FFM-4 JS Mikuma's Ship Crest : Legend Of The Sun And The Hawk

FFM-4 JS Mikuma's Logo Mark. Image : JMSDF

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ( JMSDF ) had just unveiled the ship emblem of its fourth Mogami-class multi-mission stealth frigate the JS Mikuma ( FFM-4 ). It was the result of a design competition which was open to the public from 6th Jun to 5th Jul 2022. Out of a total of 157 submissions, the winning piece was selected by the pre-commissioning ship crew themselves and it featured a mythical hawk known as the Hitaka, the sun, the moon, a star ( Polaris ) and the Big Dipper. 

Apart from Polaris and the Big Dipper, all the above entities are key characters in the Legend of the Sun and Hawk ( 日と鷹神話 ) recorded in the ancient text known as Toyonishi Manuscript ( 豊西記 ). It is the story of the creation of the Mikuma river and the three hills around it.

In Japanese, the ship's crest or emblem is known as the logo mark ( ロゴマーク rogo maku ). My previous articles on the JS Mogami and the JS Kumano's logo mark can be found here, JS Noshiro's here and that of the JS Ise's possibly plagiarised logo mark here. 　

Manga rendition of the Legend of the Sun and the Hawk
 by Kuze Mizuki. Image : yamataikoku9.web.fc2.com

Sun and Hawk Legend

The Mikuma River ( 三隈川 mikumagawa ), namesake of the multi-mission frigate JS Mikuma , refers to the section of the Chikugo River that flows westward through the city of Hita right in the heart of Kyushu. The Hita Basin ( 日田盆地 Hita Bonchi ) is located just north of one of Kyushu's most active volcano Mt Aso and it is surrounded by mountains. It lies within the boundaries of Oita Prefecture, an area known in the past as Bungonokuni ( 豊後国 ).

Legend had it that a long long time ago there was a gigantic lake in the Hita Basin. One day, a humongous bird known as the Sun Hawk ( 日鷹 Hitaka ) flew across the lake from the east, dipped the feathers of its wings into the water and then flew north as the sun rises and disappeared. That immediately triggered off terrifying earth tremors and suddenly turned day into night.

The huge whirlpools formed and monstrous waves battered the cliffs on the western banks of the lake for three days and three nights. The cliffs eventually collapsed and the water gushed out and formed the westward flowing Mikuma River. As a result of the outflow, the lake was completely drained. The torrent also created three knolls which are known as the Hill of the Sun ( 日隈 Hinokuma ) to the south, Hill of the Moon  ( 月隈 Tsukikuma ) to the north and the Hill of the Star (星隈 Hoshikuma ) to the west. 

Collectively these hills are known as the Three Hills of Mikuma ( 三隈三山 Mikuma Sanzan ) or the Three Knolls of Hita ( 日田三丘 Hita Mitsuo ). These geological features still define the terrain where the Mikuma river flows through today.

Hita City, Mikuma River and the three hills

Could this ancient foklore have a possible scientific explanation? Absolutely! Japan has numerous active and dormant volcanos and many of these have caldera lakes. The rims of these crater lakes are subjected to weathering and erosion and can obviously be destroyed by subsequent seismic activities or even an eruption. Mt Aso, located just south of Hita City, has a caldera with a circumference of 120km, one of the biggest in the world, and that could have once been filled with water. Satellite imagery even showed a breach over its western rim from which a river flowed.

Aso Caldera NS 25km, EW 17km. Circumference 120km. Wikipedia

JS Mikuma's Logo Mark

The ship's crest of the JS Mikama takes a pentagonal shape with the silhouette of the mythical Sun Hawk in black prominantly featured at its centre. Its wings are spread and stretched right across the entire crest with the wingtips extending a little beyond the geometry of the crest. Superimposed on the hawk are the silhouettes of water in light blue and that of the warship in grey. They signify that the JS Mikuma will have the power of the water to move forcefully forwards.

Above the hawk is the sun, which represents Hinokuma, the hill of the sun. It is positioned above all perhaps because in Shintoism the Sun Goddess Amaterasu Okami is regarded as the supreme deity.

