Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

yamato potent symbol of imperial japanese navy

following japan s defeat in world war ii, imperial japanese navy dissolved potsdam declaration acceptance. ships disarmed, , of them, such battleship nagato, taken allied powers reparation. remaining ships used repatriation of japanese soldiers abroad , minesweeping in area around japan, under control of second bureau of demobilization ministry. minesweeping fleet transferred newly formed maritime safety agency, helped maintain resources , expertise of navy.

japan s 1947 constitution drawn after conclusion of war, article 9 specifying japanese people forever renounce war sovereign right of nation , threat or use of force means of settling international disputes. prevalent view in japan article allows military forces kept purposes of self-defense. due cold war pressures, united states happy japan provide part of own defense, rather have rely on american forces.

in 1952, coastal safety force formed within maritime safety agency, incorporating minesweeping fleet , other military vessels, destroyers, given united states. in 1954, coastal safety force separated, , jmsdf formally created naval branch of japanese self-defense force (jsdf), following passage of 1954 self-defense forces law.

the first ships in jmsdf former u.s. navy destroyers, transferred japanese control in 1954. in 1956, jmsdf received first domestically produced destroyer since world war ii, harukaze. due cold war threat posed soviet navy s sizable , powerful submarine fleet, jmsdf tasked anti-submarine role.