Submarine Mochishio Launched

 Tokyo, November 6, 2006 – Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation today held a ceremony　marking the launch of the submarine, Mochishio, which is now being built for the Japan Defense Agency (JDA), at the No.1 Building Berth of the Kobe Shipyard. The ceremony was attended by a delegation of top JDA officials.

 The submarine is the eleventh Oyashio class submarine and the 23rd built by Kawasaki Shipbuilding since the end of World War II.
She has a modified teardrop hull for superior submerged operations and propulsion performance . Other features include high tensile steel on the hull, a variety of automated systems, improved surveillance capabilities using high-performance sonar, increased stealth capabilities and enhanced safety measures.