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:
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- |
Read more about this topic: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
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