The moon at the lower left represents the Tsukikuma, the hill of the moon. According to JMSDF, the star at the lower right of the crest is Polaris ( 北極星 Hokkyokusei ), the north star. It represents the Hoshikuma, the hill of the star. Next to it is the asterism known as the Big Dipper ( 北斗七星 Hokutoshichisei ) with its seven stars in its familiar inverted ladle configuration. Interestingly, these stars are orientated in the correct position as they would in the night sky, with the two stars of the Big Dipper's bowl pointing towards Polaris. Kudos to the designer for getting this right! Together, Polaris and the Big Dipper would herald safe navigation on the high seas.

The crest is framed by a perimeter of dark grey within which the words Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is written at the top and FFM-4 JS Mikuma is written at the bottom. Lastly, the words みくま, the ship's name in hiragana, is placed in front of the silhouettes of the hawk, water and warship. 

JS Mikuma's ship crest was designed by Sasaki Ruri ( 佐々木留理 ) from Nara Prefecture.

Stars of the Big Dipper's bowl points towards Polaris ( top right )
Image : Miguel Claro via Space.com

Note : The Japanese kanji character 三 ( mi ) means three while 隈 ( kuma ) means corner or nook. In combination 三隈 ( Mikuma ) literally means three corners or three nooks. However, in this case we know that it means the three hills of Hita.　

4th Japanese Multi-Mission Frigate JS Mikuma Launched + Glimpse Of JS Mogami Close-up

FFM-4 JS Mikuma prior to being launched. Photo : JMSDF

 

The fourth Mogami-class multi-mission frigate built for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has been launched at Mitsubishi Heavy Industry's Nagasaki Shipyard on 10th Dec 2021. It is named the JS Mikuma ( みくま ) and has the pennant number FFM-4. In kanji characters mikuma would be written as 三隈.

The name is derived from the Mikuma River of Kyushu's Oita Prefecture, which is consistent with Japanese MOD's policy of naming destroyers and frigates after natural phenomena, mountains, rivers and localities. The source of the Mikuma River could be traced to the northern slopes of the active volcano Mt Aso and it would continue as the Chikugo River as it flows westwards all the way to the Ariake Sea.

It would be the third Japanese ship to bear that name, the first being the WWII era heavy cruiser IJNS Mikuma and the second being the Cold War era destroyer escort JS Mikuma ( DE-217 ).

A total of 22 multi-mission frigates had been planned for the JMSDF in order to increase the number of escort vessels in its surface fleet from the current 47 to 54. They will be constructed at a rate of two per year and so far the shipyards have been keeping to their schedule. JS Kumano, the first frigate to be launched, is now undergoing sea trials and would be commissioned in Mar 2022.

The naming and launching ceremony of the JS Mikuma was officiated by Vice Admiral Deguchi Katsuto, Commander Sasebo Naval District. The guest of honor was Oniki Makoto, the deputy Minister for Defense.

More on the multi-mission frigate here.

JS Mikuma at launch. Photo : JMSDF

JS Mikuma at launch. Photo : Oniki Makoto

JS Mikuma name revealed. Photo : Sasebo Regional HQ

Minister Oniki Makoto. Photo : JMSDF

JS Mikuma naming document. Photo : Oniki Makoto

JS Mikuma prior to launch. Photo : JMSDF

Silver axe for launching ship. Image : JMSDF

JS Mikuma prior to launch. Photo : Sasebo Regional HQ

Celebrating the launch of JS Mikuma by @ginntokii.
Map of Mikuma and Chikugo River at top right.

                                                                       Launch of JS Mikuma FFM-4. Video : JMSDF

Inspection Of JS Mogami

As deputy Defense Minister Oniki launched the JS Mikuma, he also took the opportunity to inspect the first-in-class JS Mogami which was being fitted at the same shipyard. These are probably the first official close-up photos of the frigates. Of course we can expect more in another two months when the JS Kumano and JS Mogami are commissioned.

Oniki and entourage in front of the JS Mogami's main gun. Photo : ATLA

Notice the extreme inclination of the side window panels of the bridge, almost like an extension of the sloping ship superstructure. Yet the front panels are inclined from the vertical plane top out like most conventional bridge windows, as evident from the reflection of the man standing in the background in the extreme right of the image.

On the upper deck behind the main gun. Photo : ATLA

Inspecting the bridge. Photo ATLA

The sloping starboard side window panels can be clearly seen in the above photo. Just like the half completed mast, the bridge is also still under construction. 

