JS Takanami (DD-110) (たかなみ) is the lead vessel of the Takanami-class destroyers of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

JS Takanami in December 2016
History
Japan
Name	Takanami (たかなみ)
Ordered	1996
Builder	IHI, Uraga
Laid down	25 April 2000
Launched	26 July 2001
Commissioned	12 March 2003
Homeport	Yokosuka
Identification	MMSI number: 431999665 Callsign: JSTN Pennant number: DD-110
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class and type	Takanami-class destroyer
Displacement	4,650 long tons (4,725 t) standard 6,300 long tons (6,401 t) full load
Length	151 m (495 ft)
Beam	17.4 m (57 ft)
Height	10.9 m (36 ft)
Draft	5.3 m (17 ft)
Propulsion	2 × Ishikawajima Harima LM-2500 gas turbines 2 × Kawasaki Rolls Royce Spey SM1C gas turbines 60,000 shp (45 MW) 2 shafts
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement	175
Sensors and processing systems	OPS-25B Radar OPS-28D Surface Search Radar OPS-20 Navigational Radar OQS-5 Sonar UQR-2 Towed Sonar Type 81 Fire Control System
Electronic warfare & decoys	NOLQ-3 ECM system 4 × Mk137 Chaff Dispensers
Armament	1 × Otobreda 127 mm/54 gun 2 × missile canister up to 8 Type 90 (SSM-1B) 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS 2 × Type 68 triple torpedo tubes VLS Mk 41 (32 cells)   • Evolved Sea Sparrow SAM   • RUM-139 VL ASROC
Aircraft carried	1 × SH-60J(K) anti-submarine helicopter
Aviation facilities	Hangar and helipad

Design

The hull design is generally based on the one of the Murasame class. However, as a part of weapons was changed, the internal structure has also been changed. And it was said that the large lattice mast was degrading its stealthiness in the Murasame class, so in this class, it was considered to change to two small masts, but it was not implemented.[1]

Although its displacement become slightly increased, there is no change in its main engines, as it is not a big difference that has little effect on the performance of the ship.[1]

Construction and career

Takanami was authorized under the Medium-term Defense Buildup Plan of 1996, and was built by IHI Marine United shipyards in Uraga, Kanagawa. She was laid down on 25 April 2000, launched on 27 July 2001. She was commissioned into service on 12 March 2003,[2] and was initially assigned to the JMSDF Escort Flotilla 1 based at Yokosuka.

Takanami, along with the destroyer Kirishima and supply ship Mashu was assigned to the Indian Ocean in August 2004 to provide assistance to anti-terrorist coalition forces in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. On her return voyage to Japan in December 2004, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami struck, and she was diverted to Thailand to participate in international rescue and recovery operations.^{[citation needed]}

On 13 October 2009, Takanami, along with the destroyer Hamagiri, was dispatched to the coast of Somalia to participate in anti-piracy escort operations.[3] From 7 November – 20 February 2010 she undertook 34 sorties, escorting 283 vessels safely. She returned to Japan on 18 March 2010.^{[citation needed]}

Takanami was one of many in the JMSDF fleet participating in disaster relief after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[4] She arrived at Ishinomaki, Miyagi the day after the disaster, rescuing 32 people.^{[citation needed]}

On 11 October 2011 Takanami was dispatched to Aden, Yemen together with the destroyer Ōnami, to resume anti-piracy escort operations off the coast of Somalia. The context for this extended deployment off the Horn of Africa was the "Law on the Penalization of Acts of Piracy and Measures Against Acts of Piracy (Anti-Piracy Measures Law)".[5] She returned to Yokosuka on 12 March 2012 and is currently assigned to the Sixth Squadron of the JMSDF Escort Flotilla 2.^{[citation needed]}

On 16 November 2016, Takanami entered New Zealand waters to celebrate their navies 75th anniversary. She departed on 22 November.^{[citation needed]}

In February 2020, the ship deployed to the Middle East to undertake, according to the Japanese government, an "intelligence-gathering deployment to protect vital oil shipments from the region". The vessel carried out its duties independently of the US-led International Maritime Security Construct.[6][7]

On 31 May 2022, the JMSDF issued a press release on the Indo-Pacific Deployment (IPD) and ship deployments that announced the deployment of Takanami, the Izumo-class multi-purpose destroyer, JS Izumo and the Murasame-class destroyer JS Kirisame to RIMPAC 2022.[8]

Notes

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to JS Takanami (DD-110).

• Kaijin-sha, ed. (August 2003). "All of the new Takanami-class DD". Ships of the World. Kaijin-sha (614): 75–101. NAID 40005855324.
• Saunders, Stephen. IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2013-2014. Jane's Information Group (2003). ISBN 0710630484