Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force Overview - Order of Battle, Maps, Squadrons, Badges, Photo's, Air bases, Database etc etc

On this page you can find the aircraft order of batlle of the Maritime Self-Defence Force Overview including airbases, squadron badges, etc etc. We have created a dedicated OrBat page for the Air Force and Army as well.

Of course, updates are always welcome. If you have corrections or additions please send them to us !

We would like to thank Takeda Takashi, Masanori Ogawa, Perry Dirkx and Marco Borst for the information they shared, making this Order of Battle possible.

Ominato (RJSO) 41° 13' 48N 141° 08' 09E Elev: 24 ft.
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Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Badge
Ominato Chihotai	Ominato Kokutai	HSS 2B Kana Code:

Once the backbone of the JMSDF rotary fleet the days of the HSS2B are now numbered with the aircraft planned for retirement in fiscal year 2003. The aircraft on this picture is belonged to the 211 Kyoiku Kokutai at Kanoya. The type is now flying the SH-60J and OH-6D for the training of Japanese helicopter pilots.

Kanoya, 20 October 1994, Paul van der Linden

Hachinohe (RJSH) Rwy 07-25 40° 32' 58N 141° 28' 15E Elev: 152 ft.
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Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Badge
2 Kokugun	2 Kokutai	P-3C
	4 Kokutai	P-3C
	Hachinohe Koku Kichitai	UH-60J Kana Code:
Click here for the JGSDF units at Hachinohe

Shimofusa (RJTL) Rwy 18-36 35° 47' 42N 140° 01' 00E Elev: 98 ft.
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Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Badge
Shimofusa Kyoiku Kokugun	203 Kyoiku Kokutai	P-3C
	205 Kyoiku Kokutai	YS-11T-A
	Shimofusa Koku Kichitai	UH-60J Kana Code:

The Mitsubishi UH-60J replaced the S-61AH as the dedicated Search and Rescue helicopter with ten Koku Kichitai (Air Base Squadrons).

Perry Dirkx

Tateyama (RJTE) Rwy 09-27 34° 59' 03N 139° 50' 08E Elev: 10 ft.
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Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Badge
21 Kokugun	101 Kokutai	SH-60J
	121 Kokutai	SH-60J
	123 Kokutai	SH-60J
Yokosuka Chihotai	Shirase Hikohan	S-61A-1 OH-6D Kana Code:
The Sea Hawks of 101 Kokutai have no coloured tailbooms but only carry their squadron number on the tail. Aircraft of these squadrons above can be found on board of the various ships of the JMSDF. Click here for an overview.

The SH-60J is the successor of the HSS-2B in the ship borne ASW role. Four Kokutai's being the 121 and 123 Kokutai at Tateyama and the 122 and 124 Kokutai at Omura are all assigned to various types of destroyers and frigates. Additional SH-60J's equip the 101 Kokutai at Tateyama, 211 Kyoiku Kokutai at Kanoya as well as the 51 Kokutai at Atsugi which operates the Sea Hawk for operational evaluation and standardisation roles.

Omura, 21 September 1999, Paul van der Linden

Atsugi (RJTA) Rwy 01-19 35° 27' 05N 139° 27' 12E Elev: 205 ft.
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Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Badge
4 Kokugun	3 Kokutai	P-3C
	6 Kokutai	P-3C
	Atsugi Koku Kichitai	UH-60J Kana Code:
Chokkatsu Butai	51 Kokutai	P-3C UP-3C SH-60J SH-60K HSS 2B
	61 Kokutai	YS-11M YS-11M-A LC-90
	71 Kokutai/Atsugi Hakentai	US-1A
51 Kokutai is divided in 511 Hikotai which operates the P-3's and 513 Hikotai which operates the SH-60J's and HSS2B's. Atsugi is also the home of USN Carrier Air Wing Five (NF). Click here for the USN Orbat.

One of the three P-3C Orion units based at Atsugi is the 6 Kokutai which was the first JMSDF squadron to be equipped with the Orion. The squadron was newly established on March 30th 1983. Until recently nine operational squadrons as well as one test squadron (51 Kokutai) and one training squadron (203 Kyoiku Kokutai) operated the P-3, however one (8 Kokutai) was recently disbanded with another on due for disbanding in the near future being 9 Kokutai at Naha.

