Japan to send destroyer JDS Harusame in Gulf of Aden.

According to a tweet published by the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force on May 23, 2022, the Murasame-class destroyer JS Harusame departed from Sasebo for counter-piracy enforcement in the Gulf of Aden.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Murasame-class destroyer JS Harusame, Sasebo. (Picture source: JMSDF)

JS Harusame (DD-102) is the second ship of Murasame-class destroyers. Harusame was laid down on August 11, 1994, at Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Tamano as the 1992 plan and launched on October 16, 1995. Commissioned on March 24, 1997, was incorporated into the 8th Escort Corps of the 4th Escort Corps and deployed to Sasebo.

The Murasame-class destroyer is a class of destroyers, serving with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). This is the first class of the second-generation general-purpose destroyers of the JMSDF.

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 were inclined to reduce the radar cross-section.

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, the same as Kongō class.

To enhance the low-observability and combat readiness capability, vertical launching systems were adopted on its missile systems: Mk 41 for VL-ASROC and Mk 48 for Sea Sparrow replace the traditional swivel octuple launchers.

And the surface-to-surface missile system is alternated by the SSM-1B of Japanese make.[4] Currently, ships of this class have been switching the point defense missile system from the traditional Sea Sparrow (RIM-7M) to the Evolved Sea Sparrow by FY2012.

The aircraft facility is expanded to accommodate two shipboard helicopters. One Mitsubishi SH-60J/K is a basic load, and another can be accommodated in case of overseas operation.