Minister Oniki being briefed. Photo : ATLA

Ship Logo Mark For Japanese Stealth Frigates

 

The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force ( JMSDF ) had recently launched the first three ships of the Mogami-class multi-mission stealth frigate, out of a planned total of twenty-two. Apart from the lead ship JS Mogami ( FFM-1 ), the others are JS Kumano ( FFM-2 ) and JS Noshiro ( FFM-3 ).

A ship logo mark design competition was opened to the public from 7th May to 6th June 2021 and the results have just been announced three days ago. The winning designs were selected by the respective pre-commissioning ship crew. The Japanese call the ship's crest or emblem the logo mark ( ロゴマーク rogo maku ).

Ship logo mark of JS Mogami FFM-1 with 
the black lion of Nagai. Image : JMSDF

Mogami ( FFM-1 )

JS Mogami's ship crest is designed by Kurata Yusuke ( 倉田裕典 ) from Tokyo. It features prominently the face of a stylised Black Lion below which the hiragana characters for Mogami ( もがみ ) is displayed. The outer rim has motifs of waves, anchor and the cherry blossoms associated with the JMSDF. 

The black lion has its origins in the Black Lion Festival ( 黒獅子祭り kuroshishi matsuri) of Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture, where the Mogami River flows through. The ritual is held in May annually where all the black lions from each of the forty shrines of the city gather and men would perform the dynamic lion dance and parade through the streets to purify the community. 

The lions are all characterized by having black faces, large eyeballs, bared glittering fangs and most uniquely, many legs. Most lion dances are performed by one or two men but this is certainly not the case for the kuroshishi. Learn how the lion heads are crafted out of hard wood and painstakingly transformed into elegant works of art in the hands of the takumi here or watch it below.

                                                    Video : Okitama's Folk Handicraft - Black Lion Head

                                                    Credit : Okitama Industrial and Economic Planning Division

Legend has it that in the Tohoku region a thousand years ago, a beautiful princess fell in love with the general of a rival clan and revealed to him the warfighting tactics of her people. It ultimately resulted in the defeat and death of her father in battle. Pursued by her enemies and in remorse she committed suicide by drowning herself in the river which flows through modern day Nagai City. A large dragon was subsequently sighted swimming upstream. It is said that this dragon god would dance down the river as the black lion of Nagai as it was invited to the annual festival of the local shrine.

Black Lion of Nagai. Image : Tukiyama.jp

Believable or not, the JMSDF certainly hopes that this black lion mascot hailing from the upper Mogami basin would endear the ship to its crew. 　

Ship Logo Mark of JS Kumano FFM-2 featuring the
mythical three-legged raven Yatagarasu. Image : JMSDF

Kumano ( FFM-2 )

JS Kumano's ship crest is designed by Takabe Tsubasa ( 高部 翼 ) from Tokyo. The emblem features the Yatagarasu ( 八咫烏 ), a mythical three-legged raven which on orders from the Goddess Amaterasu, had guided legendary Emperor Jimmu to the plains of Yamato as his expedition army was lost and trapped in the mountains Kumano-guni ( 熊野国 ). 

It carries a sacred relic on its neck, the Yata no Kagami ( 八咫鏡 ), a mirror that is effectively the portal between the land of the living and the land of the dead. It has powers to revive the dead and its mission is to guide lost souls back to the netherworld.

The design shows the Yatagarasu soaring above the raging currents of a stormy sea, portraying the ship's attributes of strength and stealth. The typographic characters show the words Kumano in katakana form ( クマノ ).

Yatagarasu monument at the Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine.
Photo : Wikipaedia

More on logo marks in my previous post Sumimasen, Is That The Singaopre Lion On Your Logo Mark? The logo mark designs of these two frigates exemplified the highest attributes of the ships and are thoroughly infused with cultural history of each region of the ship's namesake, making them unique and relevant. With such talented artists and designers among the Japanese community, it is perhaps high time the JMSDF calls for a re-design of JS Ise's not so aesthetic logo mark which might even be bordering on plagiarism.

