Shirane class DDH (1978)

If there are superstars in the Japanese cold war naval lineage, most would certainly cite the Shirane class. Not only they were pretty unique in design, as the largest airborne carriers in a Navy that was expressely banned from acquiring or building any aircraft carrier in its constitution, but the largest Japanese warships since WW2. As true “capital ships” they were also designated as command ships, centers of ASW task forces… For the specific needs of the JMSDF they were very useful ships, decommissioned in 2015-17 after 35 years of service.

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 29, 2009) The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JDS Kurama (DDH 144) pulls alongside amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) during Exercise Malabar 2009, an annual exercise led by the Indian Navy. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Viramontes/Released)

Development of the Shirane class

In Short

The Shirane-class destroyers are a continuation of the Haruna class design, still with a large central hangar housing up to three helicopters to ensure two can be in patrols over the task group at any time, and these are large, long-range ASW helicopters. They carried out with a classic steam propulsion with two boilers for 70.000 hp and 32 knots but the armament included a close quarters, defensive armament between the Mk.42 5-in guns, Phalanx CIWS and RIM-7 Sea Sparrow, not forgetting their own ASW suite with torpedoes and ASROC. Their replacements are the current Izumo-class “helicopter” destroyers, but soon turned into practical aircraft carriers, breaking the old rules.

They were also presented as the first Maritime Self Defense Force first “system warships” designed as flagships for two Escort Flotilla. They were the first to carry a 3D radar and had the largest digital computer architecture with data fusion for all weapons systems, which would be useful as the centerpiece of the escort group, coordinating a response from any threat and counting on superior communication capabilities. Between DDH 143 Shirane and her sister DDH 144 Kurama, there were minor differences with the second having a crew of 360, slightly better powerplant and speed, and other minor changes. They were both upgraded and modernized 1984.

Genesis: The full deck carrier (DLH) is abandoned

After the 8,000-ton CVH concept considered during the 2nd Defense Build-up Program fell through, the 4,700-ton DDH 43/45DDH (later Haruna class) were included in the 3rd Defense Build-up Program, based on the “8-ship, 6-aircraft” concept of tactical unit, the “escort flotilla”, of eight escort ships, six patrol helicopters. As the 4th Defense Build-up Program was drafted, plans for a new anti-submarine patrol ship to enhance warfare capabilities was setup to allocate R&D resources, and these were two large helicopter-carrying destroyers (DLHs), both capable of providing a full “aviation operational capacity”.

It was thought a combination of two DDHs and one DLHs would offer similar capabilities regarding the deployment of six helicopters for anti-submarine warfare. However the DLH was superior in terms of cost-effectiveness and helicopter operations, calling for a displacement of 8,700 tons, 120,000 hp, six helicopters, Standard missile, including a full-length flight deck including future operation of the Harrier V/STOL. It was then scaled down to 8,300 tons in later drafting phase, then reduced to single ship.

After coordinating with the National Defense Council Secretariat it was decided that building a DLH (or full deck helicopter destroyer) was premature, based on the recent operational experience with the Haruna clas so the DLH plan was abandoned altogether and instead it was decided to go for a repeat of the Haruna, but larger at 5,200-ton class DDH incirporating novel central combat system in a configuration allowing combat coordination in the escort flotilla, a shift toward passive ASW with the introduction of anti-ship missile defense capabilities.

Naming

The Maritime Self-Defense Force announced the name for the lead ship, “Shirane” to be inspired by the “Shirane Sanzan” (Shirane Three Mountains), continuing a tradition reserved to battlecruisers and heavy cruisers. Locally, Mount Kita was one of the Shirane Sanzan, “Mount Shirane” but a colloquial name so officially, the Geographical Survey Institute had to recoignize there was not a single “Mount Shirane” distiguished by prefixing them with the locality nearby. Thus, DDH-143 is the first to be named after a colective mountain “chain”.
In accordance with JMSDF naming conventions using also weather phenomena or mountains, that choice was easy as these DDH were by then the most advanced and largest vessels, and bouncing on the previous DDH class, named after former battlecruiser, Haruna and Hiei. By continuing thos tradtion the first choice was not Shirane but the new DDH would have been named “Kongō” and “Kirishima” to really recall all four former battlecruiser. However Shin Kanemaru, Director-General of the Defense Agency at the time strongly insisted adopting instea Mount Kita (part of the Shirane Sanzan) from his own electoral district and the name Kongō and Kirishima had been discarded… until adopted for the present Kongō-class Aegis destroyers, worthy of the name again.

