The JMSDF's first-of-class Oyashio SSK collided with a fishing vessel on 10 March 2022 in waters off Kobe City. (Hachiro Nakai)
A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Oyashio-class diesel-electric submarine (SSK) has collided with a fishing vessel in waters off Kobe City, Janes has been informed.
The collision involved the first-of-class boat, JS Oyashio (TSS-3608) and an 11 m fishing vessel known as Sumiyoshi Maru . The collision took place at about 0620 h local time on 10 March in a relatively busy waterway known as the Kobe Nishi Passage.
Janes understands that the SSK was surfaced at the time of collision. The point of collision lies about 1 mile southeast of Wada Misaki.
Oyashio is an 82 m SSK that was commissioned by the JMSDF in March 1998 and it underwent a service life extension programme from 2013. The vessel is equipped with flank array sonars as part of its suite of sensors, and anechoic tiles to reduce its detectability.
Oyashio was subsequently converted into a training submarine in 2015.
Neither the JMSDF nor the Japanese Ministry of Defense have responded to requests for further clarifications from Janes on the collision, and whether there has been damage to any of Oyashio 's systems including its flank array sonars and anechoic tiles.
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