Tamiya 31006 JMSDF Defense Ship LST-4002 Shimokita

The Shimokita is a modern Japanese heavy landing ship with an air deck, the keel of which was laid in 1999, launched in November 2000, and commissioned in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in March 2002. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 178 m, width 25.8 m, and the actual full displacement - 8,900 tons. The maximum speed of the ship was 22 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was two 20mm Phalanx CIWS sets, two 12.7mm M2 machine guns. The ship can also take on board up to 8 helicopters, two LCAC hovercraft from 330 to 1000 soldiers and up to 10 MBTs. Shimokita is the second Osumi-class "landing craft". Units of this type were created as heavy landing ships, but they can be adapted to act as light aircraft carriers operating helicopters and V / STOL airplanes without any problems. The ships have very modern electronic equipment and relatively large modernization potential.