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Home» News»JMU Launched the third Awaji-class Minesweeper For JMSDF
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12 DEC, the naming and launch ceremony was held at Yokohama shipyard, Japan Marine United Corporation for the newest Minesweeper "Etajima". JMSDF picture

JMU Launched the third Awaji-class Minesweeper For JMSDF

On December 12, 2019, Japan Marine United (JMU) held a launching ceremony for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) newest minesweeper Etajima (MSO-306) at its shipyard in Yokohama.

Yoshihiro Inaba 16 Dec 2019

Etajima is the third ship of the Awaji-class minesweeper. Its name comes from an island located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Etajima island has a JMSDF Officer Candidate School (since the Japanese Imperial Navy era), so it is a very meaningful name for them. Delivery of Etajima to the JMSDF is scheduled for March 2021.

A fourth vessel of the Awaji-class is planned ot be ordered in 2020 according to a MSDF budget request document issued in late August this year.

About JMSDF minesweeper Etajima

Etajima is the third and final Awaji-class vessels. JMSDF picture.

Etajima is the largest Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) minesweeper in the JMSDF, with a total length of 67 meters, a maximum width of 11 meters, and a standard displacement of 690 tons.

Etajima is equipped with ZQS-4, a sonar for detecting mine laid deep underwater, not just in shallow waters. To blast mines, the vessel uses a new Expendable Mine Disposal System (EMD) by Mitsui E&S. It is remotely controlled using optical fiber cable. In addition, moored mine will be disposed with the JM61 20mm Vulcan gun fitted at the bow of the mine warfare vessel.

Etajima has basically the same equipment and structure as the two existing Awaji-class vessels (Awaji and Hirado), but there is one notable new feature on Etajima: The hull number has been painted with low visibility. This has the effect of making it difficult to identify the vessel’s name at sea and to recognize the presence of the vessel from a distance.

艦名、更に、煙突頂部もグレーにします。煙突頂部は現在黒色に塗装しており、その理由は黒煤による汚損を目立たなくするためですが、近年は黒煤の発生が減少しており、問題ないと判断し、視認性を下げるためにグレーに塗装します。 https://t.co/JTS0TxiWqt

— 山本ともひろ (@ty_polepole) December 13, 2019

According to Mr. Tomohiro Yamamoto, State Minister of Defense of Japan, in his own twitter on December 13, 2019 (see above), in the future, the vessels of the JMSDF will be switched to low-visibility painting of the name of vessel as well as the hull number.

Japan JMSDF MCM Vessel Mine Warfare 2019-12-16
Tags Japan JMSDF MCM Vessel Mine Warfare
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Authors

Posted by : Yoshihiro Inaba
Yoshihiro Inaba is a Freelance Writer based in Shizuoka, Japan. He is one of the few young military writers in Japan and is currently a student studying international law (especially self-defense and use of force) at a Japanese graduate school. He is particularly familiar with Japan's Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces.

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