JDS Shirayuki

JDS Shirayuki is a Hatsuyuki-class destroyer of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Commissioned in 1982.

Construction and design
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. The ship was launched on 4 August 1981, and commissioned on 8 February 1983.

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. 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. 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.