Hiuchi-class support ship

The Hiuchi class support ship is designed to provide Auxiliary Multi-purpose Support (AMS) for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

Class overview
Builders	Mitsui, Tamano Universal, Keihin
Operators	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
General characteristics
Class and type	Hiuchi class AMS
Displacement	980 long tons (1,000 t)
Length	65 m (213 ft)
Beam	12.0 m (39.4 ft)
Height	5.8 m (19 ft)
Draft	3.5 m (11 ft)
Propulsion	Diesel
Speed	15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	40
Notes	Special Equipment: crane system, towing system, fire system

The Hiuchi AMS class replaced the Auxiliary Service Utility class (ASU). The primary mission of these vessels is to support training exercises of other ships, including shooting practice and torpedo launching practice.^[1]

Ships in the class

Pennant No.	Name	Home port	Shipyard	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned
AMS-4301[2]	Hiuchi	Maizuru	Mitsui, Tamano	18 Jan 2001	4 Sept 2001	27 March 2002
AMS-4302[2]	Suo	Ominato	Universal, Keihin	19 Sept 2002	25 April 2003	16 March 2004
AMS-4303[2]	Amakusa	Sasebo	Universal, Keihin	3 Dec 2002	6 Aug 2003	16 March 2004
AMS-4304[3]	Genkai	Kure	Universal, Keihin	7 Nov 2006	24 May 2007	20 Feb 2008
AMS-4305[3]	Enshu	Yokosuka	Universal, Keihin	19 Dec 2006	9 Aug 2007	20 Feb 2008