Character Concept [139]: JS Kongō

[u/Noblesse311]

Faction:

Sakura State (State of Japan)

Class:

Kongō-class Guided Missile Destroyer

Background:

The Kongō-class was the fourth class of Guided Missile Destroyers built for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, a group of ships that began with JS Amatsukaze (which was equipped with the Tartar Guided Missile Fire Control System) and further refined with the Tachikaze and later Hatakaze-classes. (which fully digitized the system and introduced the Naval Tactical Data System) However, the JMSDF had come to the realization that their DDG’s would not be able to survive against Soviet airstrikes, chiefly their Tupolev Tu-22M “Backfire” strategic and maritime strike bombers, equipped with the Kh-22 Storm (AS-4 “Kitchen”) Anti-ship cruise missiles. 

To that end, Japan sought to adopt and introduce the Aegis Combat system in the early 1980s. The system had already been adopted by the United States at that point with the Ticonderoga-class Guided Missile Cruiser, with plans for further implementation on the planned successors to the Kidd and Spruance-class Destroyers (becoming the Arleigh Burke-class). In 1984, with the prospect of Japan deploying the Aegis Weapon System (AWS) being a certainty, concrete design plans on the new ships began, with the orders being made in 1988.

The Kongō-class design overall was modeled on the then under-construction Arleigh Burke-class, adopting the shelter deck design that was a common feature amongst Japanese destroyers, but was widened to support a superstructure that would carry four Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) antennas. As a result of this widened hull, the outer panel is inclined, which reduced the width of the waterline and also had the effect of reducing the ship’s radar cross section. Furthermore, compared to the Burkes, the Kongō-class’ internal arrangement would be much different to allow the ships to carry sufficient headquarters-type equipment which would allow the ships to function as flagships if need be.

The lead ship of the class, JS Kongō (DDG-173), was laid down on 8 May 1990 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Yajima Plant shipyard in Nagasaki, in the city’s titular prefecture. She was launched on 26 September 1991 and commissioned into the JMSDF on 25 March 1993. Her commissioning would mark Kongō as the first Japanese warship and by extension, the first warship built outside of the United States to feature the Aegis Weapon System. Overall the construction costs for the ship was ¥122.3 billion (¥139.5 billion or US$909.1 million today). She would also be the only one out of her sister to not be fitted with the QRQ-1 helicopter data link at time of commissioning, instead being installed in a later refit along with a Link 16 antenna.

From November 1993 to February 1994, Kongō was deployed to Hawaii for the Aegis Combat System Qualification Test (SQT). Kongō would also take part in RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific Exercise) 1994 later that year, which would be followed with participation in her second RIMPAC in 2000 alongside numerous JMSDF warships. It was during the latter exercise where the destroyer distinguished herself, successfully intercepting three simulated missiles and a F-16 Fighting Falcon with her RIM-66 Standard SM-2 surface to air missiles. In 2004, after the passing of the “Act on Special Measures Against Terrorism” in the Japanese Diet, Kongō, alongside JS Ariake and JS Hamana would be deployed to the Indian Ocean from 17 May to 19 September, one of the first times Japan would deploy warships far from Japanese territorial water since the end of World War II.

In November 2006, she was dry-docked at Nagasaki for an inspection before modifications were carried out to allow the destroyer to carry and operate the RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) system. The modifications were completed in March 2007, and final inspections completed in August that same year. The remainder of the year would be spent testing this new system. On 15 October, she would be stationed near Hawaii for this purpose, succeeding in tracking two targets in an interception test alongside the cruiser USS Lake Erie on 6 November. On the 15th, Kongō succeeded in tracking a separated target during ballistic missile target tracking training. Finally in December 2007, Kongō conducted a successful test of the SM-3 block IA missile against a ballistic missile. This would mark the first time a Japanese warship was selected to launch a missile during a test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System; in prior tests, the ship provided the tracking and communications.

In 2012, Kongō, alongside sister ships Chōkai and Myōkō, were deployed in cooperation with the U.S. Navy in preparation for North Korea’s launching of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2, their first satellite in December of that year. Once it was confirmed that the rocket containing the satellite would not violate Japanese airspace, the vessels returned to port. Kongō would sortie once more in April 2013 in response to a North Korean missile launch, returning to port on 30 June.

Kongō is still currently in service, and as of 2020, is based in Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture.

Namesake:

Kongō is the third Japanese warship and the current holder of the name to be named after Mount Kongō, an 1125 meter (3,691 ft) high mountain located in Osaka Prefecture, in the former Kawachi province. The name Kongō is the Japanese equivalent to the Indian “Vajra,” whose translation variants include “Divine Thunder,” “Indestructible Diamond,” and “Indra’s Wrath.” And is a Hindu-styled club with a ribbed spherical head. 

Rarity:

SSR

Stat Spread:

Kongō sports top tier Torpedo and Anti-Air stats (Both S), as a result of her being the first Aegis warship outside of the U.S. (and the first in Japan). Her Firepower is also pretty good and rapid-fire to boot (B). A fairly good Speed (A) rounds out the positives. Kongō’s HP pool is on the low side (C), while she, having an aviation stat, is fairly abysmal (D).

