The Sakura class is a Japanese Space Defense Force fleet frigate designed to augment the cruiser force with advance missile attacks before retiring to the main force in a supporting role.  While not technically a missile frigate, as the Sakura devotes as much payload mass to its laser weapons as it does antiship missiles, combat doctrine for the ship often treats it as one.  This has led to force commanders throwing them into simulated battles against cruisers and battleships expecting their volleys to inflict heavy damage, and often finding instead that they do not carry enough weapons to saturate enemy point defense systems and still land enough hits to do serious damage.  Furthermore, if the enemy has missile capabilities, the return volleys frequently prove deadly against the Sakuras with only two of their own point defense systems to protect them.

The Sakura is often compared to the Oberon class frigate as a good match even at 600 tons lower mass displacement.  The Sakura and Oberon both have similar hull and armor ratings, with the Sakura edging out the Oberon slightly in firepower with six missiles to the Oberon’s four.  On the other hand, the Oberon has significantly more Delta-Vee, and a higher thrust torch drive, giving it tactical and strategic mobility the Sakura lacks.