Security blogger maps out JMSDF's top five craft

In case of a conflict with China over the East or even the South China Sea, Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force is ready to deploy its five most deadly craft against the People's Liberation Army Navy, said Kyle Mizokami, a defense and security blogger in Washington-based magazine National Interest on July 5.

The JMSDF's Hayabusa-class patrol craft is the most deadly weapon that the PLA Navy would face in a potential naval conflict. It is indeed the Japanese version of the United States' littoral combat ship. Designed smaller for better agility, the Hayabusa-class patrol craft is able to hide among Japan's many island and in the country's rugged coastline. They can carry out hit and run missile attacks on much larger enemy ships. This could be effective should China attack near the waters of the Ryukyus or could also be used in the southern Kurils should Russia pose a threat.

Modeled after the United States Navy's Flight IIA Arleigh Burke destroyer, the Atago-class Aegis Destroyer is the JMSDF's second most powerful craft. While the destroyer is capable to engage surface targets with its one Mark 45 5-inch naval gun and two Phalanx CIWS close-in weapon systems, it can also hunt and destroy enemy submarines with its hull-mounted AN/SQQ-89 undersea warfare combat system which combines an active/passive sonar system with ASROC rocket-propelled torpedoes.

Then, developed for amphibious warfare, the Osumi-class tank landing ship is another powerful piece of the JMSDF's arsenal. Japan currently operates three Osumi-class tank landing ships which ferry tanks and other armored vehicles from one part of Japan to the other. These are extremely important as the nation itself in composed of four major islands. An single Osumi-class can carry 14 Type 90 main battle tanks or a company-sized mechanized landing force to the battlefield.

Officially known as a helicopter destroyer, the Izumo-class comes in at number four. With a full length flight deck and hangar, it bears a strong resemblance to traditional aircraft carriers. An Izumo-class helicopter destroyer can accommodate and service up to 14 helicopters. It can also be operated as a floating base for Japan Ground Defense Force to launch CH-47J Chinook transport and AH-64J attack helicopters.

While some defense experts speculated that Japan may order a small number of vertical takeoff and landing F-35B fighters from the US and fly them off the deck of the Izumo-class, Vice Admiral Yoji Koda, a retired commander of the JMSDF said it is unlikely to happen due to Tokyo's current financial situation.

Rounding out the top five is the JMSDF's Soryu-class disel-electric submarines. Considered to be one of the world's most advanced non-nuclear attack submarines, the Soryu-class is able to remain underwater far longer than other diesel electric designs. Designed with six bow-mounted torpedo tubes, a Soryu-class submarine can carry a total of 20 Type 89 high-speed homing torpedoes and American-made Sub-Harpoon missiles. It could also serve as a carrier vehicle for an indigenous cruise missile system.

It is not a problem for Soryu-class submarines to carry out routine patrol missions over the starits located at Tsugaru , Tsushima, Kanmon, and Soya, which are relatively close to Japan. Mizokami added, however, that an overseas base will be needed for the sub should JMSDF deploy the subs to the disputed South China Sea in the future, as it is far from Japan.