Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Hyuga (DDH 181) [Photo/Agencies]

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan.

The JMSDF operates some 110 major warships, including four helicopter destroyers ("Helicopter carriers"), eight guided-missile destroyers, twenty-nine small-destroyers ("frigates"), three destroyer-escorts ("light-frigates") and sixteen attack submarines (SSK). The fleet has a total displacement of approx. 432,000 tons. It also has 179 fixed-wing aircraft and 135 helicopters. Most of these aircraft are used in antisubmarine and mine warfare operations.