Towada-class replenishment ship explained

The Towada class is a series of replenishment oilers of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Three ships of the class were built between 1985 and 1989. The ships have the hull designator AOE.^[1]

The Towada class was designed as an enlarged, improved version of the Sagami-class fast combat support ships. The vessels are capable of mounting the Phalanx CIWS by design, although this is not a common occurrence.^[2]

List of ships

Name	Number	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Homeport	Status
Towada (とわだ)	AOE-422	17 April 1985	25 March 1986	24 March 1987		Kure	Active
Tokiwa (ときわ)	AOE-423	12 May 1988	23 March 1989	12 March 1990		Yokosuka	Active
Hamana (はまな)	AOE-424	8 July 1988	18 May 1989	29 March 1990		Sasebo	Active

External links

• GlobalSecurity.org entry
• GlobalSecurity.org Towada specifications

Notes and References

1. Book: Wertheim. Eric. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, 16th Edition. 2013. Naval Institute Press. 978-1591149545. 377.
2. Web site: AOE Towada Class. GlobalSecurity.org. 26 January 2016.