Japanese patrol vessel Mizuho (PLH-41) explained
The
Japanese patrol boat Mizuho is a PLH type
patrol vessels of the
Japan Coast Guard. She is only ship in her
class: the construction of a second ship was planned originally, but has not been achieved as of 2020 due to the start of construction of the and
Reimei class.
Design
Essentially, this ship is designed to be an enlarged version of the, with a helicopter deck and hangar as a successor to . As well as being a platform for helicopters, she also functions as a depot ship: replenishing fuel, potable water and stores to small patrol crafts and resting their crew. And as a frontline command center, she also has excellent command and control functions.
She is armed with one Bofors L/70 40 mm gun (Bofors 40 Mk4) and one JM61-RFS 20 mm gun, each controlled by an electro-optical director. The Sikorsky S-76D helicopters was supposed to be used as the shipboard helicopters, but in actual, the Bell 412 helicopters were transferred directly from the PLH-21.
References
Bibliography
- News: ヘリ搭載巡視船「みずほ」：下関で引き渡し式 来月、名古屋海保に配属. Mainichi shinbun. ja. subscription. 23 August 2019.
- Kaijin-sha. July 2018. Patrol Vessels - Ships of Japan Coast Guard. Ships of the World. 881. 39–90. Kaijin-sha. . ja.
- Kaijin-sha. November 2019. JCG's New PLH Mizuho PLH-41 Completed. Ships of the World. 911. 53–57. Kaijin-sha. . ja.
- Kaijin-sha. October 2020. Patrol Vessels - Ships of Japan Coast Guard. Ships of the World. 933. 39–90. Kaijin-sha. . ja.
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