How many ships were in Japan's 88th Fleet***?

Japan's so-called "eight. Eight fleet", refers to the Maritime Self-Defense Force mobile fleet that is the self-defense fleet, equivalent to the original combined fleet frigate fleet surface ships in a form of configuration, each group of frigates and then under the jurisdiction of a helicopter destroyer as the flagship, as well as three escorts, of which two escorts to use the general-purpose destroyer, an escort using the anti-aircraft destroyer, each escort consists of two or three destroyers. The ships of one convoy group can form a "fleet of eight", i.e., a "fleet of eight", i.e., a "fleet of eight", i.e., a "fleet of eight". Eight fleet", that is, 1 helicopter destroyer, 2 air defense destroyers and 5 general-purpose destroyers, and then with 8 helicopters (helicopter destroyers carry 3, general-purpose destroyers each ship a machine).　　In recent years, Japan's shipbuilding speed to maintain a high rate, Murayu / Takanobu class destroyers to the rate of 2 ships per year in service, only a few years, the last generation of general-purpose destroyers Asamushi class and Hatsuyuki class has basically withdrawn from the frigate fleet, Japan's naval tradition has always attached importance to the control of first-line ship age, which is worthy of our reference.

Frigate Group 1: flagship is the Shirane-class helicopter destroyer Shirane (DDH143); this group also has Frigate Group 1: the Murayu-class destroyer Murayu (DDH143); and Frigate Group 1: the Murayu-class destroyer Murayu (DDH144). Murrayu (DD101), Kasuga (DD102), and Lei (DD107); Escort Group 5: Takano-class (which can also be regarded as an improvement of the Murrayu-class) destroyer "The 5th Escort Group included the Takano-class (also considered improved Murayu-class) destroyers Takanami (DD110) and Owana (DD111); and the 61st Escort Group included the Keikaze-class destroyers Keikaze (DDG171) and Kongo-class destroyer Kirishima (DDG171). class destroyer Kirishima (DDG174). All ships in this group are deployed in Yokosuka.

According to Japan's plan, the "Eight. Eight fleet" in: helicopter destroyers carrying three HSS-2B anti-submarine helicopters, as the fleet command ship and responsible for anti-submarine, Kongo class destroyers and flag wind or Taijikaze class anti-aircraft destroyers, mainly responsible for the formation of air defense tasks; five general-purpose destroyers, each carrying a HSS-2B anti-submarine helicopters for anti-submarine, anti-ship operations. In addition, there is also an 8,000-ton ocean-going integrated supply ship, which is responsible for the fleet's ocean-going supply security. Throughout the 1990s, Japan has implemented a huge development program including Kissho and Kasumi class submarines, Kongo-class, Murayu and Takanoha class destroyers, Abukuma class frigates, Ohsumi-class dock carriers, Uraga class minesweeper support ships, Sugashima class coastal minesweepers, and a number of auxiliary ships, and is about to embark on a massive development program that will include two improved Kongo-class destroyers (four may eventually be constructed) and two 13,500-ton helicopter destroyers. The next step will be two improved Vajra-class destroyers (four may eventually be built) and two 13,500-ton helicopter destroyers, as well as a visionary aircraft carrier program. The construction of the successor to the Takanobo-class will continue (the third Makinami will be commissioned next year, and the fourth and fifth will be commissioned in 2005 and 2006, respectively) to replace the remaining Hatsusetsu and Asamo-class destroyers in the frigate fleet. It can be said that the future of Japan will develop into a 13,500-ton amphibious assault ship as the flagship leader, Kongo and Kongo conversion of one each and the flag of the wind class and other three anti-aircraft destroyers and and a helicopter anti-submarine ship and four Takanami, Murayu class general-purpose destroyers composed of nine or ten fleet.

Frigate Group 2: flagship Shirane-class helicopter destroyer "Kuruma" (DDH144); the group also has a second escort group: including the Asamushi class destroyer "Yamamushi" (DD152), "Sawamushi (DD157); Escort Group 6: Muroru-class destroyers Yutaka (DD103) and Kiryu (DD104), "Ariake" (DD109); 62nd Escort Group: including Taijikaze-class destroyer "Sawakaze" (DDG170), Kongo-class destroyer "Kongo" ( DDG173). The frigate group is stationed in Sasebo.

Frigate Group 3: Flagship is the Haruna-class helicopter destroyer Haruna (DDH141); this group also has Frigate Group 3, which includes the Hatsuyuki-class destroyer Hamayuki, the Asagi class destroyer "(DD154); the 7th Escort Group: the Asagi class destroyers Yubuki (DD153) and Hamamushi (DD155); and the 7th Escort Group: the Seto Mushi (DD155), "Seto Mist (DD156); 63rd Escort Group: including the Flagship-class destroyer Shimakaze (DDG172), the Kongo-class destroyer Myoko ( DDG 175), the escort group is based in Maizuru (Haruna, 3rd and 63rd escorts) and Ominato (7th escort).

Frigate Group 4: The flagship is the Haruna-class helicopter destroyer HIRYU (DDH142); this group also has the 4th Escort Group, which includes the Murayu-class destroyer DENKO (DD105), "May Rain (DD106) and Akebono (DD108); the 8th Escort Group: Asamu-class destroyers Asamu (DD151) and Sea Mist (DD151), "Sea Mist (DDG 158); 64th Escort Group: including Asakaze-class destroyer Asakaze (DDG 169) and Kongo-class destroyer Torikai (DDG 176). Among them, "Birei", the 4th and 8th escorts are deployed in Kure, and the 64th escort is deployed in Sasebo.