Third Mogami-Class Frigate FFM-3 Noshiro Launched

FFM-3 Noshiro launched. Photo : MHI 

 

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has launched JMSDF's third Mogami-class multi-mission frigate at its Nagasaki shipyard today. The frigate with the pennant number FFM-3 is named Noshiro ( のしろ ), after the Noshiro River ( 能代川 ) in Akita Prefecture . This is in line with the first two frigates which are also named after rivers of Japan. 

This will be the second vessel to bear the name Noshiro. The first being the IJN Noshiro, an Agano-class light cruiser which was sunk in 1944.

More on the Mogami-class multi-mission frigate here.

This looks like a floating-out launch rather than the gravitational slideway launch for the first two frigates. Noshiro is expected to be commissioned in 2022. Kyodo News Agency already reported that approximately 10 of the ship's complement of 90 will be female.

FFM-3 Noshiro launched. Photo JMSDF

FFM-3 Noshiro launched. Photo : Japanese MOD

                                                                                    

FFM-3 Noshiro from VIP stand. Photo JMSDF

The frigate was named by Minister of Defense Nobuo Kishi
Photo : JMSDF

LDP lawmaker and deputy Minister of Defense
Matsukawa Rui naming the frigate. Photo : MOD

Name of the frigate unveiled. Photo : JMSDF

Cable cutting with ship launching silver axe.
Photo : MOD

Silver Axe with Matsukawa Rui's name engraved.
Photo : JMSDF

The National Anthem and Gunkan Koshinkyoku was
performed by the Sasebo Band. Photo : JMSDF

FFM-3 at MHI Nagasaki Shipyard just before launching
ceremony. View from Mt Nabekanmuri Park.
 Photo : @yukinami_jp via twitter

FFM-3 Noshiro before launching ceremony.
Name over stern concealed.
Photo : @yukinami_jp via twitter

FFM-3 Noshiro being shifted after launch.
Photo : @yukinami_jp via twitter.

FFM-3 Noshiro being shifted after launch.
Photo : @yukinami_jp via twitter

More on JS Noshiro's ship emblem here.

JS Noshiro's Logo Mark or ship crest.
Image JMSDF

Jack-Of-All-Trades : Japan's Mogami-Class Multi-Mission Frigate

JS Kumano ( FFM-2 ) launched 19th Nov 2020.
 Photo : JMSDF

The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force ( JMSDF ) had launched a new class of warship known as the Multi-Mission Frigate ( FFM ) on 19th Nov 2020. Due to some technical mishap during the construction of the lead ship, it was the second-in-class JS Kumano ( くまの ) that was launched first. After a three month delay, the lead ship had finally been launched on 3rd Mar 2021 and was named the JS Mogami ( もがみ ).

These frigates are meant to be compact, stealthy, highly automated to reduce crew requirements and are meant to be scalable for the possibility of export. Their design is a departure from the large destroyers that the JMSDF used to favour and reflects the changing regional security threats and demographic challenges that Japan is facing. A total of 22 frigates have been planned. 

Destroyer Exclusivity No More

The Japanese archipelago is made up of 6852 islands and stretches for more than 3000km from the Sea of Okhotsk to the Philippine Sea. It has a coastline that is 29751km long and an exclusive economic zone of 4470000km2. Due to the vastness of the maritime territory it has to cover, the JMSDF has always required ships with very long range and high endurance. Destroyers have therefore formed the backbone of the JMSDF surface fleet for many decades. Its major combatants are always classified as a destroyer of sorts, helicopter-carrying destroyer ( DDH ), guided missile destroyer ( DDG ), general purpose destroyer ( DD ) and destroyer escort ( DE ). In fact, the JMSDF never had a frigate in its fleet apart from the 18 Kusu-class patrol frigates ( ex-US WWII Tacoma-class ) which it briefly commissioned between 1953 and 1972.

So it might seem like a surprise when after a lapse of almost five decades the JMSDF announced that its next generation warship would be a frigate. However, given the current maritime security situation with the militarization of the South China Sea, a nuclear-armed North Korea and multiple territorial disputes with neighbours including China, Taiwan, South Korea and Russia, it is clear that the JMSDF needs to build up its fleet to meet these challenges, and to do so rapidly and in an affordable manner. By virtue of its smaller size and less sophisticated weapon and sensor systems, a frigate is a lot cheaper to procure and maintain than a destroyer. Frigates also have a smaller complement, an important factor to consider given Japan's declining population and a younger generation unwilling to join the ranks of the JMSDF. 

