Another target for the "Daggers". But do not rush to jump to conclusions.
Last summer, the Maya, the lead ship in a series of two Project 27DD missile destroyers, was launched at the Yokohama shipyard. The launch of the second, as yet unnamed hull is expected this year. Both destroyers are expected to enter service in 2020-21.
For a long time, the Japanese project 27DD was surrounded by a veil of speculation and conjecture. Official sources remained silent, until the last moment without revealing the appearance and purpose of the ship. Everything that was known with reliable accuracy: the destroyer is planned to be large and relatively expensive. Experts forced assumptions about the installation of railguns and systems, which are usually referred to as promising "weapons of the future." But everything turned out to be simpler. 10,000-ton truck with the latest generation Aegis and a number of national characteristics. The Japanese are working to strengthen the "combat core" of their already powerful naval forces (the official postscript of the "self-defense forces" can be omitted as a relic of the era).
Based on the observed realities, we can assume that our neighbors are simultaneously implementing two parallel programs for the construction of destroyers, which can be conditionally divided into "light" and "heavy". In foreign sources, the latter are designated BMD destroyers (Ballistic Missile Defense), missile defense destroyers.
Apparently, the Japanese are pinning their hopes on battle groups of clones of Arleigh Burks with Aegis long-range air defense / missile defense system, surrounded by smaller destroyers with short-range defenses.
A very reasonable construction of the order, which allows you to emphasize the advantages and level the disadvantages of each ship.
The last of the representatives of the "heavy" projects ("Ashigara") entered service in the distant past 2008, and there are six such destroyers in the fleet. In subsequent years, the priority was given to the "bodyguard" destroyers of two unified projects, "Akizuki" and "Asahi", also six units - one after the other. The last in the series, the Shiranui, entered service since time immemorial, on February 27, 2019.
Compared to "heavy" destroyers, they carry a threefold reduction in missile ammunition with a half-fold lower displacement. They differ in more modern technical solutions, incl. dual-band radar complex with AFAR. The selected radar ranges are "tied" to the characteristics of missiles and the purpose of the destroyers - to hold the defense in the near zone. Long-range Aegis will deal with carriers and targets in near space.
In fact, the Japanese have slightly more than 6 "light" destroyers; there are 20 such ships in total. In addition to the "solar" and "lunar" series (the theme is played out in the names "Akizuki" and "Asahi"), there are two more outdated projects of "rains" and "waves" ("Murasame" and "Takanami"), built at the turn of the century. Significantly weaker and more primitive units, however, still retaining combat value in our time.
Destroyer-helicopter projects (2 + 2) refer to "destroyers" purely formally. They are included in the formations of "heavy" and "light" missile destroyers, where they fulfill their specific role as aircraft-carrying ships. At present, before the appearance of F-35B fighters on the decks of the Hyuga and Izumo, the tasks of high-speed helicopter carriers are reduced to strengthening the anti-submarine defense of ship formations.
You probably felt the author's sarcasm when describing "outdated" ships.
The fleet of the Land of the Rising Sun is evolving with incredible speed, annually updating the results achieved. Already, with 30 modern ocean zone warships, it guarantees Tsushima 2.0 to any of its rivals in the Asia-Pacific region.
But the Japanese don't stop there.
The time has come for the next reinforcement of the fleet of "heavy" destroyers. The available six units are insufficient for rotation in the framework of combat services, training and scheduled repairs. Moreover, the oldest of the "large" has already celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Help arrived on time.
The description of "Maya" does not need to talk about "modular designs", "integrated approach" and other officialdom in order to gloss over the unsightly slack. At the launching ceremony, Admiral Takihiro said the destroyer would become "a symbol of Japan as a military superpower."
Technically, this is another Burke clone. However, "Maya" is 15 meters longer than its progenitor, 2 meters wider and larger in displacement by about 1000 tons.
