Murasame supplies helicopters and general-purpose escort strength

Murasame supplies the general-purpose destroyers that support Japan's larger air-defence ships and helicopter destroyers. Concerns about having enough destroyers and embarked helicopters, especially against submarines, helped shape a fourteen-ship plan, although only nine were built. At roughly 4,500 tons standard and a little over 6,000 tons fully loaded, the ships combine Mark 41-launched ASROC with Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles, Type 90 anti-ship missiles, a 76 mm gun, and Phalanx. One helicopter is the normal load, but a second can be carried for overseas operations or work farther from Japan. This combination supplies much of the escort force's routine combat capability while allowing its specialist ships to concentrate on their roles.