30FFM

The concept of a high speed multi-mission frigate that is capable of anti-submarine and mine warfare for the JMSDF was first raised in 2005 when the Maritime Staff Office engaged the Japan Association of Defense Industry on a feasibility study based on a vessel similar to the Littoral Combat Ship ( LCS ) of the US Navy. Then the emphasis was on speed and cost. However, the Japanese would soon discover that the cost of building such a ship was prohibitive, even when the specifications were brought down, and the idea was shelved.

It wasn't until late 2013 that saw the frigate being mentioned again, this time in the Defense Guidelines and the H26 Mid Term Defence Plans where the Ministry of Defense wanted to increase the number of escort ships from 47 to 54. The following year, the Japanese government under then Prime minister Abe Shinzo would also end the total ban on arms export and the frigate seemed viable again, perhaps with the help from a potential export market and lowered costs due to maturing technologies. By 2015, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ( MHI ) had unveiled its proposal, the 30FF, which it had developed using its own funds.

MHI's 30FFM Conceptual Image, annotated

The frigate was originally referred to as the 30FFM as it was promulgated in the defense budget of 2018, the 30th year of the Heisei era. FF is the hull classification for frigate and the M indicates its multi-mission capability but could also refer to the mine laying and mine hunting capabilities of this unique warship. Mine warfare is a highly specialised part of naval warfare and it is usually undertaken by specialised vessels like mine layers, mine sweepers and mine hunters. The conventional duty of a general purpose frigate is to escort other high value vessels like fleet replenishment ships and amphibious landing platforms and to conduct anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare but rarely ever to mine hunt or lay mines. In the FFM the JMSDF intends to create a work horse that is capable of a little of everything, including dealing with mines.

The 30FFM frigates are also frequently referred to as the 3900ton-class escort vessel ( 3900トン型護衛艦 ) as the design called for a ship with a standard displacement of 3900 tons. They are meant to expand the fleet and at the same time replace some of the older destroyers of the Asagiri-class ( 8 in active service ) and the Abukuma-class destroyer escort ( 6 in active service ). 

Each of these frigates will cost 50 billion yen or about US$460 million.

FFM-2 JS Kumano being fitted out at Mitsui's
Tamano yard 9th mar 2021. Photo : @DE224_cookie

30FFM Specifications

Standard Displacement : 3900 tons

Full Load Displacement : 5500 tons

Length : 133m

Beam : 16.3m

Propulsion : CODAG

1 x Rolls Royce MT-30 Gas Turbine

2 x MAN 12V28/33D STC Diesel Engine

2 x variable-pitch propellers

Maximum Speed : Over 30 knots

Power : 70000hp

Complement : 90

Armament :

1 x BAE Systems 62 calibre 5 inch ( 127mm ) Mk 45 Mod 4 gun system

2 x Japan Steel Works RWS with 12.7mm machine gun

1 x Raytheon SeaRAM ship defense system

2 x quadruple canisters for a total of 8 MHI Type 17 anti-ship missiles ( SSM-2 )

2 x HOS-303 triple launchers for 324mm torpedoes

1 x MHI 16-cell Mk 41 VLS ( fitted for but not with )

Mine Warfare :

Simplified Mine Laying Equipment

1 x Unmanned Surface Vehicle ( USV ) with Expendable Mine Disposal System ( EMD )

1 x Unmanned Underwater Vehicle ( UUV ) MHI OZZ-5

C4I : OYQ-1 Combat Management System ( Link 22 compatible )

Sensors : Mitsubishi Electric OPY-2 X-Band multi-function AESA radar

               Mitsubishi Electric OAX-3 Electro-optical / Infra-red sensor system 

               NEC OQQ-25 ship mounted sonar system comprising VDS + TASS

               Hitachi OQQ-11 mine-detecting sonar 

Electronic Warfare : NOLQ-3E electronic warfare system

                                 4 x Mk 137 Decoy launchers

Hangar for 1 x SH-60K Helicopter 

Updated : FFM-1 and FFM-2 ship crests here. Launch of FFM-3 here

JS Mogami being launched on 3rd Mar 2021

The official JMSDF video above on the launching and naming ceremony of the JS Mogami at MHI's Nagasaki yard on 3rd March 2021. 0:22 Kimigayo national anthem 0:48 Naming 0:55 Silver ship launching axe 1:06 cord cutting 1:07 Warship March 1:15 blessing horn

Sporting clean lines and flush surfaces.
The stealthy JS Kumano shortly after launch.
Photo : Hunini via Wikicommons.

