Aso-class patrol vessel

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1Fan Chuan noPL41 aso.jpg
Aso (PL 41)
Class overview
NameAso class
Builders Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Universal Shipbuilding Corporation
Operators Ensign of the Japanese Coast Guard.svg Japan Coast Guard
Preceded by Ojika class
Succeeded by Hateruma class
SubclassesTT-1500 design
Built2002–2006
In commission2005–present
Planned3
Completed3
Active3
General characteristics (Aso class)
Type 1,000 ton-class PL (Patrol vessel, Large)
Tonnage770  GT
Length79.0 m (259 ft 2 in)
Beam10.0 m (32 ft 10 in)
Depth6 m (19 ft 8 in)
Propulsion
Speed30+ knots
Complement30
ArmamentOne Bofors 40 mm L/70 gun with optical FCS
ArmourBallistic protection over certain areas
Class overview
NameTT-1500 patrol vessel
BuildersTBA
OperatorsVietnam Coast Guard flag.svg Vietnam Coast Guard
Preceded by Flag of South Korea.svg Han River-class vessel
Cost USD $398,430,000 for six vessels
BuiltJul. 2020 - Oct. 2026 (planned)
Planned6
On order6
Completed0
Active0
General characteristics (TT-1500)
TypeGeneral-purpose TT (tuần tra)-classification offshore patrol vessels
Displacement1,500 ton
Length79.0 m (259 ft 2 in)
Beam11.0 m (36 ft 1 in)
Height6.8 m (22 ft 4 in) (freeboard)
Draught3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
Speed24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Range4,000 nautical miles (4,600 mi; 7,400 km)
Armament
Aviation facilitiesOne helipad and hangar
NotesCharacteristics extracted from the 2018 early projection and likely become subjects to be changed

The Aso-class patrol vessel is a class of PL type patrol vessel of the Japan Coast Guard. PL stands for Patrol vessel Large, and the class is named after Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan.

Contents

This class is one of the new patrol vessel classes to intercept spy boats of DPRK. These classes are called "高速高機能大型巡視船", High-speed, high-functionality patrol vessel, large. Having Bofors 40 mm L/70 autocannon with fire-control system, this class is safely able to deal with heavily armed spy boats of DPRK which intrude into Japanese waters. The hull of this class is bulletproof in case of close-range firefights.

In the back of the bridge's side, this class has display devices that can be used to instruct other ships to stop even at nighttime. And on the bridge superstructure, this class is equipped with the LIDAR system to acquire targets with high accuracy. At the same time, this system enables them to perform search and rescue missions more safely.

Vietnamese variant

In 2020 there was signed an export deal between Japan and Vietnam over 6 vessel for the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG), locally designated as the "TT-1500 patrol ship". [1] [2] "TT" stands for "Tuần tra" means "Patrol", meanwhile the number "1500" stands for the class's displacement of 1500 tons. According to pieces of information shared by VCG, TT-1500 has a slightly bigger size than the original Aso-class, and it is also equipped with a helipad and the overall design is likely inspired from the successor designs such as the Kunigami-class patrol vessel.

The TT-1500 will have a maximum speed of 24 knots, considerably slower than the original Aso, however it is projected to have a better low-speed stability hence making it better for low-intensity patrol and search-and-rescue missions. [3] The delivery for all 6 ships is expected to be completed by October 2026. [4]

Ships in the class

Ships in the class
Pennant numberShip nameBuilderCommissionHomeport
Ensign of the Japanese Coast Guard.svg Japan Coast Guard (Aso-class)
PL 41Aso Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 15 March 2005 Fukuoka
PL 42Dewa Universal Shipbuilding Corporation 12 April 2006 Akita
PL 43Hakusan Kanazawa
Vietnam Coast Guard flag.svg Vietnam Coast Guard (TT-1500)
CSB 8*** (1)TBATBATBA
CSB 8*** (2)TBATBATBA
CSB 8*** (3)TBATBATBA
CSB 8*** (4)TBATBATBA
CSB 8*** (5)TBATBATBA
CSB 8*** (6)TBATBATBA

See also

References

  1. "Japan to build six patrol vessels for Vietnam's Coast Guard". 8 August 2020.
  2. "Vietnam Coast Guard". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  3. "[ẢNH] Cảnh sát biển Việt Nam có thêm lớp tàu tuần tra cỡ lớn hiện đại". Báo điện tử An ninh Thủ đô (in Vietnamese). 1 September 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  4. "Ex-Ante Evaluation (for Japanese ODA Loan)" (PDF). JICA .

Further reading