JS Suō

JS Suō is a Hiuchi-class Auxiliary Multi-purpose Support (AMS) ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).^[1]

History
Japan
Name	Suō (すおう)
Builder	Universal, Keihin
Laid down	19 September 2002
Launched	25 April 2003
Commissioned	16 March 2004
Homeport	Ominato
Identification	MMSI number: 431999676
Status	in active service
General characteristics
Class and type	Hiuchi, Auxiliary Multi-purpose Support (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

The ship was built by Universal in Keihin and commissioned into service on 16 March 2004.^[2]

The primary mission of the Suō is to support training exercises of other ships, including shooting practice and torpedo launching practice.^[3]

Service

This ship was one of several in the JMSDF fleet participating in disaster relief after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.^[4]