Profile view of the sleek and long JS Kumano
shortly after being launched on 19th Nov 2020.
Photo : Hunini via Wikicommons

JS Kumano mid-ship starboard view with
hatches possibly for torpedo launcher.
Photo : Hunini via Wikicommons

JS Kumano superstructure.
Photo : Hunini via Wikicommons

JS Kumano stern and hangar.
Photo : Hunini via Wikicommons

Unique Features

The Mogami-class frigate is radically different from what we would normally expect of a typical JMSDF surface combatant, big powerful ships with towering superstructures and masts full of radar and electronic warfare antenna, with an equally huge complement. 

It is instead relatively smaller, stealthier, highly automated, not as well armed but still very capable, has an advanced combat management system and sensor suite and is intended to be multi-mission capable, including mine warfare.

The flat panels of the OPY-2 AESA multi-function radar
on the tetrahedral mast proper of JS Kumano shortly after
being launched. Photo : Hunini via Wikicommons

Its design has incorporated the latest in stealth technology to drastically reduce the radar cross-section ( RCS ) of the ship. The sides of the frigate are smooth and flush and ship structures are angled to deflect radar waves. The most prominent feature is the single integrated mast combining the ship's radar with its electronic warfare system. The four flat panels of the multi-function OPY-2 radar are mounted on the sides of tetrahedral mast proper, with a tube-like NORA-50 composite communications antennae atop, completely clutter-free. MHI had also indicated that it applied some of the stealth technology from its X-2 experimental fighter on the frigates, presumably radar-absorbent coatings or paint. Simply put, the Mogami-class frigate is probably the stealthiest ship in the JMSDF inventory to date.

FFM-2 JS Kumano's integrated mast being fitted at Mitsui's
Tamano yard 16th Feb 2021. Photo : mineo@youmaydream5

JS Kumano at Mitsui E&S Tamano yard 16th Feb 2021.
Photo : mineo@youmaydream5

A high degree of automation allows the Mogami-class frigate to be operated by a crew of just 90 personnel, a drastic reduction from its predecessor the Asagiri-class destroyer which has a complement of 220. This is an extremely important adaptation as the JSDF as a whole had repeated failed to achieve its recruitment targets since 2014, with the JMSDF fairing the worse among the three services. Declining birth rates and a new generation of youths who cannot live without their always connected smart phones would pose insurmountable challenges. Possibly to reduce the impact of ship deployments on the personal lives of the crew, JMSDF plans to rotate four teams of crew for every three frigates.    

The frigate also has an advanced integrated combat information centre ( CIC ) with a unique circular arrangement and open-bridge concept. It features 18 multi-function displays and 2 tactical tables and overhead screens that can project 360 degree augmented reality views of the ship with the assistance of sensor fusion technology. This will help to increase the situation awareness level of the CIC team.

Although well equipped for anti-surface warfare ( ASuW ) with the new Type-17 AShM and for anti-submarine warfare ( ASW ) with its combination of variable depth sonar, towed array sonar, torpedoes and ASW helicopter, the most unique capability of this frigate is its ability to conduct mine warfare. 

The frigate has the ability to lay sea mines. It can also deploy and retrieve sonar equipped unmanned surface and underwater drones such as the OZZ-5 UUV to hunt and neutralise sea mines from a docking station at its stern. Its USV can also launch the expendable mine disposal system ( EMD ) which are controlled via optical fiber cable for mine hunting and destruction. This video shows how the EMD works. You can also watch it below.

Trainer EMD with dummy warhead in classic
golden-yellow ( 山吹色 yamabuki-iro ) colour
displayed onboard MSO-304 JS Awaji.
Live ordnance would be painted black. 
Image : Wikipedia

          

This mine warfare capability is mostly unheard of in frigates of any navy but it comes at a crucial time when the JMSDF is scaling down its mine countermeasures fleet. So the frigates can pick up the slack left by a dwindling MCM fleet to ensure that the waterways are mine free especially during amphibious operations in the defense of Japan's outer island chains.