Her sister made thus less debate once the initial names were dropped. DDH-144 was named after Mount Kurama (鞍馬山) the north of Kyoto, the old capital of Japan, considered sacred as it was the birthplace of the Reiki practice, said to be the home of Sōjōbō, King of Tengu. It is also the location of the annual Kurama Fire Festival every October and now designated as a national treasure of Japan. Both ships were built at the same yard, IHI Tokyo (Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd). They were ordered in 1975 and 1976 respectively, laid down in 1977 and 1978 (see below).

Design of the Shirane class (F111 design)

Hull and general arrangements

The Shrirane class had a standard displacement of 5,200 long tons (5,300 t) and 7,500 long tons (7,600 t) full load and measured 159 m (522 ft) overall for a beam of 17.5 m (57 ft) and draft of 5.3 m (17 ft). Being essentially an enlarged and improved Haruna-class (43/45DDH) under design number F111, the hull share the same “long forecastle” hull and full-length aft flight deck. The hull however was lengthened by 6 meters to accommodate a larger bridge structure for enhanced electronics and better C3R. With the longer hull ratio, this allowed the new ships to maintain a speed comparable to the Haruna clas with the basic same engines despite a greater displacement, a “trick” well known by naval architects when asked to make a repeat design with improvements. The only tradeoff was a potential stability limitation: The beam remained indeed unchanged. They also hared the same knuckle along the forward hull and the aft section was sloped down all the way to the trasom stern, providing sufficient width for the flight deck and increasing internal volume to be a flagship. Also, the bridge structure was expanded to four decks high again for better C3R.

The ships also kept the MACK configuration but with more antennas and electronic systems. The two MACKs configuration was there to prevent radio frequency interference instead of one of the previous Haruna class. One was positioned on the centerline, the second offset to starboard (opposite of Haruna) to improve helicopter and recovery operations based on experie,ce on the previous DDH. Thus, this forced the main engine exhaust trunking starboard, reversing the helicopter stowage configuration to one (mack)starboard, two (helicopters) port layout instead of the former two-starboard/one-port.

Plans were made for bad weather/heavy roll recovery systems for helicopters similar to the ones used by Canadian destroyers, and provisions for emergency water landings (these were Sea King derived machines after all) with shipboard deck cranes. However after it was shown by the Dea king/Mitsubishi HSS-2 helicopter would capsize once the rotors stopped, the deck cranes were replaced with smaller ones with a light lifting capacity of 5 tons. They carried a crew ranging from 350 on Shirane and 360 on Kurama, which had increased C3R systems and there was a staff on bot of c20 officers, more when acting as flagships. The longer hull also served to shoehorn extra accomodations.

Active Protection

For the first time, since the new Shirane class went for a passive ASW stance, to reduce underwater radiated noise the same “prairie Masker” system used in the USN was adopted, with the propellers blades tips “holed” to generate a microbubble trail, compltely changing the acoustic signature

Powerplant of the Shirane class

The propulsion of the Shirane class made little debate, and was a repeat of that on the Hiei, slightly modified variant of the Haruna class. It was classic, with two main boilers Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI)-Foster Wheeler “D-type”, two-drum water-tube types, with steam under 60 kgf/cm² (850 lbf/in²) pressure, 480°C temperature, for a steam generation capacity of 130 tons/hour, each. The turbines were also from IHI and double-flow, locked-train, with two-stage reduction for cruising, and with two-casing impulse-type series-parallel units. Each delivered and impressive 35,000 horsepower (26,000 kW) for 70,000 hp total (52,000 Kw).

