Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force protects Japan at sea. It's part of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and was created after World War II when the Imperial Japanese Navy dissolved. The JMSDF has 154 ships, 346 aircraft, and 50,800 personnel.
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | |
---|---|
海上自衛隊 | |
Founded | 1 July 1954[1] |
Country | ![]() |
Type | Navy |
Role | Naval warfare |
Size | 50,800 personnel 150+ ships[2][3] 346 aircraft[4] |
Part of | ![]() |
Garrison/HQ | Ichigaya, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan |
March | Gunkan March ![]() |
Fleet | 2 light aircraft carriers 2 helicopter carriers 22 submarines 36 destroyers 10 frigates 6 destroyer escorts 4 landing ships 30 minesweepers 6 patrol boats 8 training ships (21 auxiliaries) |
Website | mod.go.jp |
Commanders | |
Commander-in-Chief | Prime Minister Fumio Kishida |
Minister of Defense | Minoru Kihara |
Chief of Staff, Joint Staff | General Yoshihide Yoshida |
Chief of the Maritime Staff | Admiral Ryō Sakai |
Insignia | |
Commissioning pennant | ![]() |
Ensign | ![]() |
History
changeOrigin
changeAfter Japan's defeat in World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy was disbanded, and some of its ships, like the battleship Nagato, were taken by the Allies. The remaining fleet was initially used for repatriating Japanese soldiers and minesweeping under the Second Bureau of the Demobilization Ministry. The minesweeping duties were later transferred to the Maritime Safety Agency, maintaining naval resources.
The 1947 Constitution included Article 9 renouncing war, allowing Japan to maintain military forces for self-defense. Cold War pressures led the United States to support Japan's self-defense capabilities. In 1952, the Safety Security Force (SSF) was formed within the Maritime Safety Agency, incorporating military vessels given by the U.S. In 1954, the JMSDF was formally established as the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). The JMSDF's early ships included former U.S. Navy destroyers. With the Cold War threat from the Soviet Navy, the JMSDF focused on an anti-submarine role.
References
change- ↑ "History - Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force". Japan Ministry of Defense. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ↑ "海上自衛隊:ギャラリー:写真ギャラリー:護衛艦(艦艇)". Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ↑ "海上自衛隊:ギャラリー:潜水艦(艦艇)". Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ↑ "Flightglobal - World Air Forces 2015" (PDF). Flightglobal.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-12-19. Retrieved 2015-05-31.