The destroyer Suzuki (DD117) was at Nagasaki City Waterfront Forest Park for maintenance, so I went on board! #JapanMaritimeSelfDefenseForce #DestroyerSuzutsuki
This time, I boarded the destroyer Suzutsuki, so I'd like to introduce it to you!
Conclusion: "It was an escort ship, as expected! It was my first time inside an escort ship, and everything was amazing! It's truly amazing!"
From the pamphlet below:
▼The origin and meaning of the ship's name "Suzutsuki"
In Japan, the standard for naming escort ships is to take
names from celestial phenomena, weather (moon, sun, rain, snow, fog,
frost, clouds, seasons, etc.), mountains, rivers, and regions. This
ship, "Suzutsuki," is the second of its kind. The first, "Suzutsuki,"
was named after a destroyer in the Imperial Japanese Navy. The ship's
name, "Suzutsuki," is said to have come from a phrase referring to the
"refreshingly clear autumn moon."
▼Nickname
"Sailor Moon"
Suzutsuki is also written as "Suzutsuki" in Japanese, which
is reminiscent of the moon. Sailor Moon is also a warrior with the
power of the moon. The role of the escort ship is to protect the seas,
which can be compared to Sailor Moon's mission of "protecting the
Earth."
▼Main Specifications -PRINCIPAL-
・Commissioned March 2014
-Builder: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
・Homeport: Sasebo
- Total length 151 meters (495 feet)
-Beam: 18.3 meters (60 feet)
Draft: 5.4 meters (18 feet)
Displacement: 5,000 tons
Crew: Approx. 200
-Main Engine: 4 Gas Turbine Engines
・Propellers: 2 Controllable Pitch Propellers
・Shaft Horsepower 64,000 horsepower (64,000 Shaft Horsepower)
・Speed: 30 knots (approx. 55km/h)
・Patrol Helicopter SH-60K/60J (SH-60K/60J)
▼Description of the destroyer Suzutsuki (first generation)
It was completed on December 29, 1942 at Mitsubishi Nagasaki
as the third ship of the Akizuki-class air defense escort ship, and was
assigned to the 61st Destroyer Squadron, where it took part in numerous
operations, playing an active role in escorting aircraft carriers and
transport convoys.
Its final departure was in April 1945, when it departed
together with the Yamato as part of a special attack force. In the
waters south of Kyushu, it was rendered incapable of combat by an enemy
air raid, and was no longer able to proceed forward, but managed to
return to Sasebo by reversing. It was decommissioned on November 20 of
the same year.
After the war, the ship was dismantled, and its hull, along
with the destroyers Fuyutsuki and Yanagi, was used as a breakwater at
Wakamatsu Port in Wakamatsu Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture,
and was called the Battleship Breakwater, but the Suzutsuki and
Fuyutsuki were later reclaimed. Currently, part of the hull of the
Yanagi and an information board can be seen near the exit of the
Wakamatsu Canal in the Hibikinada Rinkai Industrial Park.
▼Let us introduce it to you!
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is based in Nagasaki, so I have
seen escort ships parked there, but I was impressed to be able to see
them so close and even go inside!
This time, I went in the afternoon, so I was able to enter without having to wait in line.
The Suzuki destroyer is a destroyer of the Japan Maritime
Self-Defense Force and the third Akizuki-class destroyer. The ship's
name comes from the "clear and refreshing autumn moon," and it is the
second Japanese vessel to have this name, following the Suzuki, the
third Akizuki-class destroyer of the former Imperial Japanese Navy.
There was also an Instagram panel!
If so, you can board!
And there was a line to get to the control room, so we got in line and headed in!
In the video, we tried to take pictures as we climbed, so please check it out.
I was able to enter the control room!
From the control room you can look down on Mizube no Mori Park.
It's the head of the control room!
I also found the captain's seat.
Looking inside, we found nameplates of various past captains!
And then to the stern.
"Suzutsuki" from Kantai Collection!
There were a lot of fans hanging out.
It's a very spacious space to work in.
The tour lasted about an hour, and we kept asking questions
like "Is it really okay to go that far?" and "Can I take pictures?", but
they were happy to answer all our questions!
The children are also starting to show some interest in these
types of Self-Defense Force events, so we will make it possible for
them to board destroyers and submarines when they come again!!
Thank you so much until the end 🙇
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