# Hatsushima-class minesweeper

The Hatsushima class is a class of coastal minesweepers of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

## Development

The Maritime Self-Defense Force has introduced the mine sweeping capability of the Takami class minesweeper developed in the 3rd Defense Build-up Plan by installing the British ASDIC 193 and the ZQS-2 mine detector that introduced the technology. However, in minesweepers such as the same class, immediately after the introduction of mine sweeping technology, mine disposal depended on the underwater diver, and the danger was great.
For this reason, it has become necessary to reduce the risk of mine clearance by using a self-propelled / precursor-type mine disposal tool that is remotely controlled. In response to this, the medium-sized minesweeper in the 4th Defense Build-up Plan was to further improve its sweeping ability, and this type was built by this.

## Ships in the class

| Pennant no. | Name | Builders | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Home port |
| MSC-649 | Hatsushima | Nippon Kokan, Keihin | 6 December 1977 | 30 October 1978 | 30 March 1979 | 13 July 2001 | Yokosuka |
| MSC-650 | Ninoshima | Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Kanagawa | 8 May 1978 | 7 August 1979 | 19 December 1979 | 23 May 2002 | Kure |
| MSC-651 | Miyajima | Nippon Kokan, Keihin | 8 November 1978 | 18 September 1979 | 29 January 1979 | 23 May 2002 | Kure |
| MSC-652 | Enoshima | Nippon Kokan, Keihin | 4 October 1979 | 26 July 1980 | 25 December 1980 | 6 December 1996 | Yokosuka |
| MSC-653 | Ukishima | Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Kanagawa | 15 May 1979 | 11 July 1980 | 27 November 1980 | 12 March 1997 | Yokosuka |
| MSC-654 | Oshima | Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Kanagawa | 2 June 1980 | 17 June 1981 | 26 November 1981 | 23 March 1998 | Ominato |
| MSC-655 | Niijima | Nippon Kokan, Keihin | 4 August 1980 | 2 June 1981 | 26 November 1981 | 4 March 2002 | Ominato |
| MSC-656 | Yakushima | Nippon Kokan, Keihin | 15 June 1981 | 22 June 1982 | 17 December 1982 | 16 February 1999 | Sasebo |
| MSC-657 | Narushima | Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Kanagawa | 29 May 1981 | 7 June 1982 | 17 December 1982 | 25 June 1999 | Sasebo |
| MSC-658 | Chichijima | Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Kanagawa | 2 June 1982 | 13 July 1983 | 16 December 1983 | 13 March 2000 | Yokosuka |
| MSC-659 | Torishima | Nippon Kokan, Keihin | 30 June 1982 | 23 June 1983 | 16 December 1983 | 1 December 2000 | Yokosuka |
| MSC-660 | Hahajima | Nippon Kokan, Keihin | 20 May 1983 | 27 June 1984 | 18 December 1984 | 8 February 2000 | Yokosuka |
| MSC-661 | Takashima | Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Kanagawa | 7 June 1983 | 18 June 1984 | 18 December 1984 | 4 June 2001 | Kure |
| MSC-662 | Nuwajima | Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Kanagawa | 21 May 1984 | 5 June 1985 | 12 December 1985 | 29 May 2002 | Kure |
| MSC-663 | Etajima | Nippon Kokan, Keihin | 22 May 1984 | 17 June 1985 | 12 December 1985 | 29 May 2002 | Kure |
| MSC-664 | Kamishima | Nippon Kokan, Keihin | 10 May 1985 | 20 June 1986 | 16 December 1986 | 16 December 2004 | Yokosuka |
| MSC-665 | Himejima | Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Kanagawa | 16 May 1985 | 10 June 1986 | 16 December 1986 | 16 December 2004 | Yokosuka |
| MSC-666 | Ogishima | Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Kanagawa | 16 May 1985 | 10 June 1986 | 19 December 1986 | 26 February 2010 | Kure |
| MSC-667 | Moroshima | Nippon Kokan, Keihin | 22 May 1986 | 10 June 1986 | 19 December 1986 | 9 February 2005 | Kure |
| MSC-668 | Yurishima | Nippon Kokan, Keihin | 14 May 1987 | 13 May 1988 | 15 December 1988 | 23 February 2007 | Kure |
| MSC-669 | Hikoshima | Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Kanagawa | 12 May 1987 | 2 June 1988 | 15 December 1988 | 11 March 2008 | Kure |
| MSC-670 | Awashima | Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Kanagawa | 12 May 1988 | 6 June 1989 | 13 December 1989 | 6 March 2009 | Yokosuka |
| MSC-671 | Sakushima | Nippon Kokan, Keihin | 17 May 1988 | 2 June 1989 | 13 December 1989 | 21 March 2013 | Yokosuka |

## Citations

* ↑ Self-Defense Forces Equipment Yearbook 2006-2007. Asagumo Shimbun. pp. 250–251. ISBN 4-7509-1027-9.
* ↑ Ohira, Tadashi (October 1990). Mine Disposal Tool (Dissecting Modern Minesweepers), Ships of the World. Vol. 427. Japan: Gaijinsha. pp. 96–99.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
* ↑ Hirogun, Yosuke (June 2010). History of the Construction of Wooden Minesweepers by the Maritime Self-Defense Force, Ships of the World. Vol. 725. Japan: Gaijinsha. pp. 155–161.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)