Atsugi, 25 September 1999, Paul van der Linden

Maizuru (RJBM) Rwy 12/30 Pos N35 29' 14" E135 22' 48" Elev: 19 ft.
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Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Badge
Maizuru Chihotai	Maizuru Kokutai	SH-60J
The Maizuru Kokutai has six SH-60B's detached from the 123 Kokutai at Tateyama

Tokushima (RJOS) Rwy 11-29 34° 07' 47N 134° 36' 31E Elev: 26 ft.
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Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Badge
Tokushima Kyoiku Kokugun	202 Kyoiku Kokutai	TC-90 UC-90
	Tokushima Koku Kichitai	UH-60J Kana Code:
The aircraft of the 202 Kyoiku Kokutai are not wearing any squadron badges but carry their squadron number on the tail

Komatsushima (RJOP) 34° 00' 07N 134° 37' 48E Elev: 8 ft.
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Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Badge
Kure Chihotai	Komatsushima Kokutai	HSS 2B SH-60J Kana Code:

A unique aircraft in the JMSDF is the Shin Maywa US-1A flying boat. The US-1A is the Search and Rescue variant of the PS-1 ASW flying boat. Eight US-1's have been procured between 1975 and 2000 serving the 71 Kokutai at Iwakuni which was formed on 1 July 1976. Of these eight remain in service (9081-9088) Two more are believed to be on order.

Near Iwakuni, 4 November 1994, Rob Schleiffert

Iwakuni (RJOI) Rwy 02-20 34° 08' 36N 132° 14' 12E Elev: 7 ft.
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Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Badge
31 Kokugun	*8 Kokutai Disbanded March 2001	P-3C
	71 Kokutai	US-1A
	81 Kokutai	EP-3 OP-3C** LC-90
	91 Kokutai	UP-3D U-36A
Chokkatsu Butai	111 Kokutai	MH-53E
8 Kokutai has been disbanded March 2001. *81 kokutai will receive the OP-3C in 2002. The aircraft of 71, 81, 91 and 111 Kokutai are not wearing any squadron badges but carry their squadron number on the tail. Iwakuni is also known as MCAS Iwakuni, Click here for the US Marines units at this base

Eleven MH-53E's replaced nine KV107IIA-3 helicopters in the minesweeping role. The MH-53's were delivered from 1990 onwards. One was lost in a crash in 1995. The Sea Stallions can also be found on two Uraga class mine countermeasures support ships.

Iwakuni, 3 November 1994, Rob Schleiffert

Ozuki (RJOZ) Rwy 17-35 34° 02' 38N 131° 03' 19E Elev: 12 ft.
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Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Badge
Ozuki Kyoiku Kokugun	201 Kyoiku Kokutai	T-5
	Ozuki Koku Kichitai	UH-60J Kana Code:
The aircraft of the 201 Kyoiku Kokutai are not wearing any squadron badges but carry their squadron number on the tail

The Fuji T-5 is the basic trainer for the pilots of the JMSDF. Thirty-six have been acquired during the 90's replacing the Fuji KM-2. Interesting is that the official designation of the Fuji T-5 is Fuji KM-2A! Interesting as there is hardly any resemblance between the two types.

Ozuki, 10 November 1994, Rob Schleiffert

Omura (RJFU) Rwy 18-36 32° 55' 28N 129° 56' 10E Elev: 8 ft.
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Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Badge
22 Kokugun	122 Kokutai	SH-60J
	124 Kokutai	SH-60J
Sasebo Chihotai	Omura Kokutai	SH-60J Kana Code:
Aircraft of these squadrons can be found on board of the various ships of the JMSDF. Click here for an overview.

Elementry rotary training for the JMSDF helicopter pilots is conducted on the OH-6. Three different types served the Japanese Navy since the type entered service in 1973 including three OH-6J's, fourteen OH-6D's and now the OH-6DA seen here at its home base Kanoya. Today the 211 Kyoiku Kokutai has eight OH-6D's on charge. By the end of 2000 two OH-6DA's had been delivered. One additional OH-6D is based at Tateyama with the Shirase Hikohan.

Ashiya 3 oktober 1999, Perry Dirkx

Kanoya (RJFY) Rwy 08-26 31° 21' 52N 130° 50' 25E Elev: 214 ft.
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Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Badge
1 Kokugun	1 Kokutai	P-3C LC-90
	7 Kokutai	P-3C
	Kanoya Koku Kichitai	UH-60J Kana Code:
Chokkatsu Butai	211 Kyoiku Kokutai	SH-60J OH-6D OH-6DA
The aircraft of the 211 Kyoiku Kokutai have no coloured tailbooms but only carry their squadron number on the tail.

