Large Patrol Vessel Akitsushima (PLH-32) Enters Japan's Coast Guard
Service
Japan's
Coast Guard (JCG) on Thursday unveiled a new, next-generation
patrol ship that will be deployed in anti-piracy, counter-terrorism
and regular domestic duties. PLH-32 is a more modern, newer
version of PLH 31 Shikishima. With a length of 150m (492 ft)
and 9,300 tons full load displacement (the size of a destroyer),
these are the largest "Offshore Patrol Vessels"
in the world.
a
Naval
Forces News - Japan
Large Patrol Vessel Akitsushima (PLH-32) Enters Japan's Coast Guard Service
Japan's
Coast Guard (JCG) on Thursday unveiled a new, next-generation patrol
ship that will be deployed in anti-piracy, counter-terrorism and regular
domestic duties. PLH-32 is a more modern, newer version of PLH 31 Shikishima.
With a length of 150m (492 ft) and 9,300 tons full load displacement
(the size of a destroyer), these are the largest "Offshore Patrol
Vessels" in the world.
PLH-32
Akitsushima
They may accomodate two medium size helicopters.
They are fitted with OPS-14 2D air search radar (the Japanese version
of the American AN/SPS-49) and a couple of Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannons,
a M61 Vulcan cannon as a part of a remote firing system, and some 40mm
cannons.
The ships have a long-range cruising capacity, making it a valuable
asset for the Coast Guard. It can make voyages from Japan to Europe,
for example, without the need to refuel. As PLH-32 is much newer, it
will probably be named a different class.