JS Kongō
{{short description|Kongō-class guided missile destroyer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{other ships|Japanese ship Kongō}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:JS Kongō transits Pearl Harbor, -14 Dec. 2007 a.jpg | Ship caption = JS Kongō transiting Pearl Harbor on 14 December 2007 }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = Japan | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Japan|naval}} | Ship name = *Kongō
| Ship namesake = Mount Kongō | Ship ordered = 1988 | Ship builder = Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Ship laid down = 8 May 1990 | Ship launched = 26 September 1991 | Ship acquired = | Ship commissioned = 25 March 1993 | Ship homeport = Sasebo | Ship decommissioned = | Ship struck = | Ship reinstated = | Ship identification = *{{MMSI Number|431999504}}
| Ship honours = | Ship fate = | Ship status = Active | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = {{sclass|Kongō|destroyer}} | Ship displacement = *7500 tons standard
| Ship length = {{convert|528.2|ft|m|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|68.9|ft|m|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = {{convert|20.3|ft|m|abbr=on}} | Ship propulsion = *4 Ishikawajima Harima/General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines;
| Ship speed = {{convert|30|kn}} | Ship range = *{{convert|4,500|nmi}} at {{convert|20|kn}} | Ship complement = 300 | Ship sensors = *AN/SPY-1D
| Ship EW = NOLQ-2 intercept / jammer | Ship armament = * 1 × 127 mm (5 in)/54 Caliber Oto Melara Compact Gun
| Ship aircraft facilities = 1 × SH-60K helicopter | Ship notes = }} |
JS Kongō (DDG-173) is a {{sclass|Kongō|destroyer|0}} guided missile destroyer in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Kongō is the third Japanese naval vessel named after Mount Kongō. She was laid down by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagasaki, Nagasaki on 8 May 1990. The launching ceremony took place on 26 September 1991 and she was commissioned on 25 March 1993. She was the first ship outside of the United States to feature the Aegis combat system and its ballistic missile defense capability.{{Cite web|title = First successful Japanese test for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System|url = http://www.gizmag.com/japanese-test-aegis-ballistic-missile-defense/8532/|website = Gizmag| date=19 December 2007 |accessdate = 1 June 2015|quote = Following a decision made in December 2003, Japan is upgrading their Kongo Class Destroyers with Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense capability. The upgrade involves a series of installations and flight tests to take place from 2007 to 2010. JS Kongo was the first ship to have the BMD upgrade installed.}}
Operational history
Kongō was laid down on 8 May 1990 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard's Yaijima Plant as a 7200-ton destroyer planned in 1988 based on the medium-term defense improvement plan. She was launched on 26 September 1991 and commissioned on 25 March 1993. Overall, The construction cost was 122.3 billion yen. As the lead ship, she was the only one in her class not to have the ORQ-1 helicopter data link installed at the time of commissioning, which was installed later along with the antenna of Link 16.
From 26 November 1993 to 21 February 1994 she was dispatched to Hawaii for the Aegis System Equipment Qualification Test (SQT). Later that year, she participated in RIMPAC between 23 June and 6 July, also around Hawaii.
She also participated in RIMPAC 2000, accompanied by a large JMSDF fleet consisting of the destroyers Kurama, Shimakaze, Murasame, Harusame, Yūdachi, Kirisame, Asagiri, as well as the supply ship Hamana and submarine Natusushio. During the exercise Kongō successfully intercepted 3 simulated missiles and an F-16 with her SM-2 Surface-to-air missiles.{{fact|date=May 2020}}
She was deployed to the Indian Ocean between 17 May and 19 September 2004 in response to the passing of the "Act on Special Measures Against Terrorism", alongside the Ariake and Hamana.{{fact|date=May 2020}}
In November 2006 she was dry-docked at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard for inspection and modified to carry the SM-3 block IA, which was completed by March 2007 and inspections finished by August. On 15 October of the same year, she was stationed near Hawaii for the purpose of MD system testing, and succeeded in tracking two targets during an interception test with the US Navy Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Lake Erie on 6 November. On 15 November, she succeeded in tracking a separated target during ballistic missile target tracking training. In December 2007, Japan conducted a successful test of the SM-3 block IA against a ballistic missile aboard Kongō.{{cite web | url=https://raytheon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=890 | title=Raytheon }}{{cite web | url=https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/sf/english/about/history/index.html | title=自衛艦隊について }} This was the first time a Japanese ship was selected to launch the interceptor missile during a test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. In previous tests they provided tracking and communications.Agence France-Presse. [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hYKNf5janYHfOLxdsRH__KSNXVNw Japan shoots down test missile in space: defence minister] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221072914/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hYKNf5janYHfOLxdsRH__KSNXVNw |date=21 December 2007 }}. Accessed 23 December 2007.[http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/pdf/07news0053.pdf MDA press release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411174752/http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/pdf/07news0053.pdf |date=11 April 2008 }}. 17 December 2007.
In 2012, Kongō, Chōkai and Myōkō were deployed in cooperation with the US Navy in preparation for the Democratic Republic of Korea to test the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2. However, the ships were withdrawn after the satellite did not violate Japanese airspace. The Telegraph, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9728806/Japan-poised-to-shoot-down-North-Korean-missile.html{"Japan posed to shoot down North Korean Missile"] 2012-12-07
In April 2013 she was again sortied in response to a North Korean missile launch, returning to Sasebo on 30 June.NHK. [https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20130630/k10015698061000.html ミサイル警戒のイージス艦が帰港] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703113753/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20130630/k10015698061000.html |date=3 July 2013 }}. Accessed 30 April 2020.
As of April 2020, Kongō is based in Sasebo, Nagasaki.
Gallery
File:JDS Kongo (DDG-173) San Diego.jpg|JS Kongō in San Diego on 1 July 1994
File:DDG173 JDS Kongo.jpg|JS Kongō at Pearl Harbor on 15 October 2007
File:US Navy 071015-N-4965F-004 Operations Specialist Seaman Jerry Carpenter, assigned to USS Lake Erie (CG 70), performs line handlers for Japanese destroyer, JDS Kongo (DDG 173), as she moors at Naval Station Pearl Harbor.jpg
File:US Navy 100723-N-3283P-153 JS Kongo (DDG 173) and JS Suzunami (DDG 114) are illuminated by friendship lights during a port visit to Sendai, Japan.jpg|JS Kongō and JS Suzunami at Sendai on 23 July 2010
File:JS Kongō at Garden Pier, Nagoya, -22 Aug. 2010 a.jpg|JS Kongō at Nagoya on 22 August 2010
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/kongo.htm GlobalSecurity.org; JMSDF DDG Kongo Class]
- [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/japan/destroyers/pages/jds_kongo_dd173_page_1.htm MaritimeQuest photo gallery: Kongo]
{{commons category-inline|JS Kongō (DDG-173)|JS Kongō (DDG-173)}}
{{Kongō class destroyer}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kongo (DDG-173)}}