JS Akashi (Japanese: あかし; Pennant number: AGS-5107) is an oceanographic research ship built for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, named after the Akashi Coast.[1][2] She is the fourth ship to bear this name, after the Imperial Japanese Navy’s protected cruiser Akashi, the repair ship Akashi, and the JMSDF’s research ship Akashi.[3]
Construction and career
Akashi was laid down at the Enora Plant of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Shimonoseki Shipyard in May 2023[contradictory], as part of the JMSDF’s Mid-Term Defense Program for the fisical year 2022.[4] She was christened and launched on 29 May 2025,[5][6] costing 28.3 billion yen during the vessel’s construction.[7][8] After a period of fitting out and sea trials, Akashi was commissioned on 9 March 2026.[3][9] She will be deployed to the Yokosuka Naval Base, replacing JS Wakasa of the 1st Oceanographic Research Squadron under the Oceanography ASW Support Command.[3]
References
Footnotes
- ^ 防衛省 海上自衛隊 [@JMSDF_PAO] (29 May 2025). “海洋観測艦は、名所旧跡のうち主として「海浜(浦)の名」から選出されます。” (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 May 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).[better source needed]
- ^ 海上自衛隊佐世保地方総監部【公式】 [@jmsdf_srh] (29 May 2025). “三菱重工業株式会社 下関造船所で 海洋観測艦「あかし」の命名・進水式が行われました” (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 May 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).[better source needed]
- ^ a b c “16年ぶり! 新たな自衛艦「あかし」進水 ミサイルも大砲もないけど超重要な存在 どこに配備?”. 乗りものニュース. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ “海洋観測艦と音響測定艦を受注 三菱重工、護衛艦2隻も合わせて契約額888億円”. 海事プレス. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ “令和4年度計画海洋観測艦の命名式・進水式について” (PDF). 海上幕僚監部. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ 防衛省 海上自衛隊 [@JMSDF_PAO] (29 May 2025). “㊗海洋観測艦「あかし」命名式・進水式” (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 May 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).[better source needed]
- ^ “我が国の防衛と予算~防衛力強化加速パッケージ~ -令和4年度予算(令和3年度補正を含む)の概要-“ (PDF). 防衛省. 24 March 2022. p. 14. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ “■令和4年度防衛予算の政府案決定”. 世界の艦船. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ “【先行】防衛省の海洋観測艦「あかし」就役三菱重工下関造船所で引き渡し式”. Yamaguchi Shimbun (in Japanese). 9 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.