However the power supply system, given all the extra electronics and C3R features, needed to be seriously upgraded as well as for survivability in case of combat damage. This new electrical system featured 1,200 kW turbine generators, one in each of the forward and aft machinery rooms for redundancy and protection, as well as two 300 kW diesel emergency generators, distributed between the forward and aft sections for the same reasons. The power supply method relied on continuous operation these axuliary steam generators, like for the Tachikaze class (46DDG).
The top speed was officially 31 knots, but this was Shiran’s figure, whereas her sister was credited for a 32 knots top speed, despite being slightly heavier.
Their range and oil capacity had not been published. No sources states them we can only make an aducated guess from the previous Haruna class.
They also had a new Vosper Thornycroft stabilizers fin stabilizer. Instead of two sets of 5m2 fins, the roll-reduction was obtained with a single set of 8m2 fins.

Armament of the Shirane class

Artillery comprises the same two 5-in guns (127 mm) in a superfiring pair forward, followed by the main ASW ASROC launcher, two triple torpedo tubes amidship, and the sea sparrow launcher aft on the hangar, then the helicopters.

Sea Sparrow SAM (24 RIM-7)

Instead of the Mark 13 or Tartar-D system SAM of the Akatsuki class, the new Shirane class adopted the same Sea Sparrow Mk.29 SAM as for the Haruna, lighter, shorter range, defensive Sea Sparrow system. However it was upgraded to the Sea Sparrow BPDMS (Basic Point Defense Missile System), Mk.25 GMLS incorporating the Mk.112 8-cell launcher. The octuple canister launcher is located aft of the second mack, on the roof of the hangar with its reload system located behind, closer to the mack. It enabled two full reloads (16 spares) for a full 24 missiles capacity.
GMLS-3 octuple reloadable launcher, plus associated FCS-2-12 for fire direction. The RIM-7M Sea Sparrow had a Mass of 510 lb (230 kg), Length 12 ft (3.7 m) x 8 in (20 cm), wingspan 3 ft 4 in (1.02 m). Carries a 90 lb (41 kg) annular blast fragmentation warhead with proximity fuze and expanding rod, 27 ft (8.2 m) kill radius.
It was powered by a Hercules MK-58 solid-propellant rocket motor for 4,256 km/h (2,645 mph) at max 10 nmi (19 km).

For guidance, they were to adopt the US Mk.115 but it was juged inadequate due to manual operation and optical sight so instead, the Shirane class adopted the domestically produced FCS-2. It was not ready in time so instead the WM-25 system from Signaal (now Thales Nederland) was imported and installed instead making them equivalent to DDGs and to feature the Sea Sparrow BPDMS, later upgraded to IBPDMS in 2003-2004 with RIM-7Ms missiles in the Type 3 Short-Range SAM Launcher (GMLS-3) and guided by the Type 81 Fire Control System Model 2-12 (FCS-2-12).

Type 73 5-in/54

The main armament like comprised a Japanese-made licensed Type 73 54-caliber 5-inch, single rapid-fire gun. One was on the forward deck and another on the aft upper deckhouse. This is a hefty beast, weighting 60.4 long tons (61.4 t) for a length of 9.652 m (31 ft 8.0 in), and barrel length of 6.858 m (270.0 in), firing a 127 x 835mm.R 31.75 kg (70.0 lb) 5 inches (127.0 mm) shell. The mount can elevate to +85 at 25°/sec and traversing at 40°/sec for a sustained fire of 40 rounds per minute automatic but advised down to 28 rounds per minute from 1968. Muzzle velocity is 2,650 ft/s (807.7 m/s) for a max range against surface targets at 25,909 yd (23,691.2 m) at +45° elevation and 51,600 ft (15,727.7 m) at +85° elevation against air targets.

Type 74 ASROC

As for ASW armament they had an eight-cell ASROC launcher Type 74, also made in Japan under licence and mounted on the forward deck, directly in front of the bridge. The launcher could be reloaded once, making for 16 RUR-5 missiles total. Specs of the missiles are the same as the US model: 1,073 pounds (487 kg) for 14.75 ft (4.50 m) long, 16.6 inches (420 mm) in diameter and wingspan of 26+7/8 inches (680 mm) and carrying a Mark 46 torpedo, with 96.8 pounds (43.9 kg) of PBXN-103 HE. It is powered by a Solid propellant rocket motor for a max range of 6 mi (9.7 km), subsonic. The ASROC magazine was located on the port side of the bridge structure. The first and second in class had a manual loading system with power assistance for the rammer crane, but the third had a direct loading system from the magazine like of the Hatsuyuki-class so the launchers was mounted closer to the bridge.

