, also simply known as the
JMSDF Maizuru Air Base, or
JMSDF Maizuru Air Station, is the only air base on the Sea of Japan side of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the need to strengthen its defense system was called for in preparation for the darkening of North Korean craft ships. However, because there was no Maritime Self-Defense Force air base nearby, the aircraft of the escort vessels belonging to the 3rd escort group whose home port is Maizuru Port are flying from
Tateyama Air Base (
Chiba Prefecture) each time. It was pointed out that "Maizuru is a defective base". Therefore, the Maritime Self-Defense Force made a plan to develop a
runway,
control tower,
hangar, etc. on a site of about 220,000 m2 in the
Nagahama District of Maizuru City, and started construction in 1996. Completed on 22 March 2001, the Maizuru Air Division under the control of the 123rd Air Corps of the 21st Fleet Air Group was initially formed, and six patrol helicopters
SH-60J were stationed there. On 26 March 2008, the Maizuru Air Division was upgraded, the 23rd Air Group was newly formed under the 21st Air Group, and the number of patrol helicopters was increased to 12 (SH-60J / K). The defense system on the Sea of Japan side will be strengthened. On 24 March 2001, Maizuru Airfield completed and the Maizuru Air Detachment, Maizuru Maintenance and Supply Detachment and Maizuru Air Base Detachment were newly added to the 123rd Air Group of the 21st Air Group. In February 2002, dispatched to the
Indian Ocean under the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law (patrol helicopter mounted on an escort ship). Since then, dispatched a total of 4 times. On 3 April, dispatched to a disaster for a tanker sinking accident. Conducted a survey of oil diffusion on the sea surface. In October 2004, dispatched a disaster to the flood damage of the
Yura River caused by
Typhoon Vicente in 2004. SH-60J and others belonging to this base rescued passengers left behind on the roof of a submerged sightseeing bus. Disaster dispatch for the
2004 Chūetsu earthquake that occurred on 23 October. In August 2006,
Defense Agency decides to upgrade Maizuru Air Detachment to Air Corps. In 2007, disaster dispatch for the
Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred on 25 March. Conducted damage situation reconnaissance. Disaster dispatch for the
Mie-ken Chubu Earthquake that occurred on 15 April. Conducted damage situation reconnaissance. Dispatched to the
Niigata Chuetsu-oki Earthquake that occurred on 16 July. Conducted damage situation reconnaissance and transportation of personnel and relief supplies. On 23 January 2008, transport of emergency cases of burns from Maizuru to
Kanazawa (Request for dispatch of disaster due to helicopter inability to fly). On 12 February, rescue of fallen people from fishing rafts in Maizuru Bay. On 3 March, search for distressed fishing boats off Kyogamisaki. 26 March: Maizuru Air Detachment abolished. The 23rd Air Corps was newly released under the 21st Air Group. Increased the number of resident helicopters from 6 to 12. 20 May: Search for victims of personal watercraft capsizing. From 6 to 7 December, search for missing persons while surfing off
Takahama,
Fukui Prefecture. From 6 July to 29 November 2009, dispatch of a countermeasure unit for pirates off the
coast of Somalia under the Act on Punishment of Piracy and Countermeasures against Piracy (escort-based aircraft). Since then, as of January 2020, dispatched a total of 5 times. On 23 July, dispatched to a disaster in response to a rotorcraft distress in the Tajima region of
Hyogo prefecture. Conducted a search for distressed aircraft. On 3 September SH-60K begins to be deployed to the 23rd Air Corps. On 2 November, search for anglers in distress at Fukui Port. From 11 March to 31 August 2011, SH-60J / SH-60K was dispatched to the
Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on 11 March (escort carrier-based aircraft). On 12 March 2015, The 23rd Air Group has completed the operation of SH-60J. From 22 April to 4 May 2016, dispatched to the
Kumamoto earthquake that occurred on 14 April. Participated as a member of the bathing support unit in the disaster area. File:JMSDF SH-60K(8412) at Maizuru Air Station July 16, 2016.jpg|SH-60K at Maizuru Air Station ==See also==