The Japanese Maritime personal Defence Force (JMSDF) was established in 1954 and quickly began the deployment of landing vessels. During those times, just tank landing vessels lent from the U.S. had been utilized. From 1965, however, the Japanese produced, "Atsumi" and "Miura" kind landing ships, implemented one after another. Utilizing the increasing size of automobiles and gear to be loaded, and as a result of expanding number of duties to be done, the implementation of multi-purpose landing vessels with increased loading capacity and maneuverability became necessary. Plans were used in 1993 as well as in March of 1998, the largest transportation ship for the JMSDF, the "Ohsumi" ended up being implemented. She boasts an enormous top deck, with a general amount of 160m, breadth of 25.8m and homes a vehicle loading space on the front side and a helicopter landing deck on back. Leading of her hull supports a 100m long car deck. In combination with top of the deck, the loading of between ten and twenty tanks and about forty large scale cars is possible. Automobiles are packed on to the hull via two huge side ramps. Vertical motion of packed automobiles is enabled by two elevators, one 20t and another 15ft, the lifting of automobiles from deck to deck. The hull can accommodate 130 crew and 330 tropps. In the way it is of a big scale normal disaster, "Ohsumi" is with the capacity of accommodating more than 1000 people and is completely designed with medical equipment. In the back of hull, there is a 60m long room for 2 LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushions) spot end to get rid of. The initial transport hovercraft for the JSDF, the LCAC rides on a cushion of air over water or land at a height of 1.2m at a maximum rate of 40kt (74km/h). With a loading capacity of 50t, general duration of 27m, the LCAC can load one Type 90 tank or higher ten light automobiles, manned by a team of 5 and as much as 24 JSDF troops.
The "Ohsumi" variety of vessel enables the efficient transport of JDS ground troops to strategic locations, rescue of civilians in the event of major natural disaster, and potentially functions as a supply base for United Nations Peace maintaining Operations. "Ohsumi Specifications Displacement: 8900t, Overall length: 178m, Draft: 6m Breadth: 25.8m, Maximum Speed: 22kt (40km/h), Armaments: Close in Weapon System x2, Chaff x 6, Main motor: 2 Shaft Diesel Engine x 2 optimum Output: 27,000ps
