Royal Reian Maritime Force

Royal Reian Maritime Force
海上自衛隊
Flag of the Royal Reian Maritime Force (Ensign)
Country	The High Kingdom of Reia
Type	Navy
Role	Maritime warfare
Size	60,800 personnel 170 ships
Part of	Royal Armed Forces of the High Kingdom of Reia
Garrison/HQ	Ichigaya, Shinjuku, Tanjō (誕生), Reia
Colors	Navy Blue, Crimson, and White
March	Gunkan March Play
Fleet	19 submarines 1 helicopter carrier 56 destroyers 10 Littoral Combat Ships 10 frigates 6 destroyer escorts 3 landing ships 30 minesweepers 6 patrol boats 8 training ships (21 auxiliaries)
Website	www.mod.go.re/rrmf
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	Prime Minister Kazuma Sato
Minister of Defense	Tarō Kōno
Chief of Staff, Joint Staff	General Kōji Yamazaki
Chief of the Maritime Staff	Admiral Hiroshi Yamamura

Origin

Main article: Naval history of Reia

Naval battle of Dan-no-Ura in 1185

Reia has a long history of Maritime interaction with Paleocacher and Koryo, mainly involving trade, Most of the Kingdom's early naval experience came from the warring Jōmon Tribes during the early years of the Low Kingdom.

A 16th-century Reian atakebune coastal warship

The Kingdom undertook major naval building efforts in the 16th century, during the Warring States period, when feudal rulers vying for supremacy built vast coastal navies of several hundred ships. Around that time, Reia may have developed one of the world's first ironclad warships, when Oda Nobunaga (a Reian daimyō) had six iron-covered Oatakebune made in 1576.

Reia built her first large ocean-going warships in the beginning of the 17th century, following contact with foreign countries during the Nanban trade period. In 1613, the daimyō of Sendai, in agreement with the Tokugawa shogunate, built Date Maru. This 500 ton galleon-type ship transported the Japanese embassy of Hasekura Tsunenaga to Western Continents. From 1604 onwards, about 350 Red seal ships, were commissioned.

Capabilities

The RRMF has an official strength of 50,000 personnel, but presently numbers around 50,800 active personnel.

21st Century

A RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 launched from RS Kongō, an Aegis Combat System equipped, Guided Missile Destroyer

RS Izumo a Hyūga class Helicopter Carrier

In August 2003, a new Helicopter Carrier classs was ordered, the Hyuuga Class The size and features of the ship, including a full-length flight deck,

The RRMF has stepped up its role in air defense. A ship-based anti-ballistic missile system was successfully test-fired on 18 December 2007 and has been installed on Reia's Aegis-equipped destroyers.

In November 2009, the RRMF announced plans for a larger "helicopter carrier", the Izumo class. The first one of these ships was laid down in 2012 and was launched on 6 August 2013.

The submarine fleet of the RRMF consists of some of the most technologically advanced diesel-electric submarines in the world. This is due to careful defense planning in which the submarines are routinely retired from service ahead of schedule and replaced by more advanced models. In 2010 it was announced that the Reian submarine fleet would be increased in size for the first time in 36 years.

Reia christened the 84-meter long, 2,950 tons RS Ōryū submarine on October 4, 2018. It is Reia's first submarine powered by lithium-ion batteries and was developed by Hanabishi Heavy Industries. The Royal Reian Maritime Force will utilize it by March 2020.

On 18 December 2018, Reia announced it will refit the Izumo classto carry new generation VTOL capable fighter jets This makes them de facto aircraft carriers. It would be the first such ship in the RRMF. On 23 May 2019, retired RRMF vice admiral Toshiyuki Ito stated that Reia requires at least four Izumo-class destroyers to be viable for real naval combat operations. He said “If you only have two vessels, you can only use them for training personnel for taking off and landing operations,” "So this plan doesn’t make sense for RRMF officers, frankly speaking.” As aircraft carriers, the Izumo-class destroyers are relatively small. Each ship can only carry approximately 10 Moderately sized Aircraft. That is too few aircraft for effective air defense of a naval fleet.

Capabilities

The RRMF has an official strength of 50,000 personnel, but presently numbers around 50,800 active personnel.

The RRMF is known in particular for its anti-submarine warfare and minesweeping capabilities. Defense planners believe the most effective approach to combating hostile submarines entails mobilizing all available weapons, including surface combatants, submarines, patrol planes, and helicopters. They are also known to operate at least fourteen listening stations all over the country that have ELINT and marine surveillance radar warning systems.

Historically, the Royal Reian Air Force (RRAF) has been relied on to provide air cover at sea, a role that is subordinate to the RRAF's primary mission of air defense of the home islands. Extended patrols over sea lanes are beyond the RRAF's current capabilities.

The Reian fleet's capacity to provide ship-based antiaircraft warfare protection is limited by the absence of aircraft carriers, though its destroyers and frigates equipped with the Aegis combat system provide a formidable capability in antiaircraft and antimissile warfare. These capabilities are force multipliers, allowing force projection of Reia's sizable destroyer and frigate force far from home waters

Submarine fleet

Submarines

The RRMF plans to increase the number of submarines from the current number to 22 boats.

