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JS Kaga conducting a multi-lateral exercise in September 2025. The vessel is classified as "CVM" from now on. JMSDF picture.
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The Japanese Ministry of Defense has revised the hull classification symbols for Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessels effective October 2024. The change adds two new symbols, “CG” and “CVM,” which will be applied to upcoming ship types.
JMSDF vessels are classified into warships that enjoy the status of warships under international law (Self Defense Ship: 自衛艦 in Japanese) and other vessels categorized as support ships. The warship category is further divided into escort vessels and auxiliary vessels. Escort vessels are sub-categorized by function into surface/subsurface combatants (destroyers, submarines), mine warfare vessels (minesweepers, minesweeper craft, minesweeper tenders), patrol vessels (missile boats, offshore patrol vessels), and transport vessels (transport ships, landing craft, hovercraft).
The revision this time concerns the classification symbols for escort destroyers, which belong to the surface combatant group. Destroyers are combatant ships in the JMSDF inventory equipped with guns, missiles and other weapons, and possess the capability to engage enemy surface ships, submarines and aircraft. Until now, hull classification symbols have included general-purpose destroyer (DD), guided-missile destroyer (DDG), helicopter destroyer (DDH), as well as smaller coastal escort destroyer (DE) and multi-role frigates (FFM). Last year’s directive added two new symbols: “CG” and “CVM.” Naval News interviewed the JMSDF Office of Public Affairs to clarify what these new codes signify.
Artist impression of two ASEV sailing alongside a JMSDF Maya-class DDG (shooting a missile) and a US Navy DDG 51 Flight III ship. The ASEV will be classified as CG. Lockheed Martin image.
First, “CG” stands for “Cruiser Guided-missile” — a guided-missile cruiser — and will be applied to the Aegis system-equipped vessels (ASEV) scheduled to enter service in 2027 and 2028. The other new symbol, “CVM,” at first glance appears analogous to U.S. Navy nomenclature and might be read as a “multi-purpose aircraft carrier.” However, the JMSDF Office of Public Affairs says the acronym expands to “Cruiser Voler Multipurpose,” and in Japanese the type is being called 航空機搭載多機能護衛艦 — literally, an “aircraft-carrying multi-role cruiser.” According to the office, the Izumo-class which is the biggest surface combatant in JMSDF, fall under this new CVM designation.
The lead ship of the Izumo-class, Izumo, entered service in 2015, and the second ship, Kaga, entered service in 2017; both were originally operated as helicopter destroyers (DDH). However, modifications carried out from fiscal 2020 onward added the capability to operate the F-35B short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) fixed-wing fighter, and that operational change has led to the assignment of the new CVM classification.
As for the “Cruiser” element of CVM, JMSDF officials explained that the term replaces “Destroyer” to reflect the larger hull size compared with conventional destroyers. The middle term “Voler” is the French verb meaning “to fly,” and was chosen to indicate the vessel’s capability to operate aircraft, including fixed-wing types.
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Yoshihiro Inaba
Yoshihiro Inaba is a Freelance Writer based in Shizuoka, Japan. He is one of the few young military writers in Japan and is currently a student studying international law (especially self-defense and use of force) at a Japanese graduate school. He is particularly familiar with Japan's Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces.
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첫댓글 드디어 1만톤이 넘는 함을 "순양함"으로 표기하게 됐네요.
드디어 호칭의 정상화가 ㅎㅎㅎ
1980년대에는 DDVL, DDV라는 분류기호를 생각했습니다.
https://cafe.daum.net/NTDS/51Tv/682
DDV는 미군이 스프루언스급 기반한 헬기구축함 구상할 때 지정했던 함급 구분번호일 텐데, 배수량 1만 5천톤이면 미군의 DDV보다는 경항모에 가까울 것 같은데도 DD로 지정하려고 했네요.
이젠 정조대왕급도 순양함이라고 해야겠쥬?
일본이 바꾼 이상 우리도 곧 바꾸지 않을까 싶네요.