JS Ariake (DD-109)

For other ships with the same name, see Japanese destroyer Ariake.

JS Ariake (DD-109) (ありあけ) is the ninth ship of Murasame-class destroyers. She was commissioned on 6 March 2002.^[1]

JS Ariake on 23 June 2006
History
Japan
Name	Ariake (ありあけ)
Ordered	1997
Builder	Mitsubishi, Kobe
Laid down	18 May 1999
Launched	16 October 2000
Commissioned	6 March 2002
Homeport	Sasebo
Identification	MMSI number: 431999655 Pennant number: DD-109
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class and type	Murasame-class destroyer
Displacement	4,550 tons standard, 6,200 tons hull load
Length	151 m (495 ft 5 in)
Beam	17.4 m (57 ft 1 in)
Draft	5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	2 × IHI-GE LM2500 gas turbines 2 × KHI-RR SM1C gas turbines 60,000 shp (45 MW) 2 shafts, cp props
Speed	30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h)
Complement	165
Sensors and processing systems	OYQ-9 CDS (w/ Link-11) OYQ-103 ASWCS FCS-2-31 fire-control systems OPS-24B air search radar OPS-28 surface search radar OQS-5 hull sonar OQR-2 TASS
Electronic warfare & decoys	NOLQ-3 suite Mk. 36 SRBOC Chaff and Decoy Launching System AN/SLQ-25 torpedo decoys
Armament	1 × OTO Melara 76 mm gun 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS 8 × SSM-1B Anti-ship missile in quad canisters 2 × triple 324 mm torpedo tubes 16-cell Mk. 48 VLS with Evolved Sea Sparrow SAM 16-cell Mk. 41 VLS with VL-ASROC
Aircraft carried	1 × SH-60J/K anti-submarine helicopter

Design

The hull design was completely renovated from first-generation DDs. In addition to increasing the size in order to reduce the underwater radiation noise, both superstructure and hull was inclined to reduce the radar cross-section. There is however no angled tripod mainmast like that of the American Arleigh Burke-class destroyer because of the heavy weather of the Sea of Japan in winter. The aft was designed like a "mini-Oranda-zaka" as with the Kongō class to avoid interference between helicopters and mooring devices.^[2] Destroyers built under the First Defense Build-up Plan, including the former Murasame class, adopted a unique long forecastle style called "Oranda-zaka".

The engine arrangement is COGAG as same as Asagiri class, but a pair of engines are updated to Spey SM1C. And the remaining pair are replaced by LM2500, same as Kongō class.^[2]

Construction and career

Ariake was laid down on 18 May 1999 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Kobe as part of the 1997 plan and launched on 16 October 2000. Commissioned on 6 March 2002, the vessel was incorporated into the 6th Escort Corps of the 2nd Escort Corps and deployed to Sasebo.

On 13 September 2020, she departed from Sasebo base for the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia as the 37th dispatched anti-piracy action water squadron.^[3]

The ship participated in Exercise Malabar 2024 which was held from 8 to 18 October.^[4]

Gallery

• 
  JS Ariake underway on 16 November 2002
• 
  JS Ariake entering Pearl Harbor on 5 July 2006
• 
  JS Ariake in the Gulf of Oman on 11 December 2013
• 
  JS Ariake in the Gulf of Oman on 11 December 2013
• 
  JS Ariake with the Spanish landing ship dock Castilla in 2021