Japan paired helicopter-led ASW groups with area air-defence ships. Tachikaze-class destroyers added Standard Missile and tactical data systems to the fleet, while Hatakaze and Shimakaze extended the command-and-control and air-defence pool into the 1980s. With six Tartar or Standard-capable ships, Japan could expect two at sea and a third available for task-group command. That redundancy reflects Japan's World War II experience: a fleet that loses command and control can be lost as decisively as one sunk in battle.
Notable Point · 52:37-1:10:20
Tachikaze and Hatakaze add air-defence command depth
Japan's Standard Missile destroyers give escort groups area air defence, command ships, and enough hulls to keep task groups available.