JAPANESE DEFENCE FORCE LST-4001 OHSUMI

The Osumi (Ohsumi, LST-4001) is a modern Japanese heavy amphibious assault ship with an air deck, the keel of which was laid in 1995, launched in November 1996, and commissioned in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in March 1998. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 178 m, width 25.8 m, and the actual full displacement - 8,900 tons. The maximum speed of the ship is 22 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was two 20mm Phalanx CIWS sets and two 12.7mm M2 machine guns. The ship can also take on board 8 helicopters, two LCAC hovercraft from 330 to 1000 soldiers and up to 10 MBTs. The Osumi is the leading ship of the "landing craft" class of the same name. Units of this type were created as heavy landing ships, but they can be adapted to act as light aircraft carriers operating helicopters and V / STOL airplanes without any problems. The ships have very modern electronic equipment and a relatively large modernization potential. It is worth adding, however, that it is quite commonly believed that the landing potential of this class of units is clearly lower than that of the American Wasp-class ships.