Japan Aims to Make Sasebo a Strong Foothold for Amphibious Operations for the Self-Defense Forces

Japan is ramping up efforts to determine a robust foothold for its Self-Protection Forces’ amphibious operations in Sasebo Metropolis, Nagasaki Prefecture of Kyushu, the southernmost of the nation’s 4 predominant islands, with China’s more and more assertive maritime growth in thoughts.

Particularly, the Ministry of Protection in Tokyo plans to construct a system for joint operations between the Floor Self-Protection Pressure (GSDF)’s present Amphibious Fast Deployment Brigade, which is headquartered in Sasebo, and the Maritime Self-Protection Pressure (MSDF)’s Amphibious and Mine Warfare Group (a tentative title given by the Protection Ministry) that will probably be newly organized within the metropolis by March 2026. 

This transfer goals to bolster capabilities to defend and recapture distant islands, particularly in Japan’s southwestern Nansei island chain, which spans about 1,200 km from Kagoshima to Okinawa, stretching southwest towards Taiwan. The chain consists of the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands within the East China Sea. The islands are managed by Japan but additionally claimed by China and Taiwan.

The plan got here as a part of the largest-ever organizational restructuring within the historical past of the MSDF, which is able to abolish its present Fleet Escort Pressure and the Mine Warfare Pressure, after which consolidate them into a brand new “Fleet Floor Pressure” (tentative title) with the intention to centralize the operation of the MSDF’s floor vessels by the tip of fiscal yr 2025.

“It is a full scrap-and-build reorganization of our floor vessel fleet,” an MSDF spokesperson stated.

The MSDF presently has 4 Escort Flotillas, with headquarters at Yokosuka of Kanagawa Prefecture, Sasebo of Nagasaki Prefecture, Maizuru of Kyoto Prefecture, and Kure of Hiroshima Prefecture. Beneath the brand new reorganization plan, these 4 flotillas will probably be remodeled into three Floor Warfare Teams (tentative title) underneath the Fleet Floor Pressure.

Which means certainly one of these 4 Escort Flotillas’ command headquarters will probably be eradicated. In keeping with a press briefing on the proposed fiscal 2025 protection finances held by the Ministry of Protection in late December, the prevailing HQ in Sasebo will probably be retired within the reorganization – however Sasebo will tackle one other vital position. 

Protection officers stated the headquarters of the Fleet Floor Pressure will probably be positioned in Yokosuka. Beneath this drive, the headquarters of the primary Floor Warfare Group will probably be positioned in Yokosuka, the second Floor Warfare Group in Kure, the third Floor Warfare Group in Maizuru. They usually stated that in Sasebo, the command headquarters of the brand new Amphibious and Mine Warfare Group will probably be established.

This new Amphibious and Mine Warfare Group will merge the prevailing Mine Warfare Pressure with transport and amphibious ships to help mine warfare and amphibious warfare operations.

The Protection Ministry was allotted 25.5 billion yen ($161.7 million) to assemble MSDF services within the Sakibe-East District of Sasebo for fiscal yr 2025. As soon as building is full, the MSDF could have a big wharf able to mooring the Osumi-class tank touchdown ships and the MSDF’s largest ships, the Izumo-class destroyers. The ministry expects to moor these giant naval vessels in Sasebo beginning in fiscal yr 2029.

Every of the MSDF’s present 4 escort flotillas consist of 1 helicopter destroyer (DDH), 5 general-purpose destroyers (DD), and two Aegis destroyers (DDG) for a complete of eight vessels. Presently, the second Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer, JS Ise, is homeported on the MSDF’s Sasebo Base and is scheduled to stay deployed to the brand new Amphibious Mine and Warfare Group there.

“The present Mine Warfare Pressure, which will probably be remodeled into the Amphibious and Mine Warfare Group quickly, has made very efficient use of the DDHs if we take a look at its monitor file and coaching,” Admiral Saito Akira, chief of workers of the MSDF, stated at a press convention on September 3 final yr.

“It’s true that the Mine Warfare Pressure may very well be commanded and managed by transport ships, however communication capabilities and area on these ships are restricted, so one of many 4 DDHs has been dispatched to the Mine Warfare Pressure to hold out operations, coaching, and workout routines. Subsequently, primarily based on that monitor　file, we’ll deploy one of many 4 DDHs to the brand new Amphibious and Mine Warfare Group,” Saito continued. 

In the meantime, the GSDF’s Amphibious Fast Deployment Brigade, which was established in March 2018, is headquartered at Camp Ainoura in Sasebo. Two Amphibious Fast Deployment Regiments (every 600 personnel) are primarily based on the similar camp. In March 2024, the third Amphibious Fast Deployment Regiment was established at Camp Takematsu in Omura Metropolis, additionally in Nagasaki Prefecture.

Within the occasion of an emergency, their predominant mission is to recapture occupied islands. The brigade primarily lands from the ocean utilizing amphibious automobiles and boats to launch battles. Thus, the brigade has been typically described by the media as a “Japanese model of Marines” in reference to the U.S. Marine Corps, which is liable for amphibious operations.

As well as, it shouldn’t be forgotten that a part of the Expeditionary Strike Group 7 is positioned in Sasebo. It’s the U.S. Navy’s solely forward-deployed amphibious drive and is headquartered at White Seaside Naval Facility, Okinawa, with an working detachment in Sasebo. Its subordinate Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 and Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCMRON) 7 are additionally primarily based on the U.S. Navy’s Sasebo Base.

The essence of amphibious warfare is joint operations, and shut cooperation between the GSDF, the U.S. Navy, and the MSDF in Sasebo will probably be required greater than ever earlier than.