PROFILPELAJAR.COM

*Kunigami*-class patrol vessel
	PL-01 Oki
Class overview
Name	Kunigami-class patrol vessel
Operators	Japan Coast Guard
Preceded by	Hateruma class
Succeeded by	Iwami class
Subclasses	Teresa Magbanua class
In commission	2012–present
Planned	21
Building	1
Completed	20
Active	20
General characteristics
Type	PL (Patrol vessel Large)
Tonnage	1,700 GT
Length	96.6 m (316 ft 11 in)
Beam	11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)
Draft	5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	2 × shafts; 2 × diesel engines;
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Armament	1 × JM61 20mm gun (FY2009 & FY2012) earlier ships; 1 × Bushmaster II 30mm gun (FY2013) later ships;
Armor	bulletproofing structure at the bridge

The Kunigami-class patrol vessel (くにがみ型巡視船, Kunigami-gata-junnsi-senn) is a class of 1,000 ton-class PL type patrol vessels of the Japan Coast Guard (JCG).

Background

In the 2000s, the JCG was building 1,000-ton class PLs with a high speed planing hull, such as Aso and Hateruma classes. Although these ships were excellent in security missions, they were also unsuitable for rescue missions because of their poor low-speed stability and cruising capacity.^[2]

Since the mass retirement of the Shiretoko class was planned in the 2010s, general-purpose ships as replacements were needed. For this purpose, construction of this class was started under the FY2009 supplement budget.^[3]

As a result of emphasis on versatility, the price soared, only two ships were built, more reasonable Iwami class was built from the following fiscal year. However, after that, additional construction was done to deploy on the Senkaku Islands in the FY2012 budgets. And construction is continuing from FY 2013 onwards, as construction costs have been reduced due to the mass production effect of this large-scale construction.^[3]

Design

Due to the demand for multi-mission capabilities, displacement hull made of steel was adopted. Also, since low-speed stability was required, antiroll tanks was also installed in addition to fin stabilizers. The superstructure is made of aluminium alloy, but the bridge has bulletproofing structure introduced.^[1]

A helipad is set on the stern deck. Although there is no hangar, they can supply fuel and electric power to a helicopter on board.^[1]

As a main weapon, a JM61-RFS 20 mm rotary gun system with an optical director was installed on the early ships built under the FY2009 and FY2012. And more powerful Bushmaster II 30 mm chain gun system was installed on the late ships built under the FY2013 and following fiscal years.^[4]

A variant made for the Philippines is known as the Teresa Magbanua-class patrol vessel.^[5]

In service

JCG *Kunigami* class ships based at Ishigaki

The 10 Kunigami class ships leading JCG's increased focus on grey-zone challenges along with 2 Hateruma-class patrol vessels has made the base at Ishigaki JCG's largest base, surpassing Yokohama. The ships of FY2012 constitutes the main force of the task force deployed around the Senkaku Islands. And the ships built under the FY2013 and following fiscal years were deployed as replacements of the Shiretoko class.^[3]^[6]^[7]

Ships in the class

Pennant no.	Name	Builder	Commissioned	Homeport
PL-09	Kunisaki (former Kunigami)	Shimonoseki shipyard, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries	April 27, 2012	Moji
PL-10	Bukō (former Motobu)		April 27, 2012	Yokohama
PL-81	Taketomi		September 26, 2014	Ishigaki
PL-82	Nagura		September 26, 2014
PL-83	Kabira		November 7, 2014
PL-84	Zampa		February 25, 2015
PL-85	Tarama	Isogo shipyard, Japan Marine United	November 25, 2015
PL-86	Ikema	Isogo shipyard, Japan Marine United
PL-87	Irabu	Tamano Shipyard, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding
PL-88	Tokashiki	Shimonoseki shipyard, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries	February 4, 2016
PL-89	Aguni	Tamano Shipyard, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding	February 24, 2016
PL-90	Izena	Shimonoseki shipyard, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries	February 24, 2016
PL-11	Rishiri		October 27, 2016	Wakkanai
PL-12	Esan		October 27, 2016	Otaru
PL-13	Motobu	Isogo shipyard, Japan Marine United	November 29, 2016	Naha
PL-14	Yonakuni	Tamano Shipyard, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding	November 25, 2016	Ishigaki
PL-01	Oki	Shimonoseki shipyard, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries	February 27, 2017	Sakaiminato
PL-02	Erimo	Shimonoseki shipyard, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries	February 27, 2017	Kushiro
PL-91	Tsuruga	Isogo shipyard, Japan Marine United	May 15, 2020	Tsuruga
PL-92	Echizen	Tamano Shipyard, Mitsui E&S	July 30, 2020	Tsuruga

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Details of Kunigami class new patrol vessels". Ships of the World (762). Kaijin-sha: 10–13. July 2012.
^ Equipment and Technology Department of the Japan Coast Guard (July 2016). "Characteristics of JCG new type vessels and their design methods". Ships of the World (840). Kaijin-sha: 142–145.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Ships of Japan Coast Guard". Ships of the World (840). Kaijin-sha: 48–49. July 2016.
^ Nakanomyo, Masami (October 2015). "History of shipboard guns on JCG's patrol vessels". Ships of the World (825). Kaijin-sha: 168–173.
^ "Mitsubishi Shipbuilding launches new multi-role response vessel for Philippine Coast Guard". 26 July 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
^ Sato, Yuji (18 October 2016). "The Japan Coast Guard protects the Senkaku Islands to the last". Japan Foreign Policy Forum. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
^ Saitō, Katsuhisa (26 April 2021). "The Senkaku Confrontation: Japan's Coast Guard Faces Chinese "Patrol Ships"". Nippon Communications Foundation. Retrieved 14 June 2021.