Type 68 324mm TTs

Type 68 triple torpedo tubes HOS-301 were mounted on both sides of the amidship section, between the two islands on both sides. They could be reloaded by hand. The Mark 46 torpedo, also used by the ASROC system is powered by a 2-speed, reciprocating external combustion using Otto fuel II to 12,000 yd (11,000 m) and at a max. depth of 1,200 ft (370 m), top speed 40 kn (74 km/h; 46 mph) and using Active or passive/active acoustic homing. The warhead, as seen above, is the 96.8 pounds (43.9 kg) of PBXN-103 HE.

Mark 15 Phalanx CIWS

When completed, DDH-143 any close defensive weapon system, whereas her sister, DDH-144 received two-six barrels gatling 20mm/76 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS. Kurama, thus, was the first so equipped in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. They were installed high-up in the amidship structure for a potential cross-fire and have in some angles, the two firing on the same incoming targets. Each weights 12,500 lb (5,700 kg) for a barrel length of 59.8 in (1,520 mm) for the L76 gun (Block 0), height of 15.5 ft (4.7 m). They fired a 20×102 mm tungsten armor-piercing discarding sabot (CIWS) or high-explosive incendiary tracer (C-RAM) 20 mm (0.79 in) in diameter, across 6-barrel with progressive RH parabolic twist, 9 grooves up to +80° elevation ad -6° depression on Block 0. Later blocks were modified to asymetric surface warfare, with a −20° and layer −25° depression. Their Rate of fire is legendary at 4,500 rounds/minute (75 rounds/second) for a muzzle velocity of 3,600 ft/s (1,100 m/s) and range of 1,625 yd (1,486 m) max. effective but on paper up to 6,000 yd (5,500 m). Before chaffs and EW and after the sea sparrow (which have an anti-missile vapacity) and the 5-in rounds they are the last line of active defence.

Sensors & Combat System

To command an ASW flotilla the ships were geared towads anti-submarine warfare command support capabilities, clearly enhanced there, as well as better air defense capabilities and communication. They received the new OYD-3 CCI.
The sensor suite was also completely new, with a Radar 3D OPS-12 for air search, the OPS-28 for surface search, both installed for the first time. Additionally, the OPN-8 height-finding radar was installed in complement and combined with the OPS-22 navigation radar for helicopter guidance. The combo OPS-22/OPN-8 was called the NOPN-18 landing guidance radar system.
Overall, both DDH-143 and 144 differed in their sensor suite. They shared the OPN-8, OPS-12, OPS-28, WM-25, FCS-1A radars, OQS-101, SQS-35(J), SQR-18A TACTASS radars, NOLQ-1, OLR-9B ECM suites, Mk 36 SRBOC, SLQ-25 Nixie, OYQ-3 CCS, but DDH-144 (Kurama) alone came with the Mk 90 radars associated with the CIWS and better

OYD-3 Information System

The Shirane class is equipped with the OYQ-3 TDPS (Tactical Data Processing System) for tactical information processing for command support for earl-time coordinated flotilla anti-submarine warfare. This was the first JMSDF tactical information processing system with the Link 11 2-way tactical data link for full compatibility with the US Navy Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS). That’s why they are often called the first Japanese ‘system ship’. Initially OYD-3 lacked weapon control capabilities. Soa a domestically developed TDS-2-2 Target Designation System for the AN/UYK-20 computer was setup. Integration into OYQ-3 had however to wait for a refit in the late 1990s. This became the “OYQ-3B CDS”. Shiran the OYQ-3B system and Combat Information Center (CCI) was completely destroyed in a fire by December 2007 so she was refitted with equipment transferred from Haruna and Asakaze, both upgraded.

