JS Awaji

JS Awaji on 1 April 2017
History
Japan
Name	Awaji (あわじ)
Namesake	Awaji
Ordered	2013
Builder	JMU, Yokohama
Laid down	27 February 2014
Launched	27 October 2015
Commissioned	16 March 2017
Homeport	Yokosuka
Identification	Pennant number: MSO-304
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class and type	Awaji-class minesweeper
Displacement	690 t (680 long tons) standard
Length	66.8 m (219 ft 2 in)
Beam	11 m (36 ft 1 in)
Draft	2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Depth	5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	2 × diesel electric engines 2 × shafts
Speed	14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement	54
Sensors and processing systems	OPS-39H surface-search radar OQQ-10-1 sonar ZQS-4 sonar OZZ-2 UUV
Armament	1 × single JM61R-MS 20mm guns

JS Awaji (MSO-304) is the lead ship of the Awaji-class minesweeper of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

Construction and career

Awaji was laid down on 27 February 2014 and launched on 27 October 2015 by Japan Marine United Yokohama Shipyard. She was commissioned on 16 March 2017 and was incorporated It was incorporated into the 1st Mine Warfare Group and deployed to Yokosuka. From July 18 to July 30 of the same year, participated in mine warfare training and minesweeping special training in Mutsu Bay.

From July 18 to July 30, 2018, she conducted a mine warfare training and a Japan-US-India joint minesweeping special training in Mutsu Bay.

Gallery

• 
  JS Awaji on 18 March 2017
• 
  JS Awaji on 22 April 2017
• 
  JS Awaji and JS Hirado on 30 April 2018

References

• Chapter 6 Third Defense Era, 25 Years of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, Maritime Staff Office, 1980.
• Hiroshi Nagata, What is required of future self-defense ships (new type of Maritime Self-Defense Force), Ships of the World, No. 550, Gaijinsha, April 1999, pp. 69–73