Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

maritime warfare branch of Japan's military

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
Founded1 July 1954; 70 years ago (1954-07-01)[1]
Country Japan
TypeNavy
RoleNaval warfare
Size50,800 personnel
150+ ships[2][3]
346 aircraft[4]
Part of Japan Self-Defense Forces
Garrison/HQIchigaya, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
MarchGunkan March audio speaker iconPlay 
Fleet2 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)
Websitemod.go.jp
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefPrime Minister Fumio Kishida
Minister of DefenseMinoru Kihara
Chief of Staff, Joint StaffGeneral Yoshihide Yoshida
Chief of the Maritime StaffAdmiral Ryō Sakai
Insignia
Commissioning pennant
Ensign

History

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Origin

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After 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

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  1. "History - Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force". Japan Ministry of Defense. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  2. "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.
  3. "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.
  4. "Flightglobal - World Air Forces 2015" (PDF). Flightglobal.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-12-19. Retrieved 2015-05-31.