Stern of JS Mogami seen just before launch.
The larger opening leads to the USV / UUV docking station.
The smaller opening is for VDS / TASS deployment.
Photo @T_AH19 via twitter

Currently, the frigate's weakness is in its air defense capabilities has it can only rely on the extremely short range SeaRAM close-in weapon system for self-protection against aerial threats. This may change once the 16-cell Mk 41 vertical launch system ( VLS ) is installed. The versatile VLS can pack the longer range RIM-162 ESSM four to a cell or it could accommodate the navalised version of the Type 3 medium-range surface-to-air missile. This will enable it to provide area air defense in an escort mission.

In addition, the Type 7 vertical launch anti-submarine rocket can also be launched from the VLS, boosting the frigate's kill capabilities against submarines. The VL ASROC is basically torpedo with a rocket delivery system that has a reach of 30km.

Celebrating the launch of FFM-2
Image : @gintokii via twitter

Work Horse

With such a multitude of capabilities, the Mogami-class frigates are expected to be involved in the defense of Japan's home waters against surface and underwater threats. They augment the mine laying and mine hunting capabilities of JMSDF's organic mine-countermeasures fleet. They will also be deployed in anti-piracy operations overseas so that larger vessels like destroyers can be left to deal with bigger threats nearer to home, such as the Chinese, Russian and North Korean navies.

They mirror similar developments in other navies worldwide to have multi-mission capabilities built into a single hull and are frequently compared with the Littoral Combat Ship of the USN. The Republic of Singapore Navy's yet to be revealed Multi-Role Combat Vessel will probably share many similarities with the Mogami-class frigate, especially in mine warfare capabilities and emphasis on utilising remotely controlled vehicles.

There are also plans to export these vessels to lower the overall procurement costs. Indonesia is said to be interested in buying up to 8 frigates, with the first four being built in Japan and the remainder constructed in Indonesia. If this comes to fruition it will be Japan's first major arms export since WWII.

 

JS Mogami just after launch.
Photo : JMSDF

JS Mogami at MHI Nagasaki yard 4th Mar 2021.
Photo : @xkVjYrGfhYAOspG via twitter

JS Mogami at MHI Nagasaki yard 4th Mar 2021.
Photo : @xkVjYrGfhYAOspG via twitter

                           

The first-in-class FFM-1 JS Mogami is named after the Mogami River* ( 最上川 ) in Yamagata Prefecture. It is the third vessel to bear that name, the first being the Imperial Japanese Navy's heavy cruiser IJN Mogami and the second was the destroyer escort JDS Mogami ( DE-212 ) of the JMSDF. 

A mishap during the installation of the Rolls Royce MT-30 gas turbine delayed the launch of the lead ship, resulting in the second ship of the series, FFM-2 JS Kumano, being launched first. JS Kumano is named after the Kumano River ( 熊野川 ) in the mountainous Kii Peninsula of Kansai. Both are expected to be commissioned in March 2022.

The naming of the first two ships based on major Japanese rivers suggests that the other twenty might likely have river-based names such as Natori ( 名取 ), Tenryu ( 天竜 ), Kinu ( 鬼怒 ), Mikuma ( 三隈 ), Kiso ( 木曽 ), Tone ( 利根 ), Ishikari ( 石狩 ) and the likes. It follows the JMSDF tradition of naming its destroyers and major surface combatants after natural phenomena, meteorological phenomena, mountains, rivers and landmarks. 

 

View of Mount Gassan from Mogami River.
Ukiyo-e by Utagawa Hiroshige. Wikipedia

* With a total length of 229km the scenic Mogami River is one of the longest and fastest flowing rivers in Japan. It was historically important as a conduit to transport goods from the inland areas of Dewanokuni (出羽国), modern day Yamagata and Akita, to the coastal areas for export. 

The Mogami River was also featured in the hugely successful 1983 NHK serial television drama Oshin ( おしん ), in a snowy winter scene where the protagonist, a 7 year old girl from a poor peasant family, was tearfully separated from her parents and sent by raft down river to Sakata City to work as a babysitter for a timber merchant's family. Mogami River 0:14 - 0:20 in trailer for the 2012 movie adaptation.