- Yes
- Maybe
- Unsure
- No
Note(s):
Spoiler
- Due to the current fact that all of the vessels are active vessels of the JMSDF, their history will generally not be fully covered due to their nature of being active warships
- Update - Added RIM-162 Evolved sea sparrow to weapons list
Background
The Kongō class guided missile destroyers is a class of 4 vessels that serve in the JMSDF, the class consist of JDS Kongō (DDG-173), JDS Kirishima, (DDG-174), JDS Myoko (DDG-175), and JDS Chokai (DDG-176), the class itself succeeded the Hatakaze class guided missile destroyers (Link to suggestion included below) and the class came it service in the 1990’s and as such all of them are still in active service.
Compared to the Hatakaze class the Kongō class were a major change in capability and design and are similar in design to the modern American Arleigh Burke class however these ships lack the ability to use cruise missiles, these ships still continued to use a 5-inch gun armament however as missiles are now more decisive than naval guns these ships now had only 1 5-inch/54 gun and even then it was a bit of a step away from previous classes and the succeeding classes don’t do the same but the Kongō’s used an Oto Melara gun instead of a American gun, the CWIS real stayed the same with the ships using 2 Mk 15 20mm Phalanx CIWS, the torpedo tubes generally were the same though they used the HOS-302 triple mount torpedo tubes with 1 per side of the ship though these were a Japanese version of the Mark 32 torpedo tubes, finally as for the missile armament they are armed with 8 RGM-84 Harpoon anti ship missiles in 2 4 cell launchers, these ships being similar to the Arleigh Burke class also came with VLS contained in 2 sections with a 29 cell VLS at the fore deck along with a 61 cell VLS at the afterdeck for a total of 90 missiles with the VLS launches capable of using the the SM-2MR standard missiles (either Block IIIA at first or Block IIIB later on), the SM-3 Anti-ballistic missile (Later modification), and the RUM-139 Anti-Submarine Rocket however as stated previously they cannot use cruise missiles like their American counterparts.
Along with all the weapons systems onboard the ships they also had various electronic equipment including the Aegis combat system with the class in particular being the first class outside of the United States to use the combat system and have since then have had the installation of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System from 2007 to 2010 which saw them receive the SM-3 Block IA and IB missiles.
General history
The class itself was constructed during the 1990’s with their construction taking place between 1990 to 1998 with the ships being laid down from 1990 to 1995 (Kongō -1990, Kirishima -1992, Myōkō -1993, Chōkai -1995), they would end having the first vessel launching in 1991 and the last being launched in 1996 (Kongō -1991, Kirishima -1993, Myōkō -1994, Chōkai -1996), and the ships were commissioned between 1993 to 1998 (Kongō -1993, Kirishima -1995, Myōkō -1996, Chōkai -1998) and so far in their service they have taken part in various exercises as well as being sortied during or prior to missile test from North Korea as some notable incidences the ships of the class have been apart of though this does not cover it all though due to them being active vessels I won’t cover any more of their history due to their active service.
More Images
Spoiler
Specifications
Displacement:
7,500 tons standard
9,500 tons full load
Length: 161 m (528 ft)
Beam: 21 m (69 ft)
Draft: 6.2 m (20 ft)
Propulsion:
4 Ishikawajima Harima/General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines; 2 shafts, 100,000 shp (75,000 kW)
Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range: 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement: 300
Armament:
Main Gun Armament:
- 1 × 127 mm (5 inch)/54 Caliber Oto Melara Compact Gun
CWIS:
- 2 × 20 mm Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS
Torpedo tubes:
- 2 × HOS-302 triple torpedo tubes:
Torpedo options:
- Mark 46 torpedo
- Type 73 torpedo
Missile systems:
Anti Ship missile armament:
- 8 × RGM-84 Harpoon Anti-ship Missile (Can be in number less than 4 per launcher group)
Vertical launch system(s):
- 90-cell Mk. 41 Vertical Launching System (separated into 2 sections with 1 29-cell launcher set and 1 69-cell launcher set)
Missile options:
- SM-2MR standard missile (Either Block IIIA or IIIB) (SAM)
- RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (SAM) (4 Per cell launcher)
- SM-3 Anti-ballistic missile (Either Block IA or IB) (Late 2000’s modernization)
- RUM-139 Anti-Submarine Rocket
Sources
Spoiler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongō-class_destroyer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JS_Kongō
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JS_Myōkō
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JS_Chōkai
Image Sources
Spoiler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JS_Kongō
Kongo class Destroyer DDG Japan Maritime Self Defense Force
Kongō Class Guided Missile Destroyers | Thai Military and Asian Region
https://www.reddit.com/r/WarshipPorn/comments/dk1tgu/kongōclass_aegis_destroyer_js_kirishima_mist/
https://nationalinterest.org/feature/negotiate-position-strength-north-korea-31027