Shirane-class destroyer

The Shirane class destroyers are a class of Japanese destroyer originally built during the late 1970s and still in active service. They are built around a large central hangar which houses up to three helicopters and they are the natural successor of the Haruna-class destroyers.

Design
The Shirane Class incorporates an improved design based on the Haruna Class destroyers. The Shirane class is also the first Japanese ships to be fitted with 3D radars, the NEC OPS-12. The ships propulsion include two steam boilers with two shafts that produce 70.000 hp and gives a maximum speed of 32knots. Its armament includes two 42-mk 127mm guns, two 20-mm Phalanx close-in weapon systems, one Surface-to-air RIM-7 Sea Sparrow launcher, torpedos and anti-submarine rockets. The ships are expected to be replaced by the new Izumo-class helicopter destroyer.

Operational use
On December 15, 2007, a fire broke out on board the Shirane near the rudder house as it was anchored at Yokosuka. It took seven hours to extinguish and injured four crew members.

On 27 October 2009, the JS Kurama collided with a South Korean container ship under the Kanmonkyo Bridge in the Kanmon Straits off the coast of Japan. While neither ship sunk, the bow of the Kurama was badly damaged and burned for hours. Three Kurama crew members were reported injured.