The most remote base on the southern island Kyushu is Kanoya. Two Orion squadrons are based here being 1 and 7 Kokutai. The aircraft on this picture is from the 7 Kokutai which was the last squadron to convert from the P-2J Neptune to the P-3C in 1992/1993. Aircraft 5043 on this picture is now the first of about six OP-3C conversions which was recently delivered to the 51 Kokutai. After testing of the aircraft has been completed the OP-3C's will be assigned to the 81 Kokutai at Iwakuni.

Kanoya, 9 November 1994, Rob Schleiffert

Naha (ROAH) Rwy 18-36 26° 11' 45N 127° 38' 45E Elev: 11 ft.
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Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Badge
5 Kokugun	5 Kokutai	P-3C
	9 Kokutai	P-3C
9 Kokutai will be disbanded in 2002 Click here for the JASDF units at Naha Click here for the JMSDF units at Naha

Iwo Jima (RJAW) Rwy 07-25 :24° 47' 28N 141° 19' 28E Elev: 378 ft.
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Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type	Badge
	Iwo Jima Koku Kichitai	UH-60J Kana Code:
The Iwo Jima Koku Kichitai is part of the 4 Kokugun at Atsugi Click here for the JASDF units at Iwo Jima

JMSDF Ships with Helicopters assigned.
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Several other ships of various classes have (limited) facilities for helicopter operations but have no helicopters permanently assigned to them. For more details please check http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/asiapac/japan.htm

Class: Murasame Type of Schip: Large frigate
Ship	Based Helicopter(s)
DD-101/JDS Murasame	1x SH-60J
DD-102/JDS Harusame	1x SH-60J
DD-103/JDS Yudashi	1x SH-60J
DD-104/JDS Kirisame	1x SH-60J
DD-105/JDS Inazuma	1x SH-60J
DD-106/JDS Samidare	1x SH-60J
DD-107/on order
DD-108/on order
DD-109/on order

Class: Asagiri Type of Schip: Frigate
Ship	Based Helicopter(s)
DD-151/JDS Asagiri	1x SH-60J
DD-152/JDS Yamagiri	1x SH-60J
DD-153/JDS Yuugiri	1x SH-60J
DD-154/JDS Amagiri	1x SH-60J
DD-155/JDS Hamagiri	1x SH-60J
DD-156/JDS Setogiri	1x SH-60J
DD-157/JDS Sawagiri	1x SH-60J
DD-158/JDS Umigiri	1x SH-60J

The Japanese Navy operates eight Asagiri class frigates. These frigates have one SH-60J assigned to them for ASW duties. The 121 Kokutai SH-60B on this picture is seen here on the flight deck of DD-153/JDS Yuugiri while visiting the port of Amsterdam

Amsterdam, JDS Yuugiri, 16 June 2000, Frank Noort

Class: Hatsuyuki Type of Schip: Frigate
Ship	Based Helicopter(s)
DD-122/JDS Hatsuyuki	1x SH-60J
DD-123/JDS Shirayuki	1x SH-60J
DD-124/JDS Mineyuki	1x SH-60J
DD-125/JDS Sawayuki	1x SH-60J
DD-126/JDS Hamayuki	1x SH-60J
DD-127/JDS Isoyuki	1x SH-60J
DD-128/JDS Harayuki	1x SH-60J
DD-129/JDS Yamayuki	1x SH-60J
DD-130/JDS Matsuyuki	1x SH-60J
DD-131/JDS Setoyuki	1x SH-60J
DD-132/JDS Asayuki	1x SH-60J
DD-133/JDS Shimmayuki	1x SH-60J

Class: Uraga Type of Schip: Mine countermeasures support ship
Ship	Based Helicopter(s)
MST-463/JDS Uraga	1x MH-53E
MST-464/JDS Bungo	1x MH-53E

JMSDF Descriptions
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Abbreviation	Meaning
Chokkatsu Butai	Direct reporting unit
Hakentai	Detachment
Hikohan	Flight
Kokugun	Air Group
Kokutai	Air Squadron
Koku Kichitai	Air Base Squadron
Kyoiku Kokugun	Air Training Group
Kyoiku Kokutai	Air Training Squadron

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Class: Haruna Type of Schip: ASW Destroyer
Ship	Based Helicopter(s)
DDH-141/JDS Haruna	3x SH-60J
DDH-142/JDS Hiei	3x SH-60J

Class: Shirane Type of Schip: ASW Destroyer
Ship	Based Helicopter(s)
DDH-143/JDS Shirane	3x SH-60J
DDH-144/JDS Kurama	3x SH-60J

Class: Shirase Type of Schip: Polar Icebreaker
Ship	Based Helicopter(s)
AGB-5002/JDS Shirase	2x S-61A-1, 1x OH-6D