Japanese patrol vessel Akatsuki

For other ships with the same name, see Japanese destroyer Akatsuki.

History
Japan
Name	Akatsuki (あかつき)
Builder	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki
Cost	26.2 billion ¥ [1]
Laid down	16 February 2018
Launched	10 April 2020
Commissioned	16 February 2021
Homeport	Kagoshima
Identification	IMO number:  9907732 MMSI number: 431015836 Callsign: 7KGN Pennant number: PLH-34
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class & type	Reimei-class patrol vessel
Tonnage	6,500  GT
Displacement	9,300 tons (full load)
Length	150.0 m (492 ft 2 in)
Beam	17 m (55 ft 9 in)
Draft	9.0 m (29 ft 6 in)
Propulsion	2 × shafts 4 × IHI-SEMT Pielstick 16 PC2.5 V400 diesel engines
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range	20,000  nmi (37,000 km; 23,000 mi)
Armament	2 × Bofors 40 mm gun 2 × JM61 20 mm guns
Aircraft carried	2 × EC225LP helicopters

Akatsuki (PLH-34) is a Reimei-class patrol vessel currently operated by the Japanese Coast Guard.

Design

Main article: Shikishima-class patrol vessel

Reimei-class carries two 40 mm autocanon and two JM61 20 mm machine guns, as does the Akitsushima. ^[2] Gun mounts of 40 mm autocanons are changed to Mk4, which is lighter than the Mk3 mounted on the Akitsushima. ^[2] Both are capable of being remotely controlled with optical directors. ^[3]

Aviation facilities are also similar to that of Akitsushima, capable of carrying two EC225LP Super Puma helicopters: however, only one helicopter is normally carried on this vessel. ^[2]

Construction and career

Akatsuki was laid down on 16 February 2018 and launched on 10 April 2020 by Mitsubishi, Nagasaki. She was commissioned on 16 February 2021. ^{[4] [5]}

References

1. Kaijin-sha 2018.
2. Kaijin-sha 2020, pp. 40–42.
3. Nakanomyo 2015.
4. ships03. "「れいめい」型ＰＬＨ「あかつき」進水！". 世界の艦船 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-05-04.
5. ships03. "ヘリ巡「あかつき」竣工". 世界の艦船 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-05-04.

Bibliography

• Kaijin-sha, ed. (July 2018). "Ships of Japan Coast Guard - Patrol Vessels". Ships of the World (in Japanese) (881). Kaijin-sha: 39–90. NAID   40021585370.
• Kaijin-sha, ed. (October 2020). "Ships of Japan Coast Guard - Patrol Vessels". Ships of the World (in Japanese) (933). Kaijin-sha: 39–90. NAID   40022358584.
• Nakanomyo, Masami (November 2015). "History of shipboard guns on JCG's patrol vessels". Ships of the World (in Japanese) (825). Kaijin-sha: 168–173. NAID   40020597434.