JDS Chihaya

For other ships with the same name, see Japanese ship Chihaya.

JDS Chihaya
Class overview
Preceded by	N/A
Succeeded by	Fushimi class
History
Japan
Name	Chihaya (ちはや)
Namesake	Chihaya
Ordered	1959
Builder	Mitsubishi, Tokyo
Laid down	15 March 1960
Launched	4 October 1960
Commissioned	15 March 1961
Decommissioned	28 February 1989
Homeport	Kure
Identification	Pennant number: ASR-401, ASU-7011
Status	Decommissioned
General characteristics
Type	Submarine rescue ship
Displacement	1,340–1,850 long tons (1,362–1,880  t) full load
Length	73.0 m (239 ft 6 in)
Beam	12.0 m (39 ft 4 in)
Draft	3.9 m (12 ft 10 in)
Depth	6.7 m (22 ft 0 in)
Propulsion	1 × Mitsubishi Yokohama MAN G6Z52 / 70 diesel engines (2,700 hp, 2,000 kW) 1 x shaft
Speed	15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 x 9 m (30 ft) boats
Complement	90
Sensors & processing systems	OPS-4D AN/SQS-11A sonar 4-point mooring device

JDS Chihaya (ASR-401) was a submarine rescue ship of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Development and design

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) did not own a submarine at the time of its inauguration, but in January 1955, it was announced that a submarine would be rented as an addition to the Japan-US Ship Lending Agreement signed in May 1954. The Gato-class submarine USS Mingo was transferred to Japan and was recommissioned as JDS Kuroshio. The JMSDF had been researching rescue ships from other countries, conscious of the need for rescue ships that can handle incidents from the time of acquisition of the submarine, but the first domestically produced ship JDS Oyashio. The construction of one ship was approved in the 1959 plan when (31SS) was under construction and Chihaya was ordered. ^[1]

Construction and career

Chihaya was laid down on 15 March 1960 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Tokyo and launched on 4 October 1960. The vessel was commissioned on 15 March 1961. On 1 August 1962, the 1st Submarine Corps was newly formed and incorporated under the Kure District Force.

On 1 February 1965, the 1st Submarine Group was newly formed under the Self-Defense Fleet and was incorporated as a ship under direct control.

On 27 March 1985, due to the commissioning of JS Chiyoda, the vessel's designation was changed to a special service ship, the ship registration number was changed to ASU-7011, and Chihaya was transferred to the Kure District Force as a ship under direct control. She was decommissioned on 28 February 1989.

Gallery

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  JDS Chihaya 15th Anniversary Gold Cup.

References

1. Mori, Tsunehide (1991). 12. Submarine Rescue Mothership and Rescue Ship, Continued Ship Mechanism Picture Book. Grand Prix Publishing. pp. 292–317. ISBN   978-4876871131.