Japan's New Type of Transport Vessel Launched

Reference News Network reported on September 25 According to Kyodo News on September 17, the naming and launching ceremony for the "Akane" class transport vessel No. 1, responsible for troop and equipment transport in the southwestern islands, was held on the 17th at the Tsurumi factory of Japan Marine United Corporation in Yokohama. This transport vessel is expected to enter service in March next year. Its hull design is suitable for docking at small ports and islands, and it can also land on beaches. The Ground Self-Defense Force plans to acquire three more vessels of the same type in the fiscal year 2027, bringing the total to four, all based in Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture.

According to the Ground Self-Defense Force, the "Akane" class No. 1 vessel is 35 meters long and 8 meters wide. Its hull is smaller than the previously commissioned "Shin Nippon" class small transport ship and the "Yoko" class medium transport ship, allowing it to dock at more ports.

The naming of these vessels is related to the sun; the name "Akane" is said to originate from a classic rhetorical device known as a "makurakotoba" in Japanese poetry.

The maritime transport group was established in March 2025 and is a joint unit of the Ground Self-Defense Force, Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Air Self-Defense Force. These vessels are operated jointly by personnel from the Ground and Maritime Self-Defense Forces. Their goal is to transport heavy equipment and large quantities of supplies that are difficult to transport by aircraft, enhancing mobility and deployment capabilities. (Translated by Shen Honghui)