From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search

The 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

Background[edit]

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 an urgent issue. In consequence of these situations, the MSA had put some series of patrol vessels into commission from late 1970s to early 1980s.[3] This class was one of these series, planned to form the main fleet in the high-endurance mission.[4]

Design[edit]

This class was designed as the enlarged and mass-production variant of the Daiou class, preceding large patrol vessels. Like the Daiou-class, the hull is ice resistant, but the hull structure has been further strengthened by increasing the thickness of the ice belt and the number of ribs.[4]

As designed, it was to be equipped with one Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun and one Oerlikon 20 mm cannon;[1] latter-batch vessels had their weapon changed to the newer Oerlikon KDC 35 mm gun, and the obsolete 20mm machine gun was dropped. And later, ships of the early-batch had their weapon converted to the JM61-M 20 mm gun.[5]

Ships in the class[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Japan Coast Guard Foundation 1990, p. 225.
  2. ^ a b c Saunders 2009, p. 439.
  3. ^ Japan Coast Guard Foundation 1990, pp. 180-183.
  4. ^ a b Japan Coast Guard Foundation 1990, pp. 197-198.
  5. ^ Nakanomyo 2015.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Saunders, Stephen (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710628886.
  • Japan Coast Guard Foundation (1990). 海上保安庁船艇航空機整備の歩み [History of vessels and aircraft of Maritime Safety Agency] (in Japanese). Japan Coast Guard Foundation. NCID BA33890789. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  • Nakanomyo, Masami (November 2015). "History of shipboard guns on JCG's patrol vessels". Ships of the World (in Japanese). Kaijin-sha (825): 168–173. NAID 40020597434.

See also[edit]

  • List of Japan Coast Guard vessels and aircraft