JS Hibiki (AOS-5201) is a Hibiki-class ocean surveillance ship of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

JS Hibiki
History
Japan
Name
  • Hibiki
  • (ひびき)
NamesakeHibiki
Ordered1989
BuilderMitsui, Tamano
Laid down28 November 1989
Launched27 July 1990
Commissioned30 January 1991
HomeportKure
Identification
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeHibiki-class ocean surveillance ship
Displacement2,850–3,800 long tons (2,896–3,861 t) full load
Length67.0 m (219.8 ft)
Beam29.9 m (98 ft)
Draft7.5 m (25 ft)
Propulsion
Speed11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement40
Sensors and
processing systems
  • OPS-16
  • OPS-9
  • Sonar AN / UQQ-2
Aviation facilitiesHelipad

Development and design edit

Hibiki-class vessels have a beam of 30 metres (98 ft 5 in), a top speed of 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph), and a standard range of 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi).[1] Each vessel has a crew of 40, including five American civilian technicians, and a flight deck for helicopters to operate off of.[2][3] They are able to deploy on station for 90 days.[3]

The vessels have an AN/UQQ-2 Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS), which is installed in the United States.[4][3] Data from the sensors is relayed through the Defense Satellite Communications System, and processed and shared with the United States.[3] The data is fed into the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System.[5]

Propulsion is provided by four Mitsubishi S6U-MPTK diesel electric engines.[6]

Construction and career edit

Hibiki was laid down on 28 November 1989 at Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, Tamano and launched on 27 July 1990. She's commissioned on 30 January 1991. Currently, her homeport is in Kure.[citation needed]

After deployment, from 9 March 1991, the same year, it was circulated to Oakland, California, USA for proficiency training after service, and after learning the SURTASS system, it was equipped with a sonar array in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and after the equipment certification test was completed, she returned to Japan on 17 October, the same year.[citation needed]

Full-scale operation started in April 1992, and the actual operation was where the anti-submarine information analysis center on land began.[citation needed]

On 1 December 2015, the Oceanographic Command Group was reorganized into the Oceanographic Command and Anti-submarine Support Group, and was incorporated into the 1st Acoustic Measurement Corps, which was newly formed under the same group.[citation needed]

On 1 November 2017, the crew system was introduced to the 1st Acoustic Measurement Corps for the first time as a JMSDF ship, and from now on, the crew will not be fixed, and 3 crews will operate two ships alternately.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ Jane, Frederick Thomas (2010). Jane's Fighting Ships. S. Low, Marston & Company. p. 433. ISBN 978-0-7106-2920-3.
  2. ^ Dominguez, Gabriel (3 February 2020). "Japan launches third Hibiki-class ocean surveillance ship". Jane's Information Group.
  3. ^ a b c d Graham, Euan (16 November 2005). Japan's Sea Lane Security: A Matter of Life and Death?. Routledge. p. 404. ISBN 978-1-134-25091-2.
  4. ^ "AOS Hibiki Class". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017.
  5. ^ War is Boring (4 July 2014). "Japan's Ears on the Sea". Medium. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017.
  6. ^ "AOS Hibiki Class". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 5 September 2009.
  7. ^ Introducing a crew system to the 1st Acoustic Measurement Team. Asagumo Shinbun. 7 December 2017. p. 1.