{{short description|Minesweeper of JMSDF}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox ship | infobox_caption = |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = JS Awaji(MSO-304) & Hirado(MSO-305) left front view at JMSDF Yokosuka Naval Base April 30, 2018.jpg | image_caption = {{JS|Awaji|MSO-304|6}} and {{JS|Hirado|MSO-305|6}} on 29 November 2013 }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview | class_before = {{sclass|Yaeyama|minesweeper|4}} | class_after = | name = ''Awaji'' | builders = JMU, Yokohama | total_ships_planned = 9<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/atla/soubiseisaku/project/gaiyo_r020930.pdf|title=プロジェクト管理対象装備品等の新規選定等と 取得プログラムの分析及び評価の概要について|page=28|publisher=Ministry of Defense (Japan)|accessdate=2025-10-22|language=ja}}</ref> | built_range = 2014-present |in_commission_range= 2017-present | total_ships_on_order = | total_ships_completed = 4 | total_ships_active = 4 }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | type = Minesweeper | displacement = *{{convert|690|t|LT|lk=out|abbr=on}} standard | length = {{convert|66.8|m|ftin|lk=on|abbr=on}} | beam = {{convert|11|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | depth = {{convert|5.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | draft = {{convert|2.7|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | propulsion = *2 × diesel electric engines *2 × shafts | speed = {{convert|14|kn|lk=in}} | range = | endurance = | test_depth = | complement = 54 | sensors = *OPS-39H surface-search radar *OQQ-10-1 sonar *ZQS-4 sonar *OZZ-2 UUV | EW = | armament = 1 × JM61R-MS 20 mm gun | notes = | aircraft_facilities = }} }} The '''''Awaji'' class''' is a class of minesweepers of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/j/yosan/yosan_gaiyo/2013/yosan.pdf |title=我が国の防衛と予算 |trans-title=Defense Programs and Budget of Japan |publisher=Ministry of Defense |language=ja |access-date=31 May 2021 |archive-date=19 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219235642/https://www.mod.go.jp/j/yosan/yosan_gaiyo/2013/yosan.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Development == The ''Awaji''-class is the successor to the {{sclass|Yaeyama|minesweeper|4}}. The hulls are constructed of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) along the lines of the {{sclass|Enoshima|minesweeper|4}}. Since many naval mines are of the magnetic type, it was necessary to avoid the use of metal in the hull of minesweepers that dispose of that type, and, previously, most minesweepers were constructed of wood. By making the ''Awaji''-class FRP, the standard displacement of the ships is reduced by 30%, and the life of the hulls are extended, although - it has almost the same dimensions as the previous wooden ''Yaeyama''-class. In the image diagram of the budget request for the 2013 government budget, stealth was improved, but, in the budget request for the following year, the ''Enoshima''-class was enlarged.
This class of ships is one of the largest FRP ships in the world. Japan Marine United (JMU), which possesses the construction technology and equipment for large FRP vessels, handed over the third ship {{JS|Etajima|MSO-306|2}} to the Maritime Self-Defense Force on 16 March 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=最新鋭掃海艦「えたじま」が就役――海自最大のFRP船（高橋浩祐） - Yahoo!ニュース|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/byline/takahashikosuke/20210316-00227619/ |last=Takahashi|first=Kosuke|access-date=2021-05-31|website=Yahoo!ニュース 個人|language=ja}}</ref> The Ministry of Defense and the Maritime Self-Defense Force budgeted 12.6 Billion yen for the construction of the fourth ''Awaji''-class ship, following ''Etajima'', in the 2020 budget.
