The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force held an official flag lowering ceremony for the JS Udzushio, an Oyashio-class submarine, ending 25 years of active service in the Japanese fleet.
Udzushio officially entered service on March 9, 2000. Construction of the vessel began on March 6, 1996 at Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ facilities in Kobe, and she was launched on October 15, 1998. The design belongs to a generation that has played a central role in Japan’s anti-submarine and surveillance capabilities in recent decades.
As of December 2025, the Japanese Navy operates six more Oyashio-class submarines. Two of these units — Isoshio and Makashio — have been converted to training missions and are used to train new personnel.
+ Video: US Coast Guard captures second sanctioned 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. The 82-meter-long and 8.9-meter-wide units can reach speeds of up to 12 knots on the surface and around 20 knots underwater.
The standard crew consists of about 70 people. Armament includes six 533mm torpedo tubes compatible with Type 89 torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
Transition to the new generation
The Oyashio class is a direct successor to the Taigei classwhich is currently under construction for the Japanese Navy. These new submarines represent a significant advance in reducing acoustic detection and have a more advanced propulsion system. So far, Japan’s Ministry of Defense has approved funding for ten Taigei-class units, four of which are already in service and another four are 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 is generated with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editors.
