The Hiuchi class support ship is designed to provide Auxiliary Multi-purpose Support (AMS) for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

The Hiuchi AMS class replaced the Auxiliary Service Utility class (ASU). The primary mission of these vessels is to support training exercises of other ships, including shooting practice and torpedo launching practice.

Ships in the class

Pennant No.	Name	Home port	Shipyard	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned
AMS-4301	Hiuchi JS Hiuchi (AMS-4301) JS Hiuchi is a Hiuchi class Auxiliary Multi-purpose Support ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force .The ship was built by Mitsui in Tamano and commissioned into service on 27 March 2002....	Kure Kure, Hiroshima is a city in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 240,820 and a population density of 681 persons per km². The total area is 353.74 km².- History :...	Mitsui Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding is a Japanese company. It is listed on the Nikkei 225.Established in 1917 as the Shipbuilding Division of Mitsui & Co. with the first shipyard at Tamano City... , Tamano Tamano, Okayama is a city located in the southern Okayama, Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 64,980, with a household number of 27,933 and the density of 627.16 persons per km². The total area is 103.61 km²....	18 Jan 2001	4 Sept 2001	27 March 2002
AMS-4302	Suo JS Suo (AMS-4302) JS Suō is a Hiuchi Class Auxiliary Multi-purpose Support ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force .The ship was built by Universal in Keihin and commissioned into service on 16 March 2004....	Yokosuka Yokosuka, Kanagawa is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 419,067 and a population density of 4,160 people per km². It covered an area of 100.62 km²...	Universal, Keihin Keihin region consists of the Japanese cities Tokyo, Kawasaki, and Yokohama. The term is mostly used to describe these cities as one industrial region. It is derived from the second character of Tōkyō, , which can be read kyō or kei, and the second character of Yokohama, , which can be read hin or hama.The...	19 Sept 2002	25 April 2003	16 March 2004
AMS-4303	Amakusa JS Amakusa (AMS-4303) JS Amakusa is a Hiuchi Class Auxiliary Multi-purpose Support ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force .The ship was built by Universal in Keihin and commissioned into service on 16 March 2004....	Sasebo Sasebo, Nagasaki is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 259,800 and the density of 609 persons per km². The total area is 426.47 km². The locality is famed for its scenic beauty. The city includes a part of Saikai National Park...	Universal, Keihin	3 Dec 2002	6 Aug 2003	16 March 2004
AMS-4304	Genkai JS Genkai (AMS-4304) JS Genkai is a Hiuchi Class Auxiliary Multi-purpose Support ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force .The ship was built by Universal in Keihin and commissioned into service on 20 Feb 2008....	Kure Kure, Hiroshima is a city in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 240,820 and a population density of 681 persons per km². The total area is 353.74 km².- History :...	Universal, Keihin	7 Nov 2006	24 May 2007	20 Feb 2008
AMS-4305	Enshu JS Enshu (AMS-4305) JS Enshu is a Hiuchi Class Auxiliary Multi-purpose Support ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force .The ship was built by Universal in Keihin and commissioned into service on 20 February 2008....	Yokosuka Yokosuka, Kanagawa is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 419,067 and a population density of 4,160 people per km². It covered an area of 100.62 km²...	Universal, Keihin	19 Dec 2006	9 Aug 2007	20 Feb 2008

External links

• 多用途支援艦「ひうち」型
• Ministry of Defense, Press Conference by the Defense Minister (11:11-11:26 A.M. March 25, 2011)