[rmlew]

I saw not too long ago on some TV program that Japan now has more destroyers in the Pacific than the U.S does.
All of our current destroyers are Aegis equiped Arleigh Burke class. We have over 40 based in the Pacific, but many fewer are deployed there. The Japanese have 6 destroyers that are essentially Burke's made in Japan (Kongo and Atago class). They have 2 obsolete Hatakaze class air defense destroyers, which are similar to our retied Charled F Adams class. They have 2 Hyūga class helicopter destroyers, which are really 13,000 ton carriers. They also have 2 obsolete Shirane class destroyers, whose only asset are their 3 helicopters. They have 5 Shirane class and 9 Murasame class which are modern general purpose destroyers,. They have 8 Asagiri and 7 Hatsuyuki class destroyers, which are essentially general purpose frigates. Finally, they have 6 Abukuma class destroyer escort, which are essentially anti-sub frigates without helicopters.

[yarddog]

Thanks that is more info than I thought anyone would have.

[rlmorel]

I read something I found interesting, that they built their Kongo class destroyers to “maritime” specifications and not military specs. I cannot find out exactly what that means, but the article stated it likely made them more seaworthy and less damage resistant.