Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

These vessels represent the "blue-water" backbone of a national navy. They are large, high-endurance platforms designed to project power far from home shores and engage in high-intensity naval warfare.

These vessels act as the essential "force multipliers" of a fleet. While not primary combatants, they provide the logistical endurance required for warships to remain at sea for months at a time without returning to port.

These vessels provide a nation with its most discreet and survivable means of maritime power. Operating primarily in the undersea domain, they utilise stealth and the vastness of the ocean to conduct missions ranging from strategic deterrence to covert intelligence gathering.