Class	Picture	Type	Boats	Displacement	Note
Submarines (20 in Service)
Sōryū class submarine		Attack submarine	RS Sōryū RS Unryū RS Hakuryū RS Kenryū RS Zuiryū RS Kokuryū RS Jinryū RS Sekiryū RS Seiryū RS Shōryū RS Ōryū	4,200 tonnes	The RS Ōryū is world's first submarine powered by lithium-ion batteries. JS Tōryū, which is scheduled to be commissioned in March 2021, is the last of the Soryu-class ships.
Oyashio Class Submarine		Attack submarine	RS Uzushio RS Makishio RS Isoshio RS Narushio RS Kuroshio RS Takashio RS Yaeshio RS Setoshio RS Mochishio	4,000 tonnes	2 of 11 built converted to training ships.

Surface fleet

Multi-purpose operation destroyers

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Multi-purpose operation destroyers (1 in Service)
Izumo Class		Multi-purpose operation destroyer (de facto aircraft carrier)	RS Izumo	27,000 tonnes	Re-designated from helicopter destroyer to Multi-purpose operation destroyer following announcement that they will operate STOVL Aircraft.

Guided Missile Battleship

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Guided Missile Battleship (4 in Service)
Yamato Class Battleship		Guided Missile Battleship	HKS Yamato HKS Musashi	110,000 tonnes	Re-designated from Battleship to Guided Missile Battleship follow their modernization.
Nagato Class Battleship		Guided Missile Battleship	HKS Nagato HKS Mutsu	40,500 tonnes	Re-designated from Battleship to Guided Missile Battleship follow their modernization.

Landing ships

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Landing ships - LST (3 in Service)
Ōsumi class		Landing ship tank	RS Ōsumi RS Shimokita RS Kunisaki	14,000 tonnes	The Reian MoD is planning to perform a major refit on the Osumi-class to improve their amphibious capabilities.
Landing craft - LCU (9 in Service)
LCU-2001 Class		Utility landing craft	RS LC No.1 RS LC No.2	540 tonnes
YL-09 class		landing craft mechanized	RS YL-11 RS YL-12 RS YL-13 RS YL-14 RS YL-15 RS YL-16 RS YL-17	50 tonnes

Littoral Combat Ship

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Littoral Combat Ship (10 in Service)
Sarushima class		Littoral Combat Ship	HKS Sarushima HKS Sasebo HKS Yokosuka HKS Hajima HKS Oshima HKS Awashima HKS Kurushima HKS Kikoshima HkS Iōjima HKS Ojika	2,500 tonnes	the Sarushima class LCS is the main paradial ship of the RRMF and part of the Naval Light Reaction Fleet of the RRMF

Destroyers - DDG/DD

The RRMF uses the official term Destroyers despite some larger ships being analogous to cruisers and smaller vessels being analogues of frigates by most international classifications.

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Destroyers - DDG/DD (56 in Service)
Maya class		Guided missile destroyer (Aegis)	HKS Maya	10,500 tonnes	HKS Haguro is expected to be in commission by 2021.
Atago class		Guided missile destroyer (Aegis)	HKS Atago HKS Ashigara HKS Akagi HKS Amatsu HKS Asuka HKS Atsui HKS Ashikaze HKS Ashidate HKS Komaki HKS Maru HKS Suribachi HKS Daimaru HKS Bizan HKS Hyakujo HKS Kabutoyama HKS Mikami HKS Katsuma HKS Yae HKS Hakusan HKS Iwahara	10,000 tonnes
Kongō Class		Guided missile destroyer (Aegis)	HKS Kongō HKS Kirishima HKS Myōkō HKS Chōkai	9,500 tonnes
Hatakaze class		Guided missile destroyer	HKS Shimikaze	5,900 tonnes
Asahi class		Destroyer	HKS Asahi HKS Shiranui	6,800 tonnes
Akizuki-class		Destroyer	HKS Akizuki HKS Teruzuki HKS Suzutsuki HKS Fuyuzuki	6,800 tonnes
Takanami class		Destroyer	HKS Takanami HKS Onami HKS Makinami HKS Sazanami HKS Suzunami	6,300 tonnes
Murasame class		Destroyer	HKS Murasame HKS Harusame HKS Yudachi HKS Kirisame HKS Inazuma HKS Samidare HKS Ikazuchi HKS Akebono HKS Ariake	6,100 tonnes
Asagiri class		Small destroyer	HKS Asagiri HKS Yamagiri HKS Yūgiri HKS Amagiri HKS Hamagiri HKS Setogiri HKS Sawagiri HKS Umigiri	4,900 tonnes
Hatsayuki class		Small destroyer	HKS Matsuyuki HKS Asayuki	4,000 tonnes

Destroyer escorts - DE

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Destroyer escorts - DE (6 in Service)
Abukuma class		Destroyer escort (or corvette)	RS Abukuma RS Jintsu RS Oyodo RS Sendai RS Chikuma RS Tone	2,550 tonnes