Outwardly, they look like twins. Specialists can only recognize Maya by the sheer height of the superstructure. Japanese "heavy" destroyers traditionally play the role of flagships of battle groups, therefore they have a couple of additional tiers in the superstructure to accommodate the FKP, admiral's cabins and premises for the headquarters "suite".
Due to the increased superstructure, the radar antennas are installed at a higher height, which contributes to an increase in the detection range of low-flying targets compared to the American "original".
The "burk-shaped" hull has undergone minor (in its scale) rearrangement: the bulk of the rocket ammunition (64 cells) is concentrated in the bow, in front of the superstructure. The American destroyers have exactly the opposite (32 in the bow, 64 in the stern).
The second notable difference in technical design is the introduction of an electric transmission. Unlike Burke, which has four gas turbine engines mechanically connected to the propeller shafts, in the Maya project, the propeller shafts rotate the electric motors while cruising. Two gas turbines are used as turbo generators, the other two (full speed turbines) can be connected directly (via a gearbox) to the propeller shaft lines.
The main advantage lies in increasing energy capabilities with the expectation of installing promising, more demanding consumers - radars and weapons.
In the case of Maya, we are talking about tens of megawatts. For comparison: the power plant of the American destroyers consists of three, relatively low-power turbine generators (3x2, 5 MW). The LM2500 propulsion gas turbines do not generate a single drop of electricity for the ship's network. As a result, there is a lack of energy on the ships. When the question arose about the appearance of a new radar on the destroyers of the "third sub-series", a proposal was considered to install an additional generator in the helicopter hangar.
From invisible to the naked eye, but significant differences of "Maya", it is worth highlighting the updated BIUS "Aegis". The ship was able to use target designation from external carriers when repelling an air attack. In the original version, it bears the designation CEC (Cooperative Engagement Capability).
Upon receiving a warning about a flying anti-ship missile, which is still invisible by its own means of detection due to its low flight altitude, the destroyer can fire a salvo of anti-aircraft missiles with active guidance - in the direction of the approaching threat. Without waiting for the appearance of anti-ship missiles due to the radio horizon.
Cooperative Engagement Capability can be used when own radar facilities fail. The blinded destroyer suddenly gains the ability to see the enemy with someone else's eyes.
To date, the only means of external target designation, adapted for data exchange with the shipborne Aegis, are the AWACS E-2 Hawkeye of the later modifications C Group-2 + and D. There are only 13 such aircraft in the Japanese Air Force, so the implementation of Cooperative Engagement Capability will be fully possible only with joint actions with the main ally.
As the context suggests, the Maya's ammunition will include Standard-6 anti-aircraft missiles with an active homing head. Their use removes restrictions on the number of target illumination channels. Secondly, the SM-6 demonstrated the ability to strike at surface targets (aimed at ships, like a conventional anti-ship missile), without the need for illumination from the destroyer's radar. Of course, this is not the most effective area of application of the "standard": the high-altitude, quasi-ballistic trajectory unmasks the missile early and sharply increases the chances of its interception. Nevertheless, the anti-ship "Standard-6" is becoming one of the possible threats.
In addition to the main missile ammunition, located in the UVP, on the deck of the "Maya" there will be inclined launchers for small-sized anti-ship missiles (like the American "Harpoons"). In foreign sources, written in a more or less understandable language, there is extremely scant information about these missiles, designated "Type 17". Looks like a further development of low-flying subsonic anti-ship missiles with a launch weight of 600-700 kg. From innovations - a radar guidance head with AFAR. And this is a disposable ammunition, actually a consumable! Apparently, developed Japan can afford even such excesses.
An interesting question is related to the standard sizes of the UVP used on Japanese ships. Formally, this should be a shortened "export" modification of the Mk.41 installation to accommodate a TPK with missiles no longer than 6, 8 m. Unlike the American fleet, which uses the MK.41 "strike" modification, suitable for placing Tomahawk cruise missiles (shaft length - 7, 7 meters).
