Shiretoko-class patrol vessel
 Shiretoko (PL-101) | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Shiretoko class |
| Operators: |
 Japan Coast Guard |
| Preceded by: | Daiou class |
| Succeeded by: | Ojika class |
| Built: | 1978–1982 |
| In commission: | 1978–present |
| Completed: | 28 |
| Active: | 10 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | 1,000 ton-class PL (Patrol vessel, Large) |
| Displacement: | 980 Gross tonnage |
| Length: | 77.8 m (255 ft) |
| Beam: | 9.6 m (31 ft) |
| Draught: | 3.4 m (11 ft) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | 20 knots |
| Range: | 4,400 nmi |
| Boats & landing craft carried: |
|
| Complement: | 40 |
| Armament: | One JM61-M 20mm gun or KDC 35mm gun |
Shiretoko class patrol vessel (Japanese: しれとこ型巡視船) is a class of PL type patrol vessels of the Japan Coast Guard (JCG; former Maritime Safety Agency, MSA). PL stands for "Patrol vessel Large", and the class name "Shiretoko" is named after Shiretoko, the northeastern area of the island of Hokkaidō, Japan
In 1977, Act on Territorial Waters and Contiguous Water Area and the Act on Temporary Measures Concerning Fishery Waters was confirmed by the National Diet of Japan to adapt for the UNCLOS III. As a direct result of these acts, the coverage area of the MSA was dramatically extended, so the update of their equipment became a thing of the urgent. In consequence of these situations, the MSA had put some series of patrol vessels into commission from late 1970s to early 1980s.
This class was one of these series, planned to form the main fleet in the high-endurance mission. This class was designed as the enlarged and mass-production variant of the Daiou-class, preceding large patrol vessels. Early-batch of this class equipped with one Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun like the Daiou-class, but latter-batch had changed their weapon to the new Oerlikon KDC 35mm gun. And later, ships of the early-batch converted their weapon to the JM61-M 20mm gun.
| Hull No. | Ship Name | Commission | Decommission |
|---|---|---|---|
| PL101 | Shiretoko | 1978 Nov. | 2012 Mar. |
| PL102 | Esan | 2008 Dec. | |
| PL103 | Wakasa | (in active service, as of 2012) | |
| PL104 | Kii (former Yahiko, Shimanto) | ||
| PL105 | Ojika (former Motobu) | 2000 Oct. | |
| PL106 | Rishiri | 1979 Sep. | 2006 Mar. |
| PL107 | Matsushima | 2009 Feb. | |
| PL108 | Iwaki | 1979 Aug. | 2006 Mar. |
| PL109 | Shikine | 1979 Sep. | 2009 Sep. |
| PL110 | Suruga | 2010 Feb. | |
| PL111 | Rebun | 1979 Nov. | 2008 Dec. |
| PL112 | Chōkai | 2008 Mar. | |
| PL113 | Nojima (former Ashizuri) | 1979 Oct. | 2006 Mar. |
| PL114 | Tosa (former Oki) | 1979 Nov. | 2009 Jan. |
| PL115 | Noto | (in active service, as of 2012) | |
| PL116 | Yonakuni | 1979 Oct. | 2005 Feb. |
| PL117 | Rebun (former Daisetsu, Kudaka, Kurikoma, Iwami) | 1980 Jan. | (in active service, as of 2012) |
| PL118 | Shimokita | 1980 Mar. | 2012 Mar. |
| PL119 | Suzuka | 2010 Feb. | |
| PL120 | Kunisaki | 1980 Feb. | (in active service, as of 2012) |
| PL121 | Amaki (former Genkai) | 1980 Jan. | 2008 Feb. |
| PL122 | Iwami (former Gotou) | 1980 Feb. | (in active service, as of 2012) |
| PL123 | Koshiki | 1980 Jan. | 2010 Feb. |
| PL124 | Hateruma | 1980 Mar. | 2008 Feb. |
| PL125 | Katori | 1980 Oct. | (in active service, as of 2012) |
| PL126 | Matsushima (former Kunigami) | ||
| PL127 | Etomo | 1982 Mar. | |
| PL128 | Esan (former Masyu, Amagi, Yonakuni) |
See also
References
- "Ships of Japan Coast Guard". Ships of the World (Kaijinn-sha) (692): 51. July 2008.
- Shigehiro Sakamoto (July 2008). "60th Anniversary of JCG: For near future". Ships of the World (Kaijinn-sha) (692): 132–137.
- Yoshifumi Mayama (July 2008). "60th Anniversary of JCG: Technical history of its ship". Ships of the World (Kaijinn-sha) (692): 138–143.