JDS Akishio
{{Short description|Japanese submarine}}
{{good article}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
|infobox caption= |display title= }} {{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:JMSDF AKISHIO.JPG |Ship image size=300px |Ship caption=JDS Akishio at the Kure Naval Museum. }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=Japan |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Japan|naval}} |Ship name=*Akishio
|Ship namesake= |Ship ordered= |Ship builder=Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |Ship laid down=15 April 15, 1983 |Ship launched=22 January 1985 |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned=5 March 1986 |Ship decommissioned=3 March 2004 |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship identification=SS-579 |Ship fate=On display at the JMSDF Kure Museum since 2007 |Ship status= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class={{sclass|Yūshio|submarine}} |Ship displacement={{convert|2,250|t}} (Surface), {{convert|2,450|t}} (Submerged) |Ship length={{convert|76.2|m|abbr=on|1}} |Ship beam={{convert|9.9|m|abbr=on|1}} |Ship draught={{convert|10.2|m|abbr=on|1}} |Ship propulsion= *2 × Kawasaki-MAN V8V24/30AMTL diesel engines: {{convert|3,400|bhp|abbr=on|0}}
|Ship speed=* {{convert|12|kn}} (surface)
|Ship range= |Ship endurance= |Ship test depth={{convert|300|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship complement=75: 10 officer, 65 enlisted |Ship sensors= *1 × Hughes/Oki ZQQ 5 hull mounted sonar
|Ship EW= |Ship armament=6 × {{convert|21|in|mm|abbr=on|0}} torpedo tubes |Ship notes= }} |
Akishio (SS-579) is a retired Japanese diesel-electric {{sclass|Yūshio|submarine}}. She was laid down in 1983, launched in 1985, commissioned in 1986, and served until 2004. She served as part of both the 1st and 5th Submarine Squadrons of the 1st Submarine Flotilla. She took part in numerous drills, including the Pacific Reach 2000 drills. She is now on display outside JMSDF Kure Museum.
Design and construction
Akishio was {{convert|76.2|m}} long, had a beam {{convert|9.9|m}} wide, had a draught of {{convert|10.2|m}} and displaced {{convert|2,250|t}} while surfaced, and {{convert|2,450|t}} when submerged. She had a teardrop hull, and was powered by two Kawasaki-MAN V8V24/30AMTL diesel engines, which produced {{convert|3,400|BHP|lk=in}}, a Fuji electric motor, which produced {{convert|7,200|SHP|lk=in}}, and was propelled by one shaft, with a five-bladed propeller. She used her diesel engines while surfaced, and her electric motor when submerged. She had a top speed of {{convert|12|kn|lk=in}} while surfaced, and {{convert|20|kn}} while submerged. She was armed with six {{convert|21|in|mm|adj=on|0}} torpedo tubes, and had a complement of 75: 10 officers and 65 enlisted men. She had a test depth of {{convert|300|m}}. She used a Hughes/Oki ZQQ 5 hull mounted sonar, and a ZQR 1 towed array sonar.{{sfn|Akishio|}}
Service history
Akishio was laid down in Kobe by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on 15 April 1983, launched on 22 January 1985, and commissioned on 5 March 1986.{{Sfn|Sharpe|1994|p=351}}{{sfn|Chant|1990|p=50}} Upon being commissioned, on 5 March 1986, Akishio was immediately assigned to the 1st Submarine Squadron of the 1st Submarine Flotilla of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. On 8 June 1990, she was reassigned to the 5th Submarine Squadron, which was also part of the 1st Submarine Flotilla.{{Sfn|Akishio|}} Her crew was trained by American submariners, from September to October, in 1991.{{sfn|OPNAV Report|}}
Akishio took part in the Pacific Reach 2000 drills, which took place from 2 to 14 October 2000, off of Singapore. The navies of the United States, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea took part. Because of the Kursk submarine disaster which had happened earlier that year, the Pacific Reach 2000 drills involved submarine rescue exercises, which Akishio performed in. This was the first time Japanese ships had taken part in a multilateral submarine rescue drill, although they had taken part in similar exercises bilaterally, with the US Navy. Japan's constitution places limits on their ability to perform collective-defence drills. Because of this, Japan joined the drills from a humanitarian standpoint, rather than a military one.{{sfn|MSDF to join drill to rescue submarine|}}{{Sfn|Four Navies Test Sub Rescue|}}
She was decommissioned on 3 March 2004.{{Sfn|Akishio|}} After being decommissioned, Akishio was moved from the water, and placed on display outside the Kure Maritime Museum on 5 April 2007. After being placed there, she became known as "Tetu-no-Kujira Kan", or "Iron Whale Museum".{{Sfn|Iron Whale Museum|}} The museum has been criticized by many as being too militaristic. One of Japan's national newspapers, Asahi Shimbun, said that the museum focused too much upon military ships and weapons.{{sfn|Logan|Reeves|2008|p=46}}
References
=Citations=
{{reflist|20em}}
=Books=
- {{cite book|last1=Chant|first1=Christopher|title=Sea Forces of the World|date=1990|publisher=Crescent|location=New York|isbn=9780517691298|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/seaforcesofworld00rhva}}
- {{cite book|last1=Logan|first1=William|last2=Reeves|first2=Keir|title=Places of Pain and Shame: Dealing with 'Difficult Heritage'|date=2008|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781134051496}}
- {{cite book|last1=Sharpe|first1=Richard|title=Jane's fighting ships, 1994–95|date=1994|publisher=Jane's Information Group|isbn=9780710611611}}
=Websites=
- {{cite news|last1=Asakura|first1=Takuya|title=MSDF to join drill to rescue submarine|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2000/09/06/national/msdf-to-join-drill-to-rescue-submarine/|access-date=14 July 2017|work=The Japan Times Online|date=6 September 2000|ref=CITEREFMSDF to join drill to rescue submarine}}
- {{cite web|title=AKISHIO, submarine for exhibition {{!}} 海上自衛隊呉史料館|url=https://www.jmsdf-kure-museum.go.jp/en/exhibition/akishio/|website=www.jmsdf-kure-museum.go.jp|access-date=14 July 2017|ref=CITEREFAkishio|language=en|archive-date=15 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215195109/https://www.jmsdf-kure-museum.go.jp/en/exhibition/akishio/|url-status=dead}}
- {{cite web|title=1991 OPNAV Report 5750-1|url=http://nautilus.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/516-Command-History-for-1991-OPNAV-Report-5750-1_1991-COMSUBPAC-Command-History.pdf|website=Nautilus.org|access-date=15 July 2017|ref=CITEREFOPNAV Report}}
- {{cite web|title=Massive Japan submarine Akishio displayed at Kure museum|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/nation-world/massive-japan-submarine-akishio-displayed-at-kure-museum/slideshow/51791553.cms|website=The Economic Times|access-date=15 July 2017|ref=CITEREFIron Whale Museum|archive-date=30 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530120001/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/nation-world/massive-japan-submarine-akishio-displayed-at-kure-museum/slideshow/51791553.cms|url-status=dead}}
- {{cite web|title=4 navies test sub rescuing in the Pacific|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/786025/4-navies-test-sub-rescuing-in-the-Pacific.html?pg=all|website=DeseretNews.com|access-date=15 July 2017|ref=CITEREFFour Navies Test Sub Rescue|language=en|date=2 October 2000}}{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
{{coord|34.24197|132.55527|format=dms|type:landmark_region:JP|display=title}}
{{Yūshio class submarines}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akishio}}
Category:Museums established in 2007
Category:Yūshio-class submarines
Category:Museum ships in Japan