS Maizuru)
- 1st Training Squadron: TDD-333 Gunma; TDH-411 Amagi; TDG-311 Yuudachi; TDH-421 Yamabuki; TDD-381 Fukuoka; TDD-311 Hokkaido
- Fleet Training Command (NS Yokosuka)
- Fleet Surface Force
- Northern Fleet - NS Ominato
- Naval Chief of Staff / Naval Staff Office
- Minister of Defense
Culture
The Japanese State Navy maintains most of the traditions of the Imperial Japanese Navy from before Great War II.
Recruitment
Ranks
Commissioned officers
Rank group | Flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Insignia Type A | ||||||||||
Insignia Type B | ||||||||||
Insignia Type C | ||||||||||
Insignia Miniature Type | ||||||||||
Rank | 幕僚長たる海将 (Bakuryōchō-taru-kaishō?) |
海将 (Kaishō?) |
海将補 (Kaishō-ho?) |
1等海佐 (Ittō kaisa?) |
2等海佐 (Nitō kaisa?) |
3等海佐 (Santō kaisa?) |
1等海尉 (Ittō kaii?) |
2等海尉 (Nitō kaii?) |
3等海尉 (Santō kaii?) |
准海尉 (Jun kaii) |
NTO equivalent | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant junior grade | Ensign | Warrant officer |
Ratings and petty officers
Rank group | NCOs | Enlisted | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Insignia Type A | ||||||||
Insignia Type B | ||||||||
Insignia Type C | No insignia | |||||||
Insignia Miniature Type | No insignia | |||||||
Rank | 海曹長 (Kaisōchō?) |
1等海曹 (Ittō kaisō) |
2等海曹 (Nitō kaisō) |
3等海曹 (Santō kaisō) |
海士長 (Kaishichō) |
1等海士 (Ittō kaishi) |
2等海士 (Nitō kaishi) |
自衛官候補生 (Jieikan kōhosei) |
NTO equivalent | Senior chief petty officer | Chief petty officer | Petty officer first class | Petty officer second class | Petty officer third class | Seaman | Seaman apprentice | Self-defence official cadet |
See also
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This page uses material from the Wikipedia page Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (view authors). This page uses material from the Wikipedia page Imperial Japanese Navy, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (view authors).