JS Samidare

JS Samidare (DD-106) is the sixth Murasame-class destroyer of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). She was commissioned on 21 March 2000.

Design
In the Murasame class, 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 as on American Arleigh Burke-class destroyers 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, same as in the Asagiri class, but a pair of engines were updated to Spey SM1Cs, and the remaining pair were replaced by LM2500s, as used in the Kongō class.

Construction and career
Samidare was laid down on 11 September 1997, by Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries at Tokyo as part of the 1995 plan and launched on 24 September 1998. Commissioned on 21 March 2000, the vessel was incorporated into the 4th Escort Corps and deployed to Kure.

Samidare was deployed to Somalia in 2009 as part of multinational efforts to protect ships passing through the Indian Ocean alongside JS Sazanami.

Samidare destroyer participated in Japan-US-India Joint Training (Malabar 2019) from 26 September to 4 October 2019. Exercises were carried out in the sea and airspace from Sasebo to the south of the Kanto region. The JMSDF also sent other escort vessels JS Chōkai and JS Kaga, supply vessel JS Ōmi, and P-1 patrol aircraft. USS McCampbell, a P-8A aircraft, and a submarine from the United States Navy, INS Sahyadri, INS Kiltan, and a P-8I aircraft from the Indian Navy participated in anti-submarine warfare training, anti-submarine warfare training, conducted anti-water shooting training, anti-aircraft shooting training, and offshore replenishment training.

On 16 October of the same year, Samidare conducted communication training using radio with the Chinese Navy destroyer CHINESE DESTROYER Taiyun (which was scheduled to participate in the JMSDF Fleet review on 14 October, but canceled due to Typhoon Hagibis) in the Pacific Ocean south of Kanto region. This was the third Japan-China goodwill training for the JMSDF, the previous being in December 2011.

On 4 May 2022, Samidare deployed to Djibouti for anti-piracy operations. In late May, Samidare was relieved by JS Harusame.