A Japanese destroyer made a brief stop at the Chinese funded Hambantota Port.
The Sri Lanka Navy said that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ship ‘Setogiri’ arrived at the port of Hambantota yesterday (Thursday).
Setogiri, with a 137m long platform, arrived in Hambantota with a crew of 220.
The Sri Lanka Navy said that the proceedings during the visit had been limited owing to the health guidelines stipulated for the prevention of COVID-19.
The ship was scheduled to depart the island today (Friday).
JS Setogiri (DD-156) is an Asagiri-class destroyer of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The Asagiri class is equipped for combat and interception missions, and is primarily armed with anti-ship weapons.
They carry two of the Mk-141 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS), which are anti-ship missile systems.
The ships are also fitted to be used against submarines. They also carry Mk-32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes (SVTT), which can be used as an anti-submarine weapon.
The ships have two of these systems abeam to starboard and to port. They are also fitted with an Oto-Melara 62-caliber gun to be used against sea and air targets. (Colombo Gazette)