== Ships in the class == {| class="wikitable" !Pennant no. !Name !Builders !Laid down !Launched !Commissioned !Home port |- |MSO-304 |{{JS|Awaji|MSO-304|2}} | rowspan="6" |Japan Marine United, Yokohama |27 February 2014 |27 October 2015<ref>{{Citation|title=海上自衛隊 新型掃海艦「あわじ」進水 深い位置の機雷除去も可能に|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSwP8MG2dYE|language=en|access-date=2021-05-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=INC|first=SANKEI DIGITAL|date=2015-10-27|title=海自の新型掃海艦の進水式 「あわじ」と命名 ２９年３月就役予定|url=https://www.sankei.com/article/20151027-QZNRE6BPVBMRHOSG3S654VYUFA/|access-date=2021-05-31|website=産経ニュース|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=掃海艦の命名ならびに進水式について｜2015年度｜プレスリリース｜ジャパン マリンユナイテッド株式会社|url=https://www.jmuc.co.jp/press/2015/awaji-launch.html|access-date=2021-05-31|website=www.jmuc.co.jp}}</ref> |16 March 2017 |Yokosuka |- |MSO-305 |{{JS|Hirado|MSO-305|2}} |10 April 2015 |10 February 2017 |16 March 2018 |Yokosuka |- |MSO-306 |{{JS|Etajima|MSO-306|2}} |22 February 2018 |12 December 2019<ref>{{Cite web|title=掃海艦の命名ならびに進水式について～国内最大のＦＲＰ製掃海艦の進水式～｜2019年度｜プレスリリース｜ジャパン マリンユナイテッド株式会社|url=https://www.jmuc.co.jp/press/2019/29MSO%20Naming.html|access-date=2021-05-31|website=www.jmuc.co.jp}}</ref> |16 March 2021<ref>{{cite press release| url=https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/release/202103/20210312-03.pdf |title=掃海艦「えたじま」の引渡式・自衛艦旗授与式について |language=ja |publisher=Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force |access-date=15 February 2023}}</ref> |Kure |- |MSO-307 | {{JS|Nōmi|MSO-307|2}} |19 May 2021 |24 October 2023 |12 March 2025<ref name=takahashi12march>{{cite news |last=Takahashi |first=Kosuke |date=12 March 2025 |title=最新の掃海艦「のうみ」就役 配備先は呉基地 海自より長い歴史を持つ日本の掃海部隊（動画付き） |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/d77228116d18f9dba064e689f6fc9e862f0bb245 |trans-title=The latest minesweeper "Noumi" is commissioned and deployed to the Kure base. Japan's minesweeping unit has a longer history than the MSDF (video included) |work=Yahoo! News Japan |language=ja |location= |publisher= |access-date=2 April 2025}}</ref><ref name=JMUTRvol18>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jmuc.co.jp/rd/technical-review/assets/VOL18_c2_JMSDF-awaji-class-minesweeper.pdf|title=JMSDF Awaji-class Minesweeper “NOMI”|publisher=Japan Marine United|accessdate=2025-10-22|language=ja|year=2025}}</ref> |Kure |- |MSO- |{{JS|Kerama||2}}<ref name=takahashi12march /><ref name=JMUTRvol18 /> |2023 |18 December 2025<ref name=trafficnews>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=18 December 2025 |title=史上初の艦名！ 最新自衛艦「けらま」進水 日本最大級のプラスチック船その理由は？ |url=https://trafficnews.jp/post/617577 |trans-title=The first ship name in history! The newest Self-Defense Force ship "Kerama" launched. What's the reason behind Japan's largest plastic ship? |work=Traffic News |language=ja |location= |publisher= |access-date=22 December 2025}}</ref> |2026 (''scheduled'')<ref name=trafficnews/> | |- |MSO- |''06MOS''<ref name=takahashi12march /><ref name=JMUTRvol18 /> |2025 | | | |- |MSO- |''TBA'' | | | | | |- |MSO- |''TBA'' | | | | | |- |MSO- |''TBA'' | | | | | |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite web|last=Takahashi|first=Kosuke|title=Japan Marine United launches fourth Awaji-class minesweeper|website=Naval News|date=October 24, 2023|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/10/japan-marine-united-launches-fourth-awaji-class-minesweeper/|access-date=January 27, 2025|quote="In addition, the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo has allocated about 13.4 billion yen ($89.6 million) for fiscal year 2022 to build the fifth vessel of the class."}}
{{Awaji-class minesweeper}} {{Combatant ship classes of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Awaji}} Category:Awaji-class minesweepers Category:Minesweepers of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force