Chikugo-class destroyer escort

JDS Niyodo on 16 February 1979
Class overview
Name	Chikugo class
Operators	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded by	Isuzu class
Succeeded by	Ishikari class
Built	1968–1976
In commission	1971–2003
Completed	11
Retired	11
General characteristics
Type	Destroyer escort
Displacement	1,700–1,800 long tons (1,727–1,829 t) full load
Length	93.0 m (305.1 ft)
Beam	10.8 m (35 ft)
Draught	3.5 m (11 ft)
Depth	7.0 metres (23.0 ft)
Propulsion	CODAD propulsion system 2 × shafts, 4 × diesel engines (16,000 hp (12,000 kW))
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range	5,500 nmi (10,200 km) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement	165
Sensors and processing systems	TDS-1 Target Designation System OPS-14 2D air search radar OPS-17 surface search radar FCS-1B gun FCS OQS-3A bow sonar SQS-35(J) VDS SFCS-4 Underwater Battery FCS
Electronic warfare & decoys	NOLR-1 ESM (Earlier batch) NOLR-5 ESM (Latter batch)
Armament	2 × 3"/50 caliber guns 2 × 40 mm AA guns 1 × ASROC ASW missile launcher 2 × triple 324 mm ASW torpedo tubes

The Chikugo-class destroyer escort (or frigate) was a class of destroyer escorts built by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force as the successor of the Isuzu class, with the same ASW mission. This class was followed by JDS Ishikari. This is the first Japanese destroyer escort class to carry ASROC anti-submarine missiles.

The class entered service with Chikugo in 1971. Eleven ships were constructed and saw service until the mid-1990s and early 2000s. All vessels in the class were retired with Noshiro being the last to decommission in 2003.