JS Akebono at Pearl Harbor in 2010
History
Japan
Name	Akebono (あけぼの)
Ordered	1997
Builder	IHI Corporation, Tokyo
Laid down	29 October 1999
Launched	25 September 2000
Commissioned	19 March 2002
Homeport	Kure
Identification	MMSI number: 431999654 Pennant number:DD-108
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 missile 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 Akebono (DD-108) is the eighth ship of Murasame-class destroyers. She was commissioned on 19 March 2002. ^[1]

Design

The hull design was completely renovated from first-generation destroyers. In addition to increasing the size in order to reduce the underwater radiation noise, both the superstructure and hull were 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. ^[2] 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. The remaining one pair were replaced with LM2500 versions, same as in the Kongō class. ^[2]

Construction and career

Akebono was laid down on 29 October 1999 at IHI Corporation Tokyo as the 1997 plan and launched on 25 September 2000. The vessel was commissioned on 19 March 2002, and was incorporated into the 4th Escort Corps and deployed to Kure.

In June 2019, Akebono was dispatched to additionally participate in the 2019 Indo-Pacific dispatch training in which the vessels JS Izumo and JS Murasame were participating. The destroyer conducted joint training with the navies of each country in the Indo-Pacific region during the deployment. ^[3]

On 7 April 2024, Akebono conducted a joint patrol in the South China Sea with BRP Antonio Luna and BRP Valentin Diaz of the Philippine Navy, USS Mobile of the US Navy, and HMAS Warramunga of the Royal Australian Navy. This marked the first multinational patrol among the nations. ^[4]

Gallery

• 
  JS Akebono leaving Pearl Harbor on 6 July 2010.
• 
  JS Akebono and USS Lake Erie on 14 July 2010.
• 
  JS Akebono underway on 14 July 2010.
• 
  JS Akebono underway on 14 July 2010.
• 
  JS Akebono, JS Murasame and JS Izumo on 26 July 2019.

Citations

Wikimedia Commons has media related to JS Akebono (DD-108).

References

• Abe, Yasuo (July 2000). "History of JMSDF Destroyers". Ships of the World (in Japanese) (571). Kaijinn-sha. NAID  40002155847.
• 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.
• Saunders, Stephen. IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2013-2014. Jane's Information Group (2003). ISBN  0710630484

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