Japanese Navy officially named the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Ships were prefixed “JDS” (Japanese Defense Ship) until 2008, when the were redesignated “JS” (Japanese Ship). These pages use JS. 24 ship classes documented with 36 captures.
See lower pages for ship views and photo credits:
Frigates (includes small destroyers)
Corvettes and Patrol Vessels (includes Destroyer Escorts)
The Searchers 