The Yaeyama class is the largest class of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

The , or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II....

 minesweepers

Minesweeper (ship)

A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...

, designed for open-sea mine

Naval mine

A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...

 clearance operations. Three ships were built in the class, a further three ships were planned but were cancelled. The ships use wooden hulls to reduce their magnetic signature. Yaeyama class is one of the largest-sized wooden hull ships designed today (except old and replica ships).

Jane's Fighting Ships notes their similarity to the U.S. Avenger-class

Avenger class mine countermeasures ship

Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships are a class of 14 ships constructed by the United States Navy 1987–1994. The ships are designed to clear mines from vital waterways. The ships have the hull designator MCM.-Background:In the early 1980s, the U.S...

 minesweepers.

All three vessels are named after World War II Japanese ships: Yaeyama after a minelayer, and Tsushima and Hachijo after kaibokans. Of their World War II namesakes, only Hachijo survived the war.

Ships in the class

Pennant no.	Name	Laid down	Launched	Shipyard	Commissioned	Home port	Unit
MSO-301	Yaeyama	30 August 1990	29 August 1991	Hitachi, Kanagawa	16 March 1993	Yokosuka	Minesweeper Division 51
MSO-302	Tsushima	20 July 1990	20 September 1991	Nikko, Tsurumi Tsurumi Tsurumi is a Japanese surname, placename, and the name of at least one business.Places :*Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama**Tsurumi Station**Tsurumi Line*Tsurumi River, Kanagawa*Tsurumi-ku, Osaka*Tsurumi, ŌitaPeople:*Atsuko Tsurumi , artist...	23 March 1993	Yokosuka	Minesweeper Division 51
MSO-303	Hachijyo	17 May 1991	15 December 1992	Nikko, Tsurumi Tsurumi Tsurumi is a Japanese surname, placename, and the name of at least one business.Places :*Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama**Tsurumi Station**Tsurumi Line*Tsurumi River, Kanagawa*Tsurumi-ku, Osaka*Tsurumi, ŌitaPeople:*Atsuko Tsurumi , artist...	24 March 1994	Yokosuka	Minesweeper Division 51

External links

• Minesweeper Division 51 (Japanese, Official)

Comparable ships

• Avenger class minesweepers
  Avenger class mine countermeasures ship
  Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships are a class of 14 ships constructed by the United States Navy 1987–1994. The ships are designed to clear mines from vital waterways. The ships have the hull designator MCM.-Background:In the early 1980s, the U.S...