The Shiretoko-class patrol vessel () is a class of PL type patrol vessels of the Japan Coast Guard (JCG; former Maritime Safety Agency, MSA). PL stands for "Patrol vessel Large", and the class name "Shiretoko" is named after Shiretoko, the northeastern area of the island of Hokkaidō, Japan
Background In 1977, Act on Territorial Waters and Contiguous Water Area and the Act on Temporary Measures Concerning Fishery Waters was confirmed by the National Diet of Japan to adapt for the UNCLOS III. As a direct result of these acts, the coverage area of the MSA was dramatically extended, so the update of their equipment became an urgent issue. In consequence of these situations, the MSA had put some series of patrol vessels into commission from late 1970s to early 1980s. This class was one of these series, planned to form the main fleet in the high-endurance mission.
Design This class was designed as the enlarged and mass-production variant of the Daiou class, preceding large patrol vessels. Like the Daiou-class, the hull is ice resistant, but the hull structure has been further strengthened by increasing the thickness of the ice belt and the number of ribs.
As designed, it was to be equipped with one Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun and one Oerlikon 20 mm cannon; latter-batch vessels had their weapon changed to the newer Oerlikon KDC 35 mm gun, and the obsolete 20mm machine gun was dropped. And later, ships of the early-batch had their weapon converted to the JM61-M 20 mm gun.
Ships in the class + Pennant numberShip name BuilderCommissionDecommissionPL101ShiretokoMitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding8 November 197826 March 2012PL102EsanSumitomo Heavy Industries16 November 197819 December 2008PL103Kusakaki (former Wakasa)Kawasaki Heavy Industries21 October 2015PL104Atsumi (former Yahiko, Shimanto, Kii)Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesPL105Ojika (former Motobu)Sasebo Heavy Industries29 November 197820 October 2000PL106RishiriShikoku Dockyard12 September 197918 March 2006PL107MatsushimaTohoku Zosen14 September 19797 February 2009PL108IwakiNaikai Zosen Corporation10 August 197912 March 2006PL109ShikineUsuki Shipyard20 September 19794 September 2009PL110SurugaKurushima Zosen28 September 19795 February 2010PL111RebunNarasaki Shipbuilding Corporation21 November 197912 December 2008PL112ChōkaiNipponkai Heavy Industries30 November 197912 March 2008PL113Nojima (former Ashizuri)Sanoyas Shipyard31 October 197918 March 2006PL114Tosa (former Oki)Tsuneishi Shipbuilding16 November 197929 January 2009PL115Yōtei (former Noto)Miho Shipyard30 November 197921 December 2015PL116YonakuniHayashikane Shipbuilding31 October 19792 February 2005PL117Suruga (former Daisetsu, Kudaka, Kurikoma, Iwami, Rebun)Hakodate Dock31 January 198020 January 2016PL118ShimokitaIshikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries12 March 198026 March 2012PL119SuzukaKanasashi Zosen7 March 19805 February 2010PL120KunisakiKoyo Dockyard Company29 February 198018 October 2016PL121Amaki (former Genkai)Oshima Shipbuilding31 January 19805 February 2008PL122Itoshima (former Gotou, Iwami)Onomichi Dockyard29 February 198021 October 2015PL123KoshikiKasado Dockyard25 January 19805 February 2010PL124HaterumaOsaka Shipbuilding12 March 198027 February 2008PL125KatoriTohoku Zosen17 October 198021 October 2016PL126Oshika (former Kunigami, Matsushima)Kanda Shipbuilding21 October 198020 January 2016PL127EtomoNaikai Zosen Corporation17 March 198226 September 2016PL128Esan (former Masyu, Amagi, Yonakuni)Shikoku Dockyard12 March 1982
References
Bibliography
See also List of Japan Coast Guard vessels and aircraft