JS Shirayuki (DD-123/TV-3517) was a of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The ship was commissioned in 1982.
The Hatsuyuki class were designed as multi-purpose ships, with a balanced armament and sensor fit, so that the ships could carry out anti-submarine and anti-surface ship operations while being capable of defending themselves against air attack. A hangar and flight deck are carried for a single helicopter, which was initially the Mitsubishi HSS-2, a license-built Sikorsky Sea King, later replaced by Mitsubishi H-60s (licensed Sikorsky S-70s), with the Canadian Beartrap haul-down system fitted to ease operations of large helicopters.[1] An octuple Mk 112 launcher for ASROC anti-submarine missiles is fitted forward, while additional close-in anti-submarine armament is provided by two triple 324 mm torpedo-tubes for Mark 46 anti-submarine torpedoes.[2] The initial anti-aircraft armament consisted of a Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile launcher aft, with an OTO Melara 76 mm gun forward. Eight Harpoon anti-ship missiles are carried in two quadruple mounts abaft the ship's funnel.
Shirayuki was ordered as part of the Japan Self-Defense Forces 1978 defense estimates as the second ship of the Hatsuyuki class, and was laid down at Hitachi's Maizuru shipyard on 3 December 1979.[3] The ship was launched on 4 August 1981, and commissioned on 8 February 1983.[4]
On 8 July 2013, Shirayuki, and were anchored at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.[5] From 22 to 25 July, they left for a visit to Portsmouth, United Kingdom.[6] After leaving Portsmouth, they sailed for Gdańsk Bay, Poland on 6 August then on 20 August, Brest, France.[7] All three Japanese ships later made a four-day trip to Da Nang, Vietnam, was made on 21 October for the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.[8] On 25 November, they passed the Kiel Canal in Germany.[9]
On 16 February 2015, Shirayuki, and made a goodwill visit to Muara Port, Brunei Darussalam.[10]
Shirayuki was decommissioned on 27 April 2016.