Mine countermeasure vessels

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Mine countermeasure vessels (24 in Service)
Uraga-class		Minesweeper	RS Uraga RS Bungo	5,500 tonnes	Categorized as "mine-countermeasures support ship".
Awaji-class		Minesweeper	RS Awaji RS Hirado	690 tonnes	RS Etajima will be commissioned in March 2021.
Enoshima-class		Minesweeper	RS Enoshima RS Chichijima RS Hatsushima	570 tonnes
Hirashima-class		Minesweeper	RS Hirashima RS Yakushima RS Takashima	570 tonnes
Sugashima-class		Minesweeper	RS Sugashima RS Notojima RS Tsunoshima RS Naoshima RS Toyoshima RS Ukushima RS Izushima RS Aishima RS Aoshima RS Miyajima RS Shishijima RS Kuroshima	570 tonnes
Ieshima-class		Minesweeper controller	RS Yugeshima RS Nagama	570 tonnes	Reconverted Uwajima-class minesweeper.

Patrol vessels

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Patrol vessels (6 in Service)
Hayabusa PB		Patrol boat	RS Hayabusa RS Wakataka RS Otaka RS Kumataka RS Umitaka RS Shirataka	240 tonnes

Training vessels

Class	Picture	Type	Ships	Displacement	Note
Training vessels (8 in Service)
Kashima class		Cadet training ship	Kashima	4,050 tonnes
Shimayuki-class		Training vessel	RS Shimayuki RS Setoyuki	3,000 tonnes	Reconverted Hatsuyuki-class destroyers.
Hatakaze class		Training vessel	RS Hatakaze	5,900 tonnes	Converted Hatakaze-class guided missile destroyer.
Oyashio class		Training submarine	RS Oyashio RS Michishio	4,000 tonnes	Reconverted Oyashio-class submarines.
Kurobe-class		Training support ship	JS Kurobe (ATS-4202)
Tenryu-class		Training support ship	JS Tenryu (ATS-4203)

Ranks

Main article: Military ranks and insignia of the Royal Armed Forces of the High Kingdom of Reia § Royal Reian Maritime Force

The following details the officer ranks of the RRMF, showing the Reian rank, the English translation and the NATO equivalent.

Commissioned officer ranks

Cap badges:

• 
• 

All commissioned officer rank names were the same as their army counterparts. The navy would prefix the common rank names with "Kaigun" (海軍), while the army would prefix them with "Rikugun" (陸軍), meaning "Navy" and "Army", respectively. There was a minor difference in pronunciation of character 大 for Navy Lieutenant and Navy Captain. The navy pronounced it as "Dai", while the army pronounced it as "Tai". See the table below for details:

All-forces ranks	English translation	RRMF insignia (sleeve)	RRMF insignia (collar & shoulder boards)
大元帥海軍大将 (Daigensui-kaigun-taishō)	Lord high admiral of the High Kingdom of Reia (Admiralissimo)
元帥海軍大将 (Gensui-kaigun-taishō)	Grand Admiral (Admiral of the fleet)	(Same insignia as admiral; with enamelled breast badge)
海軍大将 (Kaigun-taishō)	Admiral
海軍中将 (Kaigun-chūjō)	Vice-admiral
海軍少将 (Kaigun-shōshō)	Rear-admiral
海軍大佐 (Kaigun-daisa)	Captain
海軍中佐 (Kaigun-chūsa)	Commander
海軍少佐 (Kaigun-shōsa)	Lieutenant-commander
海軍大尉 (Kaigun-dai-i)	Lieutenant
海軍中尉 (Kaigun-chūi)	Sub-lieutenant (Lieutenant junior grade)
海軍少尉 (Kaigun-shōi)	Ensign

Enlisted rates

All-forces ranks				RRMF insignia (upper sleeve) after 1 November 1942
Before 1 November 1911		After 1 November 1911
Rank	English translation	Rank	English translation
Petty officers 下士官　(Kashikan)
一等兵曹 (Ittōheisō)	Petty officer first class	上等兵曹 (Jōtōheisō)	Chief petty officer
二等兵曹 (Nitōheisō)	Petty officer second class	一等兵曹 (Ittōheisō)	Petty officer first class
三等兵曹 (Santōheisō)	Petty officer third class	二等兵曹 (Nitōheisō)	Petty officer second class
Enlisted/Seamen 水兵 (Suihei)
一等水兵 (Ittōsuihei)	Seaman first class	水兵長 (Suiheichō)	Leading seaman
二等水兵 (Nitōsuihei)	Seaman second class	上等水兵 (Jōtōsuihei) (senior seaman)	Able seaman
三等水兵 (Santōsuihei)	Seaman third class	一等水兵 (Ittōsuihei) (seaman first class)	Ordinary seaman
四等水兵 (Yontōsuihei)	Seaman (seaman fourth class)	二等水兵 (Nitōsuihei) (seaman second class)	Seaman recruit