Hiuchi-class support ship explained

The Hiuchi class support ship is designed to provide Auxiliary Multi-purpose Support (AMS) for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

The Hiuchi AMS class replaced the Auxiliary Service Utility class (ASU). The primary mission of these vessels is to support training exercises of other ships, including shooting practice and torpedo launching practice.^[1]

Ships in the class

Pennant No.	Name	Home port	Shipyard	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned
AMS-4301^[2]				18 Jan 2001	4 Sept 2001	27 March 2002
AMS-4302		Ominato	Universal, Keihin	19 Sept 2002	25 April 2003	16 March 2004
AMS-4303			Universal, Keihin	3 Dec 2002	6 Aug 2003	16 March 2004
AMS-4304^[3]	Genkai		Universal, Keihin	7 Nov 2006	24 May 2007	20 Feb 2008
AMS-4305			Universal, Keihin	19 Dec 2006	9 Aug 2007	20 Feb 2008

References

• Werth, Eric. (2007). Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ;

External links

• 多用途支援艦「ひうち」型
• Ministry of Defense, Press Conference by the Defense Minister (11:11-11:26 A.M. March 25, 2011)

Notes and References

1. [Global Security.org]
2. Global Security, AMS Hiuchi Class, ship list
3. Werth, Eric. (2007).