【日向級直升機護衛艦】能停放11架直升機，排水量比航母都大，日本稱其為護衛艦，外界稱之為准航母

日向級護衛艦（ひゅうが型護衛艦）是日本海上自衛隊旗下的一個直升機護衛艦（Helicopter Destroyer, DDH）艦級。但有別於日本原本擁有的榛名級與白根級直升機護衛艦，艦身構造較為接近配置有可以供直升機起降的全通式飛行甲板與機庫之驅逐艦，日向級擁有與他國海軍直升機航空母艦乃至於輕型航空母艦接近的艦體構造、功能與噸位。在後續的出雲級登場之前，日向級曾一度是日本在二戰結束、帝國海軍解散後除補給艦摩周級外，所建造過排水量最大的軍艦。新艦由海上自衛隊設計，IHI海洋聯合負責建造。 設計原則依照小型航空母艦或兩栖突擊艦，與此設計方式相似的還有泰國皇家海軍11,486噸查克裏·納呂貝特號航空母艦、義大利海軍13,850噸的加裏波底號航空母艦、西班牙海軍17,000噸的阿斯圖裏亞斯親王號航空母艦，與英國皇家海軍21,000噸的無敵級航空母艦。 Hyuga-class frigate (ひゅうが-type frigate) is a helicopter frigate (Helicopter Destroyer, DDH) under the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. But unlike Japan’s original Haruna-class and Shirane-class helicopter frigates, the hull structure is closer to the destroyer equipped with an all-through flight deck and hangar for helicopters to take off and land. The hull structure, function and tonnage of a light aircraft carrier approaching. Before the subsequent Izumo class debut, the Hyuga class was once the largest displacement warship built by Japan after the end of World War II and the dissolution of the Imperial Navy, except for the supply ship Mashu class. The new ship is designed by the Maritime Self-Defense Force, and IHI Marine is jointly responsible for the construction. The design principles are based on small aircraft carriers or amphibious assault ships. Similar to this design method are the Royal Thai Navy’s 11,486-ton Chakri Nalubert aircraft carrier, the Italian Navy’s 13,850-ton Garibaldi aircraft carrier, and the Spanish Navy’s 17,000-ton aircraft carrier. The USS Prince of Asturias, and the Royal Navy’s 21,000-ton Invincible-class aircraft carrier.