JS Kurobe
{{short description|Training ship Kurobe}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:ATS-4202 Kurobe.jpg |Ship caption= JS Kurobe }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=Japan |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Japan|naval}} |Ship name=*Kurobe
|Ship namesake=Kurobe |Ship ordered= 1986 |Ship laid down=31 October 1987 |Ship launched=23 May 1988 |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned=23 March 1989 |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship honours= |Ship homeport=Kure |Ship identification=*{{MMSI Number|431999579}}
|Ship fate= |Ship status= Active |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Class before = Azuma class |Class after = Tenryū class }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= Training ship |Ship displacement={{convert|2200 |
| 2550|LT|0|lk=on}} full load
|Ship length= {{convert|100.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship beam= {{convert|16.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship draught= {{convert|8.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship depth={{convert|3.97|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion=4 × diesel engines |Ship speed= {{convert|20|kn}} |Ship range= {{Convert|5500|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|20|kn|abbr=on}} |Ship endurance= |Ship complement=143 |Ship sensors= |Ship EW=*Target aircraft multiple control system
|Ship armament=1 × OTO Melara 76 mm gun |Ship armour= |Ship aircraft=4 x BQM-74E unmanned target aircraft Chaka III |Ship aircraft facilities=Hangar and helipad |Ship notes= }} |
JS Kurobe (ATS-4202) is a training support ship of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Development and design
It is a ship for anti-aircraft shooting training support, and its main purpose is to launch and guide unmanned target aircraft. It was built as a complement to the air threat, higher performance of air defense weapons, and the obsolescence of the predecessor training ship {{ship|JDS|Azuma}}.
It is a flat deck type ship type, equipped with one OTO Melara 76 mm on the front deck. The target aircraft will be equipped with four BMQ-34AJ Firebee and four BQM-74E Chaka III, for a total of eight. These target aircraft are launched from the rear helipad, and up to three aircraft can be simultaneously guided and controlled by a four-sided phased array radar on the top of the ship's structure. A radar for evaluating shooting results is also installed separately.{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=SHIPS OF THE WORLD, Special Edition 66th Maritime Self-Defense Force All Ship History|publisher=Gaijinsha|year=2004|isbn=|location=|pages=}}{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Chaoyun News|publisher=Asagumo Shimbunsha Inc.|year=2006–2007|isbn=4750910279|location=|pages=277}}
Construction and career
Kurobe was laid down on 31 October 1987 at JFE Holdings, Kure and launched on 23 May 1988. The ship was commissioned on 23 March 1989.
In September 1990, a female Self-Defense Forces officer (correspondent, Naoko Matsuo, 3rd Lieutenant) became the first ship of the Maritime Self-Defense Force to be on board. On 24 June 1994 Kurobe was reorganized into the escort fleet as a ship under direct control.
On 26 March 2008 the 1st Maritime Training Support Corps was newly formed under the escort fleet and was incorporated together with {{ship|JS|Tenryū}}. In response to the Great East Japan Earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake, the vessel departed for the disaster area, Onagawa Town, Miyagi Prefecture, to aid in disaster relief.
Gallery
File:ATS-4202 02l.jpg|JS Kurobe underway, date unknown.
File:ATS-4202-KUROBE.png|JS Kurobe at Hakata on 27 May 2012.
File:訓練支援艦 くろべ ２２００トン - panoramio.jpg|JS Kurobe on 24 May 2014.
File:JS Kurobe (ATS-4202) at Port of Kure 20140915.JPG|JS Kurobe at Kure Naval Base on 15 September 2014.
File:Chihaya (ASR-403) en Kurobe (ATS-4202) afgemeerd aan de Shinkō-Pier in Yokohama in de Vloot week, -10 oktober 2015 a.jpg|JS Kurobe alongside {{ship|JS|Chihaya}} at Yokosuka on 10 October 2015.
File:JS Tenryū (ATS - 4203) and JS Kurobe (ATS - 4202). At Kure Port. November 2016.jpg|JS Kurobe and {{ship|JS|Tenryū}} at Kure Naval Base on 23 November 2016.
References
{{commons category|JS Kurobe (ATS-4202)}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Combatant ship classes of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kurobe (ATS-4202)}}
Category:Training ships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force