JS Kerama

JS Kerama during her launch ceremony
History
Japan
Name
  • Kerama
  • (けらま)
NamesakeKerama Islands
Ordered2022
BuilderJMU, Yokohama
Laid down20 July 2023
Launched18 December 2025
Commissioned2026 (scheduled)
IdentificationPennant number: MSO-308
StatusTo be commissioned
General characteristics
Class & typeAwaji-class minesweeper
Displacement690 t (680 long tons) standard
Length66.8 m (219 ft 2 in)
Beam11 m (36 ft 1 in)
Draft2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Depth5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
Speed14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement54
Sensors &
processing systems
Armament1 × single JM61R-MS 20mm gun

JS Kerama (Japanese: けらま; Hull number: MSO-308) is a minesweeper of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and is the fifth ship of the Awaji class. She is named after the Kerama Islands, which are located near Okinawa Island;[better source needed] she is the first warship to bear this name, as the Imperial Japanese Navy had never used the name for its ships.

Construction and career

Kerama was laid down at JMU's Yokohama Shipyard on 20 July 2023, and was later launched on 18 December 2025.[better source needed] She is scheduled to be commissioned in 2026 after a period of fitting out and sea trials, intended to be assigned to the Amphibious Mine Warfare Group (水陸両用戦機雷戦群) under the Surface Fleet (艦隊).

References

  1. 1 2 "史上初の艦名！ 最新自衛艦「けらま」進水 日本最大級のプラスチック船その理由は？". 乗りものニュース (in Japanese). 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  2. 1 2 防衛省 海上自衛隊 [@JMSDF_PAO] (19 December 2025). "命名「けらま」" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 December 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  3. 1 2 "JMU、最新鋭掃海艦「けらま」を進水　海自あわじ型5番艦　艦名は沖縄・八重山の「慶良間島」に由来（高橋浩祐） - エキスパート". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  4. ↑ "令和４年度計画掃海艦の命名式・進水式について" (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). Ministry of Defence. 7 December 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2026.