IO, Jakarta – Commander of the Division – 4 Escort Unit of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force – JMSDF, Colonel Takahiro Nishiyama who led the JS Samidare (DD-106) Warship with Commander Lieutenant Colonel Gen Kawai, made an honorary visit to Indonesia.
The JS Samidare (DD-106) Warship closed in on JICT-II Dock in Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta on Wednesday (8/5) at 09:15 WIB. The warship then returned on Friday (10/5) to its homeland.
The JS Samidare was greeted with a Welcoming Ceremony led by Main Base III Repair-Maintenance Facility Head Captain Yudi Susilo representing Main Naval Base III Commander Commodore Denih Hendrata.
The Captain was accompanied by Main Naval Base III Captain (P) Hari WIdjajanto, Jakarta Main Naval Base III Patrol Unit Commander Captain (P) Arya Delano, and Jakarta Main Naval Base III deputation forces.
Captain (P) Yudhi Susilo stated that the arrival of the JS Samidare Warship was proof of the closeness of Indonesia and Japan who had long been allies. “This isn’t the first time for the Indonesian navy to welcome a warship from the Japanese navy. On behalf of the leadership of the Navy we warmly welcome (them) to Indonesia. With the spirit of friendship, let us get to know each other and get closer so that this visit can provide experiences and memories for us,” said the Captain when giving his welcoming speech representing the Jakarta Main Naval Base III.
Colonel Takahiro Nishiyama explained that the JS Samidare Warship left on December 2018 for a Japanese Navy Piracy Investigation Mission in the Gulf of Aden and Somalia. After the mission was completed, they would return to Japan. However, before they wanted to make an honorary visit to Indonesia first.
The Colonel admitted that there were various nations to choose from for the visit but Colonel Takahiro said Indonesia was chosen as the Japan Navy believes its partnership with the Indonesian Navy is very important.
“While in Jakarta, we plan to train together with the Indonesian Navy. Bilateral relations between the two countries are increasingly tightened to advance the free and open Indo-Pacific region,” said Kolonel Takahiro.
About JS Samidare
JS Samidare (DD-106) is the sixth of the nine Murasame class destroyers, under the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). this ship was designed by Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries Tokyo, in 1998 and construction was completed on September 11, 2000, then began its launch on September 24, 2001 and carried out a mission since March 21, 2003, carrying 200 crew. “Samidare” means the “early summer rain”. Which is beneficial for planting rice and accumulating water called “Mizutori-Ame” in Japan
The ship name is derived from “Samidare”, and it is the second generation following the Japanese Imperial Navy that has inherited this name, the former destroyer ‘Samidare’. Before JS Samidare was born, the Japanese Destroyer Ship, ‘Samidare’, was the fifth of ten Shiratsuyu-class destroyers, built for the Japanese Imperial Navy under the Circle One Program (Maru Ichi Keikaku), which was launched in 1935 and sank in 1944.
JS Samidare was designed for quick reaction in the performance of Anti-Air, Anti-Surface, and Anti-Submarine warfare mission using the most advance combat systems available. This destroyer is 151 meters long and 17.4 meters wide, with a speed capacity of 30 knots.
The weapons of this ship include with 1x Oto-Melara 76mm/62-caliber super rapid gun (3-inches), 1 x Mk-41 Vertical Launching System / VLS (16 cells) for up to 16 RUM-139 VL-ASROC, 1 x Mk-48 Mod.0 Vertical Launching System / VLS (16 cells) for 16 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow or 32 RIM-162 ESSM SAM, 2 x Mk-141 missile launcher for 8 Type 90 SSM-1B anti-ship missiles, 2x Type 68/HOS-302A (Mk-32) 12.75-inch (324mm) triple torpedo tubes for Mk-46 or Type 73 torpedoes, and 2x Mk-15 Phalanx Close-In-Weapon-System (CIWS). JS Samidare also have its flight deck for 1x SH-60K Helicopter. (Raihan)