JS Shirayuki (DD-123) is a Hatsuyuki-class destroyer of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The ship was commissioned in 1982.

JS Shirayuki on 23 March 2014
History
Japan
Name	Shirayuki (しらゆき)
Ordered	1978
Builder	Hitachi, Osaka
Laid down	3 December 1979
Launched	4 August 1981
Commissioned	8 February 1982
Decommissioned	27 April 2016
Reclassified	TV-3517
Stricken	30 January 2017
Homeport	Yokosuka
Identification	MMSI number: 431999557 Pennant number: DD-123
Fate	Scrapped
General characteristics
Class and type	Hatsuyuki-class destroyer
Displacement	2,950 tons standard, 4,000 tons hull load
Length	130 m (426 ft 6 in)
Beam	13.6 m (44 ft 7 in)
Draft	4.2 m (13 ft 9 in) 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in) (DD 129 to DD 132)
Propulsion	2 × KHI-RR TM3B gas turbines, 45,000 shp (34 MW) 2 × KHI-RR RM1C gas turbines, 9,900 shp (7.4 MW) 2 shafts, cp props
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement	200
Sensors and processing systems	OYQ-5 tactical data system FCS-2 fire-control system OPS-14 air search radar OPS-18 surface search radar OQS-4 hull sonar OQR-1 TASS (in some ships)
Electronic warfare & decoys	NOLR-6C intercept OLT-3 jammer Mark 36 SRBOC Towed torpedo decoys
Armament	1 × OTO Melara 76 mm gun 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS 2 × Harpoon SSM quad canisters 1 × Sea Sparrow SAM octuple launcher 1 × ASROC octuple launcher 2 × triple 324 mm torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried	1 × HSS-2B or SH-60J helicopter
Aviation facilities	Hangar and helipad

Construction and design

Shirayuki was ordered as part of the Japan Self-Defense Forces 1978 defense estimates as the second ship of the Hatsuyuki class, and was laid down at Hitachi's Maizuru shipyard on 3 December 1979.[1] The ship was launched on 4 August 1981, and commissioned on 8 February 1983.[2]

The Hatsuyuki class were designed as multi-purpose ships, with a balanced armament and sensor fit, so that the ships could carry out anti-submarine and anti-surface ship operations while being capable of defending themselves against air attack. A hangar and flight deck are carried for a single helicopter, which was initially the Mitsubishi HSS-2, a license-built Sikorsky Sea King, later replaced by Mitsubishi H-60s (licensed Sikorsky S-70s), with the Canadian Beartrap haul-down system fitted to ease operations of large helicopters.[2][3] An octuple Mk 112 launcher for ASROC anti-submarine missiles is fitted forward, while additional close-in anti-submarine armament is provided by two triple 324 mm torpedo-tubes for Mark 46 anti-submarine torpedoes.[2][3] The initial anti-aircraft armament consisted of a Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile launcher aft, with an OTO Melara 76 mm gun forward. Eight Harpoon anti-ship missiles are carried in two quadruple mounts abaft the ship's funnel.[2]

History

On 8 July 2013, Shirayuki, JS Kashima and JS Isoyuki were anchored at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.[4] From 22 to 25 July, they left for a visit to Portsmouth, United Kingdom.[5] After leaving Portsmouth, they sailed for Gdańsk Bay, Poland on 6 August then on 20 August, Brest, France.[6] All three Japanese ships later made a four-day trip to Da Nang, Vietnam, was made on 21 October for the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.[7] On 25 November, they passed the Kiel Canal in Germany.[8]

On 16 February 2015, Shirayuki, JS Matsuyuki and JS Yūgiri made a goodwill visit to Muara Port, Brunei Darussalam.[9]

Shirayuki was decommisioned on 27 April 2016.

Gallery

• JS Shirayuki lifecycle
• 
  JS Shirayuki moored at Yokohama, Japan in June 2009.
• 
  JS Shirayuki at Yokosuka, Japan on 12 June 2010.
• 
  JS Shimayuki, JS Shirayuki and JS Setoyuki alongside each other in January 2016.
• 
  JS Shimayuki, JS Shirayuki and JS Setoyuki alongside each other in January 2016.
• 
  JS Shirayuki's RUR-5 ASROC.
• 
  JS Shirayuki's Phalanx CIWS.

Citations

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to JS Shirayuki (DD-123).

• Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen, eds. (1995). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
• Moore, John (1985). Jane's Fighting Ships 1985–86. Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-7106-0814-4.
• Saunders, Stephen (2002). Jane's Fighting Ships 2002–2003. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-24328.