HYUGA (DDH-181) class

 2 HYUGA-class HELICOPTER-CARRYING DESTROYERS (DDH)

 Name     Pendant     Launched        Commissioned     Status
 HYUGA    DDH-181     Aug. 23, 2007   March 18, 2009   Active
 ISE      DDH-182     Aug. 21, 2009   March 16, 2011   Active

The HYUGA class is Japan's newest family of helicopter-carrying destroyers. Its design, however, bears more of a resemblance to a light aircraft carrier -- with its full-length flight deck and without the main armament normally carried by a...