Given the special relationship between the United States and Japan, whose fleet is the most developed and most adequate ally in naval operations, one can put forward the assumption of closer military-technical cooperation. The hypothesis is supported by precedents in which Japan was the first to gain access to the latest weapons. For example, the transfer of Aegis technology and documentation for a new type of destroyer (the then unknown Arleigh Burke) was approved in 1988. Even before the laying of the lead destroyer in the USA!
You are probably wondering why the Japanese naval defense forces might need long missile silos?
“The Japanese authorities are studying the possibility of creating a production of long-range cruise missiles for striking ground targets. This publication was told by a source in the country's cabinet of ministers. Such plans arose in connection with the unstable situation on the Korean Peninsula."
(Sankei Newspaper, December 2017)
It remains to add that there are 96 launchers on board the Maya.
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The Japanese, with their usual attention to detail, develop the ideas of American designers. This is also due to the potential of the Burke project.
Unlike the US Navy, where such destroyers are considered a standard unit, a product of mass production, the Japanese, having a smaller number of ships (6 + 2 in construction), treat their "flagship" missile defense destroyers with special attention. As a result, the 27DD project surpassed the original in terms of capabilities.
In addition to increasing combat qualities due to their large size and the introduction of new solutions, these destroyers enter service fully equipped, with all the systems and weapons installed according to the project. The Japanese do not skimp on anti-ship weapons and defense lines (2 mandatory "Phalanxes"). No means are neglected to strengthen the ship.
As for long-range cruise missiles, there are always more than enough people willing to launch cruise missiles. In contrast to those who are ready to fight against modern means of air attack. Cover entire regions of the country from ballistic missiles and keep the defense of ship formations on the high seas.
The name of the destroyer "Maya" was chosen in honor of the eponymous mountain in Hyogo Prefecture. This is a bad name, evil. It used to belong to a heavy cruiser.
Historical reference
Binoculars tore out the outlines of the ship from the darkness of centuries. The bow was cut off by a curved stem. Behind a huge superstructure. And between them the way to the next world - the bow group of the main artillery, the deadly "pyramid".
"Maya" and her three brothers went down in history as heavy cruisers of the "Takao" class. They are known for being the strongest MCTs from the moment they entered service (1932) until the appearance of the Baltimore-type MCTs in 1943. Among all built ships with a standard displacement of 10-11 thousand tons from all possible combinations of speed qualities, weapons and protection from the American "Northampton" and the British "Dorsetshire" to the Italian "Zara" and German "pocket battleships" of the "Deutschland" class.
The project that had the greatest combat value in any situation. From “general engagement” to rapid breakthroughs and retreats in the event of a sudden change in the situation.
Offensive power - 10 guns in five main turrets with unique torpedo weapons on board. Controls in battle - with the attention that the Japanese paid to this problem. The speed is 35 knots with a machine power of 130,000 hp. Vertical armor protection (belt) for 120 m, with its width in the area of engine rooms 3, 5 meters and a thickness of 102 mm - an unattainable level of protection for peers.
Cruisers of this type did not have any shortcomings that could be recognized as significant in the conditions of that era and become a serious obstacle in battle.
"Takao" and "Atago" were built at the state arsenal in Kure. Maya was built at the private shipyard Kawasaki and was built 18 months faster. The same fate befell the same type "Chokai", built by the forces of "Mitsubishi". Either the state construction was accompanied by a big mess, or the control over the allocated funds was weakened in the structure of the "state corporation". This has remained a mystery of history.
But it is known quite precisely: Vice Admiral Yuzuru Hiraga and his team, who created the Takao project, had talent.
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Fighting has long since died down, the former Maya rested at the bottom, at the point with coordinates 9 ° 27'N. 117 ° 23'E
Between the heavy cruiser and the modern destroyer lies a temporary gap 90 years wide. The only thing these ships have in common, besides the name, is a silhouette with a colossal 10-tier superstructure.
However, what is inside the superstructures of the ships is the topic of a completely different story.
