Myoko (DDG-175) in port at Akita, 2003

Kongo class destroyers are fourth generation destroyers and an improvement upon the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke class (Flight I) which serve in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Escort Flotillas. The Kongo class employs the highly advanced AEGIS fire control system and is armed with the RIM-66 SM2 Block II surface-to-air missile, RUM-139 vertically launched anti-submarine rocket, the RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile, two Mark 15 20 mm CIWS gun mounts, two torpedo mounts in a triple tube configuration and a OTO 127 mm 54 caliber gun. Its Mark 41 vertical launch system can hold 90 missiles. However, in keeping with the defensive mission of the JMSDF and passive nature of Japan Self-Defense Forces in general, the Kongo-class lacks the Tomahawk missile and its support suite. Image File history File links 護衛艦みょうこう 秋田港にて投稿者撮影 2003å¹´7月 File links The following pages link to this file: Kongo class destroyer ... Image File history File links 護衛艦みょうこう 秋田港にて投稿者撮影 2003å¹´7月 File links The following pages link to this file: Kongo class destroyer ... Akita (秋田, autumn ricefield) is a Japanese surname and the name of serveral places. ... Jump to: navigation, search USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and... Jump to: navigation, search The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... Jump to: navigation, search USS Lassen (DDG-82), an Arleigh Burke class destroyer. ... Jump to: navigation, search It has been suggested that Deployment of Japanese troops to Iraq be merged into this article or section. ... The Aegis combat system, named for the mythological aegis shield, is a United States Navy weapons system. ... A surface-to-air missile (SAM) is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft. ... Anti-submarine warfare is a term referring to warfare directed against submarines. ... A Harpoon missile on display at the USS Bowfin museum at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii The AGM-84 Harpoon is a US all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system. ... Jump to: navigation, search An anti-ship missile (AShM) is a military missile designed for use against naval surface ships. ... Phalanx CIWS A Close-in weapon system (CIWS) is a naval shipboard weapon system for detecting and destroying incoming anti-ship missiles and enemy aircraft at short range (the threat(s) having penetrated the ships available outer defences). ... Jump to: navigation, search A modern torpedo, historically called a self-propelled torpedo, is a self-propelled guided projectile that (after being launched above or below the water surface) operates underwater and is designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target. ... Jump to: navigation, search The VLS cells on board USS San Jacinto. ... A missile (British English: miss-isle; U.S. English: missl) is, in general, a projectile—that is, something thrown or otherwise propelled. ... Jump to: navigation, search It has been suggested that Deployment of Japanese troops to Iraq be merged into this article or section. ... A Tomahawk cruise missile The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile with stubby wings. ...

As on other ships employing the AEGIS system, the superstructure is dominated by the SPY-1's phased arrays, which eliminates the need for a traditional rotating antenna. The design of the superstructure also incorporates certain stealth features, designed to reduce radar cross section of the ship. However, as a consequence, the ship is considerably more top-heavy than a typical destroyer and requires a much deeper draft. As such, operations in a littoral (coastal) environment are limited. Overall, the Kongo-class are much larger than traditional destroyers and at 9,485 tons displacement come close to cruisers in size. USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and aircraft). ... The USS Port Royal (CG-73), a Ticonderoga class cruiser. ...

The Kongo class vessels are being modified to serve in a theater missile defense role, with the primary intention of countering North Korean ballistic missiles. It is with this purpose in mind that the JMSDF intends to acquire two or three more destroyers, this time based upon Flight II variant of Burke, and the equipment for at least one unit was ordered in 2002.[1] North Korea, officially the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK; Korean: Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk; Hangul: 조선민주주의인민공화국; Hanja: 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國), is a country in eastern Asia, covering the northern half of the peninsula of Korea. ...

Currently, there are four Kongo-class destroyers in commission by the JMSDF; Kongo and Chokai, homeported in Sasebo, Kirishima, homeported in Yokosuka, and Myōkō, homeported in Maizuru. Kongo class destroyers are powered by four Ishikawajima-Harima LM2500 gas turbines. Sasebo (佐世保市; -shi) is a city located in Nagasaki, Japan. ... Categories: Cities in Kanagawa Prefecture | Japan geography stubs ... Maizuru (舞鶴市; -shi) is a city located in Kyoto, Japan, on an inlet of the Sea of Japan. ... The General Electric LM2500 industrial and marine turboshaft gas turbine is a derivative of GE Aircraft Engines CF6-50 aircraft engine. ... Jump to: navigation, search This machine has a single-stage radial compressor and turbine, a recuperator, and foil bearings. ...

All Kongo-class destroyers are named for mountains in Japan. The class shares a name with the previous Japanese class of battlecruisers named after Kongo, all of which were lost during World War II. HMS Hood (left) and HMS Barham (right), in Malta, 1937. ... Jump to: navigation, search Kongo (金剛) was the Imperial Japanese Navys first superdreadnought class battle cruiser, and the name-ship of its class. ... Jump to: navigation, search World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atom bomb. ...

Ships in the class

• DDG-173 こんごう (Kongo)
• DDG-174 きりしま (Kirishima)
• DDG-175 みょうこう (Myōkō)
• DDG-176 ちょうかい (Chokai)

Trivia

A fictional DDG-182 みらい (Mirai) is the subject of the manga Zipang. Jump to: navigation, search A page from the Marmalade Boy manga, volume 1 (Japanese version) Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for comics and/or cartoons (not necessarily animated, this includes print cartoons); outside of Japan, it usually refers specifically to Japanese comics. ... Official language Japanese Capital Tokyo Largest City Tokyo Emperor Akihito Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 60th 377,835 km² 0. ...

External links

• GlobalSecurity.org;Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces DDG Kongo Class
• Andrew Toppan's Haze Gray and Underway page for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces