BiffSplitkins Posted August 6, 2013 #1 Share Posted August 6, 2013 YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Japan on Tuesday unveiled its biggest warship since World War II, a huge flat-top destroyer that has raised eyebrows in China and elsewhere because it bears a strong resemblance to a conventional aircraft carrier. The ship, which has a flight deck that is nearly 250 meters (820 feet) long, is designed to carry up to 14 helicopters. Japanese officials say it will be used in national defense – particularly in anti-submarine warfare and border-area surveillance missions – and to bolster the nation's ability to transport personnel and supplies in response to large-scale natural disasters, like the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Though the ship – dubbed "Izumo" – has been in the works since 2009, its unveiling comes as Japan and China are locked in a dispute over several small islands located between southern Japan and Taiwan. For months, ships from both countries have been conducting patrols around the isles, called the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyutai in China. The tensions over the islands, along with China's heavy spending on defense and military modernization, have heightened calls in Japan for beefed-up naval and air forces. China recently began operating an aircraft carrier that it refurbished after purchasing from Russia, and is reportedly moving forward with the construction of another that is domestically built. READ MORE 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ever Learning Posted August 6, 2013 #2 Share Posted August 6, 2013 it was ridiculous that we expected them to keep to the constitution this long for the atrocities of the past but japan should be a bigger player on map and cant be taken seriously with out an army. china scares me more than japan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taun Posted August 6, 2013 #3 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Starting to sound a bit like the warship building race that went on between the UK, France and Germany prior to WWI... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutankhaten-pasheri Posted August 6, 2013 #4 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Starting to sound a bit like the warship building race that went on between the UK, France and Germany prior to WWI... China and India now have ex Soviet carriers. Sure they are no Nimitz etc, but certainly China is signalling some serious intent here. This Japanese one only carries helicopters, or maybe vertical take of jets in the future, but I would not be surprised if they could start building fleet carriers in very short time, without wooden flight decks this time..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.United_Nations Posted August 6, 2013 #5 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Looks like an assault ship more than a destroyer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taun Posted August 6, 2013 #6 Share Posted August 6, 2013 China and India now have ex Soviet carriers. Sure they are no Nimitz etc, but certainly China is signalling some serious intent here. This Japanese one only carries helicopters, or maybe vertical take of jets in the future, but I would not be surprised if they could start building fleet carriers in very short time, without wooden flight decks this time..... Actually for their location and situation what they are doing is probably best... Anti-Submarine Warfare forces would be a major asset in those restricted waterways around Japan/Korea... (Plus they have the US Navy there in force as well)... Since they are not really in position to go gallivanting around the South or East Pacific in force any more, land based aircraft can cover what their Naval Air wing would normally cover... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+and-then Posted August 6, 2013 #7 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I'm a bit surprised that they haven't expanded such capabilities before now. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutankhaten-pasheri Posted August 6, 2013 #8 Share Posted August 6, 2013 (edited) I'm a bit surprised that they haven't expanded such capabilities before now. Probably have but all minaturised, like bonsai trees. When time comes they put them in the water and they suddenly expand into a fleet of carriers. Then Yamato flies in from space and leads them to.... edit for those not knowing. WWII super battleship Yamato has been resurected for some years as a space battleship. Well, it's Japan, Hello Kitty and all sorts of stuff Edited August 6, 2013 by Tutankhaten-pasheri 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A rather obscure Bassoon Posted August 6, 2013 #9 Share Posted August 6, 2013 No surprises really,China is thought to be in the process of building a second carrier.A case of everyone trying to flex their muscle. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldorado Posted August 7, 2013 #10 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Germans thinking they rule Europe and the Japanese building massive warships. What could possibly go wrong? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.United_Nations Posted August 7, 2013 #11 Share Posted August 7, 2013 No surprises really,China is thought to be in the process of building a second carrier.A case of everyone trying to flex their muscle. you mean upgrade, China buys a carrier and really upgrades it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Commander Travis Posted August 7, 2013 #12 Share Posted August 7, 2013 What a curiously melodramatic tone in the story. it makes it sound as if it was a complete secret until now, and Japan has stunned the world by unveiling a new carrier strike force which is at this moment steaming towards Pearl harbor or something. They might be able to operate V/STOL jets from it, to be sure, but if it really has raised eyebrows (like this, perhaps ) in China and elsewhere, their intelligence services can't have been very observant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Commander Travis Posted August 7, 2013 #13 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Although perhaps calling it a destroyer (as the hull number DDH183 would suggest) is trying to pull wool over people's eyes a bit. Perhaps that's because of these ridiculously outdated restrictions in the constitution that prohibit them from having anything that might be construed as an offensive weapon, perhaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesspy Posted August 7, 2013 #14 Share Posted August 7, 2013 No surprises really,China is thought to be in the process of building a second carrier.A case of everyone trying to flex their muscle. Beat me to it lol. I am guessing its tit for tat. If China has one then Japan has to have one. It could be preparation for future conflict. Maybe a mini arms race or ship making race. The sea there is full of resources and whoever has the best navy will probably control it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taun Posted August 7, 2013 #15 Share Posted August 7, 2013 (edited) Germans thinking they rule Europe and the Japanese building massive warships. What could possibly go wrong? To quote Tom Lehrer in his song "The MLF Lullabye" (MLF= Multi-Lateral Force A song about arming the German Army with nuclear weapons in the 1960's): "Once all the Germans, were warlike and mean. But that couldn't happen again. We taught them a lesson in 1918, And they've hardly bothered us since then"... Edited August 7, 2013 by Taun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaphod222 Posted August 7, 2013 #16 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Germans thinking they rule Europe and the Japanese building massive warships. What could possibly go wrong? What the heck are you trying to say, if anything? No part of that befuddled comment makes any sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldorado Posted August 7, 2013 #17 Share Posted August 7, 2013 What the heck are you trying to say, if anything? No part of that befuddled comment makes any sense. It's called having a laugh. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A rather obscure Bassoon Posted August 7, 2013 #18 Share Posted August 7, 2013 you mean upgrade, China buys a carrier and really upgrades it They bought their first one and upgraded it and now they are thought to be building another one from Scratch. http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2013/08/02/is-china-building-another-aircraft-carrier/ http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/24/us-china-navy-carrier-idUSBRE93N00Q20130424 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutankhaten-pasheri Posted August 7, 2013 #19 Share Posted August 7, 2013 It's called having a laugh. Here? you must be joking 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Commander Travis Posted August 7, 2013 #20 Share Posted August 7, 2013 They bought their first one and upgraded it and now they are thought to be building another one from Scratch. It's a versatile material, but this seems quite innovative. Some modern warships are built from alumin(i)um rather than the traditional steel, but I think this must be the first major warship to be built entirely from Scratch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A rather obscure Bassoon Posted August 7, 2013 #21 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Your Japery,amuses me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d e v i c e Posted August 19, 2013 #22 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Probably wouldn't take much to convert it into a full aircraft carrier. But hey, best of luck to Japan, I hope it all works out for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simbi Laveau Posted August 23, 2013 #23 Share Posted August 23, 2013 いくいくいく！ガンばて日本 ！！！:^) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Red Devil Posted August 23, 2013 #24 Share Posted August 23, 2013 Germans thinking they rule Europe and the Japanese building massive warships. What could possibly go wrong? They find another Mussolini to align themselves with... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Wearer of Hats Posted August 24, 2013 #25 Share Posted August 24, 2013 They find another Mussolini to align themselves with... Or Franco... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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