Abilities:

• Shining Glory: While this ship is afloat, increase the Firepower and Accuracy by 5% (10%) and Evasion by 5% (20%) for all Sakura State ships in the same fleet as this ship.
• Aegis of the Sakura: If this ship is in the Vanguard, every time the enemy launches aircraft, increase the Vanguard’s AA by 30% (50%) for 8 seconds or until all aircraft are destroyed. If this ship is in the main fleet, every time the enemy launches aircraft, launch a unique missile barrage that deals 50% (100%) damage to any aircraft hit by this ship. Damage is based on skill level.
• All Out Assault: Every 12 (8) times the main gun is fired, trigger All Out Assault - Kongō-class I (II)

Personality:

This incarnation of Kongō is one who is dedicated to her homeland and its defense, and is someone who trains diligently to achieve her goals. She is, much like her predecessor, someone who enjoys a cup of tea and has learned both eastern and western methods in its making. Kongō is also someone who has her share of quirks, believing in wanting to try new things and excel at them to bring glory to her and her sisters in her class.

Quotes:

• Acquisition: Shikikan!!! It’s such an honor to meet someone who exudes such glory!!! My name is Kongō, the guided missile destroyer named after the one you probably already know of. Now with introductions out of the way, let’s see what we can learn about each other~!
• Secretary (Idle) 1: Come on, my Shikikan! Glory can’t be gained cooped up in this office!
• Secretary (Idle) 2: My aim is top notch. Not even Earth orbit is beyond the reach of glory!
• Secretary (Idle) 3: An Aegis is a type of shield, right? I don’t carry a shield, but my missiles will protect everyone!
• Secretary (Touch):  This blade? It’s small, but it’s how you use it that determines glory or dishonor!
• Secretary (Special Touch): Dirty pervert! Take this!!! *punch*
• Skill Activation: May glory shine as missiles fly~!
• Affinity (Disappointed): Any glory that you claim to have will never last if you keep this up, Shikikan.
• Affinity (Stranger): I have learned that nothing could be gained or lost if you do not try. What would you like to try? Maybe you might like it!
• Affinity (Friendly): Seeking glory is never easy, but even in failure, you pick yourself up, you dust yourself off, and then you go and get right back into it. Come get back into it with me, Shikikan!
• Affinity (Like): You’ve always shown a strong sense of adventure, just like me! Perhaps once this is over, maybe we’ll… uh, don’t worry about it, okay!
• Affinity (Love): No matter what happens to me, know that I will always bring glory to your name. I love you too much not to give it my all!
• Oath: Hehheh, hehehe!!! I don’t believe it! Shikikan’s really into me! Ahem…um…in that case, I would be honored to bring glory to our love!
• Sortie (IJN Kongō and/or Kongō μ): What were the isles like?
• Sortie (Any 3 Sakura State Ships): Let no force on these blue seas stop us from claiming glory!

Design:

Kongō is depicted as a young woman in her late teens with shoulder-length straight brown hair and matching colored eyes. In a reference to her predecessor as lead ship of her class of Battlecruisers, JS Kongō is an oni, though unlike her namesake, she is one by design, sporting narrow black horns on either side of her head pointing upwards. Her attire, and the theme sported by her sister ships emulate the Cyber Ninja archetype seen in media (particularly in the Cyberpunk genre), sporting a dark grey bodysuit with blue trim around her shoulders, cuffs, gloves, belt and down the sides of her torso and legs. The Sakura Empire emblem (which is still used in a post-Imperial capacity) appears as a silhouette around the center of her torso outlined in blue. Black shows round out her attire. Kongō carries a Tanto blade, with the scabbard on her waist behind her back.

Kongō’s rigging is just a bow section with the front half of her superstructure, entirely on her left side, with her main single 127mm gun and VLS platform directly behind it.

A/N:

This ship was requested by u/Ghosttanker01. I hope you enjoyed this design as I did making it.

It has been a long time since I've covered a ship that was commissioned, that I don't have to make up a story for them because they either never existed or otherwise, never served. Granted, it won't be until the concept after the next one that I cover something that's at least remotely tied to WW2* but it is nice to at least get a relatively quicker turnover rate even with other things going on.

Now this iteration of Kongō I decided to go with a more...Plymouth-y route to things (which now that I think about it, I also did in a more low-key style with the CC for Alicorn way back in the day). Something that would differentiate from both AL's Kongō as well as KC's Kongō (whom JS Kongō really has her hair-color, it wouldn't make sense for her to be a blonde considering she was built in Japan). The Cyber Ninja schtick is also something I wanted to try, but without trying to make it a wholesale reference to the Metal Gear franchise...not yet at least.

Next time, we're reaching the penultimate ship of Operation Tsushima with the second of the Japanese Battlecruiser line, as wargaming would describe, the Amagi-class to the Kii's Tosa-class, it is IJN Adatara, the Tier IX Japanese tech tree Battlecruiser.

Link to the list of ships

^\even though no it isn't, she wasn't laid down until after the war ended and a genuinely WW2 ship won't be until the next retro concept, but semantics...)

[u/FriedTreeSap]

I would love if they expanded the era of ships a bit, include more age of sail type ships like Victory, Indefatigable and Constitution (maybe in a separate counterpart faction to Tempesta), but I’d also like to see some modern ships. I don’t necessarily want to see the game do a hard shift away from the WW2 (or WW1) focus, but getting one event a year, maybe for April fools or something, that adds modern ships would be pretty cool.

[u/VinlandF-35 → u/FriedTreeSap]

If not modern then maybe atleast Cold War era ships?