The Japanese Ministry of Defense has revised the hull classification symbols for Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessels effective October 2024. The change adds two new symbols, “CG” and “CVM,” which will be applied to upcoming ship types.
JMSDF vessels are classified into warships that enjoy the status of warships under international law (Self Defense Ship: 自衛艦 in Japanese) and other vessels categorized as support ships. The warship category is further divided into escort vessels and auxiliary vessels. Escort vessels are sub-categorized by function into surface/subsurface combatants (destroyers, submarines), mine warfare vessels (minesweepers, minesweeper craft, minesweeper tenders), patrol vessels (missile boats, offshore patrol vessels), and transport vessels (transport ships, landing craft, hovercraft).
The revision this time concerns the classification symbols for escort destroyers, which belong to the surface combatant group. Destroyers are combatant ships in the JMSDF inventory equipped with guns, missiles and other weapons, and possess the capability to engage enemy surface ships, submarines and aircraft. Until now, hull classification symbols have included general-purpose destroyer (DD), guided-missile destroyer (DDG), helicopter destroyer (DDH), as well as smaller coastal escort destroyer (DE) and multi-role frigates (FFM). Last year’s directive added two new symbols: “CG” and “CVM.” Naval News interviewed the JMSDF Office of Public Affairs to clarify what these new codes signify.
First, “CG” stands for “Cruiser Guided-missile” — a guided-missile cruiser — and will be applied to the Aegis system-equipped vessels (ASEV) scheduled to enter service in 2027 and 2028. The other new symbol, “CVM,” at first glance appears analogous to U.S. Navy nomenclature and might be read as a “multi-purpose aircraft carrier.” However, the JMSDF Office of Public Affairs says the acronym expands to “Cruiser Voler Multipurpose,” and in Japanese the type is being called 航空機搭載多機能護衛艦 — literally, an “aircraft-carrying multi-role cruiser.” According to the office, the Izumo-class which is the biggest surface combatant in JMSDF, fall under this new CVM designation.
The lead ship of the Izumo-class, Izumo, entered service in 2015, and the second ship, Kaga, entered service in 2017; both were originally operated as helicopter destroyers (DDH). However, modifications carried out from fiscal 2020 onward added the capability to operate the F-35B short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) fixed-wing fighter, and that operational change has led to the assignment of the new CVM classification.
As for the “Cruiser” element of CVM, JMSDF officials explained that the term replaces “Destroyer” to reflect the larger hull size compared with conventional destroyers. The middle term “Voler” is the French verb meaning “to fly,” and was chosen to indicate the vessel’s capability to operate aircraft, including fixed-wing types.
