Japs in Darwin

JAPANESE WARSHIPS

IN

DARWIN

SURPRISE/SECRET(?) VISITORS 86 Featuring the best from CONTACT Air Land & Sea – Australia’s best boots-on-the-ground military e-magazine

PHOTOS BY BARRIE COLLINS

Two Japan Maritime Self Defence Force ships pulled into Darwin in mid September for a goodwill visit and to replenish supplies after recent exercises in our region.

CONTACT’s man in the north Barrie Collins was quickly on the water to snap a couple of photos of this special and unannounced arrival.

“We were expecting them about 10 or 10:30 but, as I was loading up the boat, my mate called and said that they had arrived early and one was already docking – so it was a mad rush,” Barrie said.

“Anyway, they are both classed as destroyers.

“The Kaga, DDH-184, is an Izumo-class muli purpose ‘helicopter destroyer’ built in 2017 with a crew of 900 plus 500 marines.

“It can carry a combination of assets including MV-22 Osprey, Seahawk helicopters and 50 or so vehicles.

“It has been modified to also carry fixed-wing aircraft, namely the F-35B.

“It has a maximum speed of 30 knots and is 248 metres long.

“JS Murasame is the lead destroyer for the JMSDF.

“She was commissioned in 1996, has a crew of 165, and carries one SH-60 anti-submarine helicopter.

“She is armed with a 76mm front gun, two triple torpedo tubes, two 20mm Phalanx, eight anti-ship missiles and 16 Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles.

“She also has a top speed of 30 knots.”

Barrie Collins was on hand again to grab a few photos as the ships left Darwin and said it was very odd that there hadn’t been a word in the media about the visit.

Even Defence’s report on the ships’ interactions with Royal Australian Navy vessels near Darwin [published after their departure] didn’t mention the port call…

“HMA Ships Maitland and Maryborough farewelled Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) helicopter carrier JS Kaga and destroyer JS Murasame with a formation sail in the waters just off Darwin this last week”, an official Defence statement said.

“Kaga and Murasame are deployed together to train and exercise with partners in the region.

“After taking part in Exercises Talisman Sabre, Pacific Vanguard, ARC-21 and La Perouse, they joined the two RAN Armidale-class patrol boats during Exercise Malabar.

“Sailing in column and exercising with the JMSDF was a unique opportunity to strengthen interoperability and reaffirm the longstanding friendship between the RAN and the JMSDF.

“After detaching Maryborough at outer harbour limits on 18 September, Maitland and her crew engaged in a series of officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres with Kaga, demonstrating professional ship handling and close-in manoeuvring between the 57-metre-long patrol boat and the 248-metre-long helicopter carrier.

“Maitland and Kaga also conducted an exchange of gifts via seaboat transfer.

“They concluded the manoeuvres with a ceremonial pass, where the ships’ companies fell in on the upper decks to wave farewell.

“Commanding Officer Maitland Lieutenant Commander Julia Griffin thanked Kaga in Japanese for the opportunity and wished her ship’s company fair winds and following seas.

“Shortly after, Maitland rendezvoused with Murasame and conducted a ceremonial pass, with both vessels exchanging waves and final farewells.”

The lack of other-media attention or Defence information on this port call make Barrie Collins’ photos somewhat of an exclusive for CONTACT.