Sonar Suite

The sonar suite is also refreshed, with the newly developed Type 75 OQS-101 bow-mounted sonar and at the poop, the SQS-35(J) Variable Depth Sonar (VDS). Kurama differed by having the towed AN/SQR-18A TACTASS from the USN. Shirane was later retrofitted with the same, crucial for true passive ASW tactics. The helicopters were also upgraded to the HSS-2B able to drop sonobuoys for a much greater search range. Thus was fully exploited then by the OYQ-101 ASW Data System (ASWDS) installed to streamline ASW data processing.

Active Defence and EW

For electronic warfare, both have the NOLQ-1 Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) system, first seen on the Asakaze class, with capabilities for both Electronic Support Measures (ESM) and Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) and this is completed by the OLR-9B missile warning system. They were also equipped with the standard US Mk.36 SRBOC, with decoys for chaff and flares, that could be automatically launched via a NOLR/NOLQ command.

Air Group

Like the Haruna class, the Shrina class carried up to three patrol helicopters, and initially they were HSS-2A, but the class was designed to operate in turn the new HSS-2B based on the USN’s SH-3H. The HSS-2A had an airborne radar and a dipping sonar but the HSS-2B used the new HPS-102 radar with a AN/ASQ-81 Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD), AN/ALR-66 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system, and sonobuoy receiver. This was a game changer. They were certified in December 1980. Sonobuoys was integral to the passive anti-submarine warfare approach of the ships, but there was a lack of capacity to asrorb all that acoustic data on board. The OQA-201 Sonobuoy Signal Processing System (SDPS) with an AN/UYK-20 computer—was installed on the ship herself, which interpreted raw data sent from the airborne helicopter. Later they were replaced in turn by the SH-60J/K.
As seen above, the adoption of the RCN bad weather recovery systems of its Sea Kings on the Iroquois-class was appied to the Haruna class. However with three helicopters this became a unique operational practice. In the “ADMM-Plus HADR” Exercise in Brunei by 2013, Shirane demonstrated she could carry and deploy a SH-60J and a UH-1J simultaneously.

Modernizations

In 1990 Shirane received in turn two 20mm/76 Mk 15 Phalanx systems and their assoviated Mk 90 radars. Later both had their OPN-8 radar, OYQ-3 CCS replaced by the OPS-20 radar and OYQ-3B CCS.
In the 2000s both were upgraded to the SH-60 helicopters and in 2004 their WM-25 radar was replaced by two FCS-2-12 radars. In 2007, Shirane alone traded her OYQ-3B CCS for the OYQ-6-2 CCS.

Shirane class profile, conways

⚙ Shirane class specs.
Displacement	5,200 long tons standard, 7,500 long tons full load
Dimensions	159 x 17.5 x 5.3 m (522 ft x 57 ft 5 in x 17 ft 5 in)
Propulsion	2 shafts turbines, IHI boilers 70,000 shp (52 MW)
Speed	31 knots (36 mph; 57 km/h)
Range	Uknown.
Armament	Sea Sparrow SAM, ASROC, 2× FMC 5-in/54 M42, 2× Phalanx CIWS, 2×3 Mark 32 TTs
Protection	NOLQ-1 integrated suite, OLR-9B RWR, Mark 36 SRBOC
Sensors	OPS-12 3D ASR, OPS-28 SSR, OQS-101 bow sonar, AN/SQS-35/SQR-18 VDS-TASS
Air Group	3 × SH-60J(K) anti-submarine helicopters
Crew	350-360+20 staff, see notes.

The Shirane class in service

JDS Shirane was ordered in 1975 from IHI, Tokyo, laid down on 25 February 1977, launched on 18 September 1978 and commissioned on 17 March 1980.
On December 15, 2007, a fire broke out on board, near the rudder house while anchored at Yokosuka. Seven hours were needed to extinguish the fire, and this injured four crew members. Her bridge was badly damaged and virtually all her CCS and most sensors had been badly damaged. Her suite was replaced by recently deposed systems for ships ungroing modernization, knowing she approached the end of her service life planned for 2015.

