The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force held an official flag-lowering ceremony for the Oyashio-class submarine JS Udzushio, marking the end of 25 years of active service in the Japanese fleet.
The Udzushio officially entered service on March 9, 2000. Construction of the unit began on March 6, 1996 at Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ facilities in Kobe, with launch taking place on October 15, 1998. The design belongs to a generation that has played a central role in Japan’s underwater deterrence and surveillance capabilities in recent decades.
As of December 2025, the Japanese Navy still operates six Oyashio-class submarines. Among these, two units – Isoshio and Makashio – were converted for training roles and used in the training of new crews.
+ Video: US Coast Guard intercepts second sanctioned oil tanker near Venezuela
Technical characteristics
The Oyashio-class submarines have a standard displacement of 2,750 tons and a submerged displacement of approximately 5,500 tons. With a length of 82 meters and a width of 8.9 meters, they can reach a maximum speed of 12 knots on the surface and around 20 knots submerged.
The standard crew consists of approximately 70 soldiers. The armament includes six 533 mm torpedo tubes, compatible with Type 89 torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
Transition to the new generation
The direct successor to the Oyashio class is the Taigei classcurrently under construction for the Japanese Navy. These new submarines incorporate significant advances in acoustic signature reduction and are equipped with a more modern propulsion system. So far, Japan’s Ministry of Defense has already funded ten units of the Taigei class, with four already entered into service and another four in various stages of construction.
Thank you for your hard work for a long time to return the Self-Defense Flag. 😍 pic.twitter.com/cwyx3cVxkR
— MICHIYA MURATA (@MICHIYAM) December 19, 2025
Source and images: MICHIYA MURATA X @MICHIYAM | Militarnyi. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
