Editor in Chief Bill | 26 Mar 2015 8:44 p.m. PST |
A 24,000-ton helicopter carrier has formally entered the fleet of Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) on Wednesday making the ship the largest warship Japan has fielded since the close of World War II.The commissioning ceremony JS Izumo (DDH-183) — the first of two for the JMSDF — was held in Yokohama and attended by Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. Billed by the Japanese as a platform to assist in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) operations, the ship has flared regional tensions in neighbors— China especially — who view the ship as a power projection platform with a historically aggressive name… link |
Mako11 | 26 Mar 2015 8:56 p.m. PST |
Good for them. I think they should build a few more. Seems like a logical response to Chinese naval expansion in the region. |
skippy0001 | 26 Mar 2015 9:20 p.m. PST |
Where's the Wave Motion Gun? |
cwlinsj | 26 Mar 2015 10:26 p.m. PST |
I think they should build a few more. That's #3 of four carriers Japan has planned. That will tie them with France and only the USA will have more (a lot more.) |
Cacique Caribe | 26 Mar 2015 11:24 p.m. PST |
Like I've been saying for a decade now, you better start teaching yourself and your kids proper Mandarin! I wish it had been Japanese, but we have hamstrung them and it's gonna take them too long to prepare properly for China. I find Japanese much easier to pronounce. Dan TMP link |
Khusrau | 27 Mar 2015 2:33 a.m. PST |
They are not carriers.. they are just big destroyers with the ability to land aircraft.. because the constitution doesn't allow 'aggressive' weapons. |
Mako11 | 27 Mar 2015 4:41 a.m. PST |
Exactly. A shame that "through deck cruiser" name never really caught on, since they could use that instead. ;-) |
Sundance | 27 Mar 2015 5:58 a.m. PST |
They are starting their build-up for the Top Secret 'Pearl Harbor II' Mission. They already own half the country so they figure it won't be as difficult this time around. |
Klebert L Hall | 27 Mar 2015 6:21 a.m. PST |
It really isn't all that big. Always happy to see allies expand their forces, though. -Kle. |
GROSSMAN | 27 Mar 2015 8:20 a.m. PST |
How about some F-35s to go with that? Said no one ever… |
cwlinsj | 27 Mar 2015 11:46 a.m. PST |
Yep. Sure looks like a destroyer to me. link I suppose these destroyers will be able to handle the fleet of V-22 Ospreys Japan has budgeted for 2015. |
Lion in the Stars | 27 Mar 2015 1:21 p.m. PST |
Given what Japan's SDF is constitutionally limited to, helo carriers make a lot of sense. Disaster? Pack the flight deck with HH60s and/or V22s and steam fast to the disaster area. Or start steaming and let the helos come to you on the way to the disaster area. General maritime patrol? SH60s and maybe a couple AH1s/AH64s for threat. Retaking an island? HH60s, V22s, and attack helos. And when new sensors come out, you only pay for fitting them to the helos, which is a lot cheaper than drydocking and ship alterations. |