In 2011, after the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, she was used as a relief ship. In 2012 while taking part in RIMPAC with JS Bungo and the destroyer JS Myōkō, she was present for Fleet Week. She visited Baltimore on her way to New York and was opened to visitors. She also took part of the parade in New York and the Hudson River on May 23, 2012.
She was decommissioned on March 25, 2015, phased out by the far more capable and larger Izumo-class DLHs.
In November 2015, the Japanese MoD announced she would be spent in a live-fire test against the XASM-3 supersonic anti-ship missile, in 2016. This was done in Wakasa Bay and when all data was collected she was sold for scrapping on October 31, BU from there.

Kurama was ordered in 1976 also from IHI, Tokyo, but laid down a year later on 17 February 1978, launched on 20 September 1979 and commissioned on 27 March 1981. She enterd the 2nd Escort Corps in Sasebo with JDS Haruna. Between her CIWS, long range sonar and next-gen ASW helicopters she brought an unprecedented ASW range to her flotilla. The CIWS and tactical towed sonar soon became standard general-purpose escort vessels. On October 13, 1982, she suffered a boiler explosion at Sasebo. On March 30, 1983, the 52nd Escort Corps was disbanded so she passed under direct control of the 2nd Escort Corps. From June 28 to August 16 she was at RIMPAC with JDS Hatsuyuki and JDS Tachikaze.
On March 30, 1984, she became flagship of the 2nd Escort Group for RIMPAC 1984 and 1986.
From July 1 to 31, 1990, she made a long range deployment to Guam with JDS Asagiri, JDS Yamagiri and JDS Tachikaze. From June 27 to August 28, 1991, she trained at Pearl Harbour with JDS Asakaze and JDS Setogiri and later took part in RIMPAC 1992 and 1994.

From July 26 to 30, 1996, she visited Vladivostok in Russia, for the 300th anniversary of the Russian Navy. This was repeated two yars later on 24-29 July 1998 with JDS Yamagiri and JDS Hamana while taking part in the Russian Pacific Fleet Fleet Review. She took part in the only Japan-Russia joint training east of Vladivostok on July 29-30. From February 25 to March 31, 2000, she she was deployed with JDS Yamagiri and JDS Asakaze and took part in RIMPAC 2000.
On November 9, 2001, she was sent to the Indian Ocean with JDS Kirisame and JDS Hamana as intel group for the “Special Measures Against Terrorism” and back on the 16th.
From May 16 to August 3, 2003, she was at Pearl Harbour with JDS Shimakaze and JDS Setogiri for joint training. Back home she entered the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard for a full overhaul and modernization completed by April 2004.

From November 10 to 12, 2004, she detected adn tracked an Chinese PLAN Han-class submarine in its own territorial waters with JDS Yudachi. This went on four hours. On January 14, 2005 she took part in the Japan Disaster Relief Team after the Sumatra Island Earthquake from Sasebo. She carried relief supplies with helicopter alongside JDS Kunisaki and JDS Tokiwa.
From May 16 to August 1, 2007, she took part in a join training in Hawaii with JS Chokai and JS Inazuma. On March 26, 2008, she was transferred to the 2nd Escort Group 2, HP Yokosuka.
She was in relief operations after the Tohoku Earthquake of March 11, 2011. On October 19, she left Yokosuka for training at Pearl Harbor from October 31 to November 21, back to Sasebo on December 5. On 27 October 2009 she collided with a South Korean container ship under the Kanmonkyo Bridge, Kanmon Straits. Her bow was badly damaged, burning for hours with three crew members injured. On March 22, 2017, she was decommissioned due to the arrival into commission of the second Izumo-class DLH, JS Kaga. This was after 36 years since commissioning, 78,772 hours at sea, performing 51,300 landings, sailing 942,760.2 nautical miles (1,745,991.9 km). On June 12, 2018, she was towed from Sasebo to be disposed of by a new torpedo off Wakasa Bay. Floating debris were recovered by JS Asuka.

Read More/Src

Links

web.archive.org/ shirane.htm
militaryfactory.com/
globalsecurity.org/ shirane.htm
naval-technology.com/ shirane-class
en.wikipedia.org Shirane-class_destroyer
cbc.ca/

Model Kits/3D

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