Aso-class patrol vessel

{{Infobox ship image

| Ship image = 1番船のPL41 あそ.jpg

| Ship caption = Aso (PL 41)

}}

{{Infobox ship class overview

| Name = Aso class

| Builders = Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Universal Shipbuilding Corporation

| Operators = {{flagicon|Japan|coast guard}} Japan Coast Guard

| Class before = {{sclass|Ojika|patrol vessel|4}}

| Class after = {{sclass|Hateruma|patrol vessel|4}}

| Built range = 2002–2006

| In commission range = 2005–present

| Total ships completed = 3

| Total ships active = 3

| Subclasses = TT-1500 design

| Total ships planned = 3

}}

{{Infobox ship characteristics

| Ship type = 1,000 ton-class PL (Patrol vessel, Large)

| Ship tonnage = {{GT|770}}

| Ship length = {{convert|79.0|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| Ship beam = {{convert|10.0|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| Ship depth = {{convert|6|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| Ship propulsion = *4 × Waterjets

4 × diesel engines

| Ship speed = 30+ knots

| Ship range =

| Ship complement = 30

| Ship armament = One Bofors 40 mm L/70 gun with optical FCS

| Ship armour = Ballistic protection over certain areas

| Ship notes =

| Header caption = (Aso class)

}}

{{Infobox ship class overview

| Name = TT-1500 patrol vessel

| Builders = {{abbr|TBA|To be announced}}

| Operators = {{flagicon image|Vietnam Coast Guard flag.svg}} Vietnam Coast Guard

| Class before = {{flagicon|KOR}} Han River-class vessel

| Cost = USD ${{To USD round|42542000000|Japan|year=2020}} for six vessels

| Built range = Jul. 2020 - Oct. 2026 (planned)

| Total ships planned = 6

| Total ships on order = 6

| Total ships completed = 0

| Total ships active = 0

}}{{Infobox ship characteristics

| Ship displacement = 1,500 ton

| Ship length = {{convert|79.0|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| Ship beam = {{convert|11.0|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| Ship height = {{convert|6.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (freeboard)

| Ship draught = {{convert|3.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| Ship speed = {{convert|24|knots|km/h mph}}

| Ship range = {{convert|4000|nmi|mi km}}

| Header caption = (TT-1500)

| Ship type = General-purpose TT ({{lang|vi|tuần tra}})-classification offshore patrol vessels

| Ship notes = Characteristics extracted from the [https://www.anninhthudo.vn/anh-canh-sat-bien-viet-nam-co-them-lop-tau-tuan-tra-co-lon-hien-dai-post365646.antd 2018 early projection] and likely become subjects to be changed

| Ship armament = *Primary weapon station(s) using the ZU-23-2 or PT-306 autocannons with optoelectronics-based FCS

Secondary weapon stations using the 12.7mm NSV or the 14.5mm KPV heavy machine guns, likely remote-controlled

| Ship aircraft facilities = One helipad and hangar

}}

The Aso-class patrol vessel is a class of PL type patrol vessel of the Japan Coast Guard. PL stands for Patrol vessel Large, and the class is named after Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan.

This class is one of the new patrol vessel classes to intercept spy boats of DPRK. These classes are called "高速高機能大型巡視船", High-speed, high-functionality patrol vessel, large. Having Bofors 40 mm L/70 autocannon with fire-control system, this class is safely able to deal with heavily armed spy boats of DPRK which intrude into Japanese waters. The hull of this class is bulletproof in case of close-range firefights.

In the back of the bridge's side, this class has display devices that can be used to instruct other ships to stop even at nighttime. And on the bridge superstructure, this class is equipped with the LIDAR system to acquire targets with high accuracy. At the same time, this system enables them to perform search and rescue missions more safely.

Vietnamese variant

In 2020 there was signed an export deal between Japan and Vietnam over 6 vessel for the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG), locally designated as the "TT-1500 patrol ship".{{Cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/08/japan-to-build-six-patrol-ships-for-vietnams-coast-guard/|title=Japan to build six patrol vessels for Vietnam's Coast Guard|date=8 August 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Vietnam Coast Guard|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/vietnam/marine-police-modernization.htm|access-date=2021-07-22|website=www.globalsecurity.org}}"TT" stands for "Tuần tra" means "Patrol", meanwhile the number "1500" stands for the class's displacement of 1500 tons. According to pieces of information shared by VCG, TT-1500 has a slightly bigger size than the original Aso-class, and it is also equipped with a helipad and the overall design is likely inspired from the successor designs such as the Kunigami-class patrol vessel.

The TT-1500 will have a maximum speed of 24 knots, considerably slower than the original Aso, however it is projected to have a better low-speed stability hence making it better for low-intensity patrol and search-and-rescue missions.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-01 |title=[ẢNH] Cảnh sát biển Việt Nam có thêm lớp tàu tuần tra cỡ lớn hiện đại |url=https://www.anninhthudo.vn/post-365646.antd |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=Báo điện tử An ninh Thủ đô |language=vi}} The delivery for all 6 ships is expected to be completed by October 2026.{{Cite web |title=Ex-Ante Evaluation (for Japanese ODA Loan) |url=https://www2.jica.go.jp/en/evaluation/pdf/2020_VN17-P3_1_f.pdf |website=JICA}}

Ships in the class

colspan="5" \|{{Flagicon\|Japan\|variant=coast guard}} Japan Coast Guard (Aso-class)
class="wikitable" \|+ Ships in the class ! Pennant number	Ship name	Builder	Commission	Homeport
PL 41	Aso	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries	15 March 2005	Fukuoka
PL 42	Dewa	rowspan="2" \|Universal Shipbuilding Corporation	rowspan="2" \|12 April 2006	Akita
PL 43	Hakusan	Kanazawa
colspan="5" \|{{Flagicon image\|Vietnam Coast Guard flag.svg}} Vietnam Coast Guard (TT-1500)
colspan="2" \|CSB 8*** (1) \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}} \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}} \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}}
colspan="2" \|CSB 8*** (2) \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}} \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}} \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}}
colspan="2" \|CSB 8*** (3) \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}} \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}} \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}}
colspan="2" \|CSB 8*** (4) \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}} \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}} \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}}
colspan="2" \|CSB 8*** (5) \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}} \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}} \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}}
colspan="2" \|CSB 8*** (6) \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}} \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}} \|{{abbr\|TBA\|To be announced}}

Aso-class patrol vessel

Vietnamese variant

Ships in the class

See also

References

Further reading