Japanese patrol vessel Mizuho (PLH-41)
![]() Mizuho at Port of Naha 
 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mizuho-class patrol vessel | 
| Operators | |
| Preceded by | Mizuho class | 
| Succeeded by | Shunkō class | 
| Completed | 1 | 
| Active | 1 | 
| Laid up | 1 | 
| History | |
| Name | Mizuho | 
| Ordered | 2015 | 
| Builder | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shimonoseki Shipyard | 
| Launched | November 9, 2018 | 
| Commissioned | August 22, 2019 | 
| Identification | 
  | 
| Status | Active | 
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 6,000 GT | 
| Length | 134 m (439 ft 8 in) | 
| Beam | 15.8 m (51 ft 10 in) | 
| Propulsion | 
  | 
| Speed | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) | 
| Armament | 
  | 
| Aircraft carried | 2 × Bell 412 helicopters | 
The Japanese patrol boat Mizuho is a PLH type patrol vessels of the Japan Coast Guard. She is only ship in her class: the construction of a second ship was planned originally, but has not been achieved as of 2020 due to the start of construction of the Shunkō class and Reimei class.[1]
Design
Essentially, this ship is designed to be an enlarged version of the Kunigami class, with a helicopter deck and hangar as a successor to Mizuho (PLH-21).[2] As well as being a platform for helicopters, she also functions as a depot ship: replenishing fuel, potable water and stores to small patrol crafts and resting their crew. And as a frontline command center, she also has excellent command and control functions.[1][3]
She is armed with one Bofors L/70 40 mm gun (Bofors 40 Mk4) and one JM61-RFS 20 mm gun, each controlled by an electro-optical director.[3] The Sikorsky S-76D helicopters was supposed to be used as the shipboard helicopters,[2] but in actual, the Bell 412 helicopters were transferred directly from the PLH-21.[1][3]
References
- ^ a b c Kaijin-sha 2020, p. 44.
 - ^ a b Kaijin-sha 2018, p. 44.
 - ^ a b c Kaijin-sha 2019.
 
Bibliography
- "ヘリ搭載巡視船「みずほ」:下関で引き渡し式 来月、名古屋海保に配属" (in Japanese). Mainichi shinbun. 23 August 2019.
 - Kaijin-sha, ed. (July 2018). "Patrol Vessels - Ships of Japan Coast Guard". Ships of the World (in Japanese) (881). Kaijin-sha: 39–90. NAID 40021585370.
 - Kaijin-sha, ed. (November 2019). "JCG's New PLH Mizuho PLH-41 Completed". Ships of the World (in Japanese) (911). Kaijin-sha: 53–57. NAID 40022027891.
 - Kaijin-sha, ed. (October 2020). "Patrol Vessels - Ships of Japan Coast Guard". Ships of the World (in Japanese) (933). Kaijin-sha: 39–90. NAID 40022358584.
 
External links
 Media related to IMO 9820752 at Wikimedia Commons- 海上保安廳大型直昇機巡視船 (in Chinese)
 
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