The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force held an official flag-off ceremony for JS Udzushio, an Oyashio-class submarine, marking the end of 25 years of active service in the Japanese fleet.
Udzushio was officially put into service on March 9, 2000. Construction of the ship began on 6 March 1996 at Kawasaki Heavy Industries facilities in Kobe and was launched on 15 October 1998. The design belongs to a generation that has played a central role in Japan’s submarine deterrence and underwater surveillance capabilities in recent decades.
As of December 2025, the Japanese Navy currently operates six Oyashio-class submarines. Two units—Isoshio and Makashio—have been converted to training missions and are used to train new crews.
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Technical specifications
The standard displacement of Oyashio class submarines is 2,750 tons, and the submerged displacement is approximately 5,500 tons. These platforms, which are 82 meters long and 8.9 meters wide, can reach a speed of 12 knots above water and approximately 20 knots under water.
The standard crew consists of approximately 70 personnel. Its armament includes six 533 mm torpedo tubes compatible with Type 89 torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
Transition to the new generation
Direct successor to the Oyashio class, currently being built for the Japanese Navy Taigei class. These new submarines offer significant advances in reducing acoustic signatures and are equipped with a more modern propulsion system. To date, Japan’s Ministry of Defense has approved funding for ten units of the Taigei class, four of which have been put into service and the other four are at 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 Militarnyi. This content was prepared with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.
