JS Kirisame

JS Kirisame (DD-104) is the fourth ship of Murasame-class destroyers of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). She was commissioned on 18 March 1999.

Design
The hull design was completely renovated from first-generation destroyers. In addition to increasing the size in order to reduce the underwater radiation noise, both the superstructure and hull were inclined to reduce the radar cross-section. However, there is no angled tripod mainmast like the one of the American Arleigh Burke-class destroyer because of the heavy weather of the Sea of Japan in winter. The aft was designed like a "mini-Oranda-zaka" as with the Kongō-class destroyer to avoid interference between helicopters and mooring devices. Destroyers built under the First Defense Build-up Plan, including the former Murasame-class destroyer, adopted a unique long forecastle style called "Oranda-zaka".

The engine arrangement is COGAG as in the Asagiri class, but a pair of engines were updated to Spey SM1C. The remaining pair were replaced by LM2500, as in the Kongō class.

Construction and career
Kirisame was laid down on 3 April 1996 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki as the 1994 plan and launched on 21 August 1997. Commissioned on 18 March 1999, was incorporated into the 6th Escort Corps of the 2nd Escort Corps and deployed to Sasebo.

On 10 May 2020, he departed from Sasebo base for the Middle East as the second dispatch information gathering activity water squadron. On 9 June, the same year after arriving at the site, he took over the mission from JS Takanami and started information gathering activities. On 6 October, the same year, she took over the mission of JS Murasame of the 3rd party. On 26 October, the same year, the vessel returned to Sasebo base. From 19 to 20 October of the same year, Japan-US-Australia joint training was conducted with USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) and HMAS Arunta (FFH 151) in the South China Sea.

On 31 May 2022, the JMSDF issued a press release on the Indo-Pacific Deployment (IPD) and ship deployments, stating that Kirisame, the Takanami-class destroyer JS Takanami and the Izumo-class multi-purpose destroyer JS Izumo were deployed to RIMPAC 2022.