JS Kerama (Japanese: けらま; Hull number: MSO-308) is a minesweeper of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and is the fifth ship of the Awaji class. She is named after the Kerama Islands, which are located near Okinawa Island;[1][2][better source needed] she is the first warship to bear this name, as the Imperial Japanese Navy had never used the name for its ships.[3]
Construction and career
Kerama was laid down at JMU’s Yokohama Shipyard on 20 July 2023, and was later launched on 18 December 2025.[2][better source needed][4] She is scheduled to be commissioned in 2026 after a period of fitting out and sea trials,[1] intended to be assigned to the Amphibious Mine Warfare Group (水陸両用戦機雷戦群) under the Surface Fleet (艦隊).[3]
References
- ^ a b “史上初の艦名！ 最新自衛艦「けらま」進水 日本最大級のプラスチック船その理由は？”. 乗りものニュース (in Japanese). 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ a b 防衛省 海上自衛隊 [@JMSDF_PAO] (19 December 2025). “命名「けらま」” (Tweet). Retrieved 19 December 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ a b “JMU、最新鋭掃海艦「けらま」を進水 海自あわじ型5番艦 艦名は沖縄・八重山の「慶良間島」に由来（高橋浩祐） – エキスパート”. Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ “令和４年度計画掃海艦の命名式・進水式について” (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). Ministry of Defence. 7 December 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2026.