First Landing Support Vessel for Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

Japan’s Naikai Zosen shipbuilder launched the “Yoko,” the first landing support vessel (LSV) for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), during a ceremony at its Setoda shipyard in Hiroshima Prefecture.

The 120-meter-long Yoko, with a standard displacement of approximately 3,500 tons, features a draft of 4 meters and can carry a crew of about 40. It has a transport capacity of several thousand tons, accommodating dozens of vehicles or 20-foot containers, and reaches a top speed of 15 knots (28.8 km/h). The construction cost of the vessel was approximately 5.4 billion yen ($35.7 million).

The Yoko is equipped with retractable front and rear ramps, allowing vehicles and supplies to be loaded and unloaded efficiently at quays. Unlike the previously launched landing craft utility (LCU) vessel “Nihonbare,” the Yoko lacks beaching capabilities but offers greater carrying capacity. It can be outfitted with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun for defense.

The Nihonbare, launched in October, is 80 meters long with a standard displacement of 2,400 tons. It is designed for direct loading and unloading on sandy areas or quays, a feature absent in the Yoko but advantageous for operations requiring immediate access to shorelines. The launch comes as Japan boosts its maritime transport capabilities amid rising regional tensions.

The new vessels will support the transport of troops, vehicles, and supplies, particularly in the Nansei Islands, a strategic chain spanning 1,200 kilometers from Kagoshima to Okinawa, including the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands.

To manage these operations, Japan’s Ministry of Defense plans to establish a new Self-Defense Forces Maritime Transport Group at the JMSDF Kure Base in March 2025. The unit, comprising members from the Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces, will initially deploy ten transport ships, including two LSVs like the Yoko, four LCUs, and four maneuver support vessels (MSVs).

The unit will initially have around 100 members and 10 transport ships by March 2028. Both the Yoko and Nihonbare are scheduled for deployment at Kure by March 2025, bolstering Japan’s maritime logistics and defense posture in the first island chain, a key strategic area facing China.