일본, 육자대 및 해자대 합동 제1해상수송단 창설

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When Computers Went To Sea | 일본, 센카쿠에서 쓸 수송함 2척 건조하기로 - Daum 카페

일본, 센카쿠에서 쓸 수송함 2척 건조하기로

When Computers Went To Sea | 일본, 신형 LCU 진수 - Daum 카페

일본, 신형 LCU 진수

일본이 3월 24일 제1해상수송단을 해자대 구레 기지에서 창설했네요. 1 해상수송전대, 2 해상수송전대로 구성되며, 방위청장관이 직접 통제하지만 육자대가 관리한다고 합니다. 

2028년 3월까지 LCU 4척, LSV 2척, MSV 4척이 배치될 예정이네요. 

Japan establishes new Maritime Transport Group with Taiwan contingency in mind - Naval News

Japan establishes new Maritime Transport Group with Taiwan contingency in mind

• Published on 24/03/2025
• By Kosuke Takahashi
• In News

The naming ceremony and launching ceremony for the LCU “NIHONBARE” (JGSDF photo)

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On March 24, the Japanese Ministry of Defense established a new Self-Defense Forces Maritime Transport Group, a joint unit of the Ground and Maritime Self-Defense Forces, at the JMSDF Kure Base. The initial number of members at the unit is about 100, according the Ground Staff Office in Tokyo.

The new unit consists of the command headquarters, the 1st Marine Transportation Squadron, and the 2nd Marine Transportation Squadron.  Each squadron will be equipped with their own dedicated transport ships.

This unit is directly controlled by the defense minister, but it is managed by the JGSDF, a spokesperson at the Ground Staff Office told Naval News on March 24.

The establishment of the new SDF unit came after the Defense Buildup Program, which was approved by the National Security Council and the Cabinet in December 2022, called for improving the mobile deployment capabilities to the nation’s southwestern region by establishing a new joint SDF maritime transport unit.

In recent years, Japan has been increasingly becoming concerned about a Taiwan contingency. It is currently strengthening its transportation capabilities to deploy troops and transport fuel, ammunition, supplies, and vehicles to front-line bases, especially in the nation’s southwestern Nansei island chain, which spans about 1,200 km from Kagoshima to Okinawa, stretching southwest towards Taiwan.

JGSDF photo

The chain also includes the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, which are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan.

The Nansei Islands are located on the so-called first island chain facing China on the very front line.

The Defense Buildup Program not only emphasized the importance of mobile deployment capabilities but also that of civil protection.

“In order to secure capabilities for swift and reliable transportation of necessary units to defeat the invasion of islands to the southwest region, MOD/SDF will procure various transportation assets such as transport ships (LSVs, LCUs and maneuverable boats), transport aircraft (C-2), aerial refueling/ transport aircraft (KC-46A, etc.), and transport/ utility helicopters (CH-47J/JA, UH-2),”

Defense Buildup Program

A total of ten transport ships are scheduled to be deployed with the unit by the end of March 2028 at the at the JMSDF Kure Base. In particular, there will be four landing craft utility (LCU) vessels, two landing support vessels (LSV), and four maneuver support vessels (MSVs).

In October 2024, the Japanese shipbuilder Naikai Zosen already launched the first LCU, named “Nihonbare”「にほんばれ」 (with pennant number 4151), on order for the JGSDF. One month later, the same shipbuilder also launched the first LSV, named “Yoko”「ようこう」 (with pennant number 4101), on order for the JGSDF.

On March 24, the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo also launched a new joint operations command at the ministry’s headquarters in Tokyo with a staff of about 240 personnel.

At a Cabinet meeting on March 11, the Japanese government appointed Lieutenant General Nagumo Kenichiro, vice chief of staff at the Joint Staff of the JSDF, as the first head of the Joint Operations Command. He has the authority to unify the three branches of the JSDF from peacetime to times of emergency – especially with a Taiwan emergency in mind.