Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force - Culture and Naming Conventions

Culture and Naming Conventions

Although Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force has dropped traditions association with the Imperial Japanese Army, the JMSDF has maintained these historic links with the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). Today's JMSDF continues to use the same martial songs, naval flags, signs and technical terms as the IJN. For example, the official flag of the JMSDF is the same as that used by the IJN. Also, the JMSDF tradition of eating Japanese curry every Friday lunch originated with the IJN.

Ships of the JMSDF, known as Japan Defense Ships (自衛艦; Ji'ei-Kan), are classified according to the following criteria:

The classification and the naming convention of Japan Defense Ships
Class Type Symbol Building # # Naming
Major class Minor class
Combatant Ship Combatant Ship Destroyer DD 1601- 101- Names of natural phenomena in the heavens or the atmosphere, mountains, rivers or regions
Destroyer escort DE 1201- 201-
Submarine SS 8001- 501- Names of natural phenomena in the ocean or maritime animals
Mine Warfare Ship Minesweeper Ocean MSO 201- 301- Names of islands, straits, channels or one that added a number to the type
Minesweeper Coast MSC 301- 601-
Minesweeping Controller MCL - 721-
Minesweeper Tender MST 462- 461-
Patrol Combatant Craft Patrol Guided Missile Boat PG 821- 821- Names of birds, grass or one that added a number to the type
Patrol Boat PB 921- 901-
Amphibious Ship Landing Ship, Tank LST 4101- 4001- Names of peninsulas, capes or one that added a number to the type
Landing Ship Utility LSU 4171- 4171-
Landing Craft Utility LCU 2001- 2001-
Landing Craft Air Cushioned LCAC - 2001-
Auxiliary Ship Auxiliary Ship Training Ship TV 3501- 3501- Names of places of natural beauty and historic interest or one that added a number to the type or the model
Training Submarine TSS - -
Training Support Ship ATS 4201- 4201-
Multipurpose Support Ship AMS - -
Oceanographic Research Ship AGS 5101- 5101-
Ocean Surveillance Ship AOS 5201- 5201-
Ice breaker AGB 5001- 5001-
Cable Repairing Ship ARC 1001- 481-
Submarine Rescue Ship ASR 1101- 401-
Submarine Rescue Tender AS 1111- 405-
Experimental Ship ASE 6101- 6101-
Fast Combat Support Ship AOE 4011- 421-
Service Utility Ship ASU - 7001-
Service Utility Craft ASU 81- 61-
Service Yacht ASY 91- 91-

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