Anybody heard about Japan's Aircraft Carrier?

[sociotard]

Now, this was posted on another thread I frequent, and since an admittedly half-hearted search didn't turn up anything on the subject, I'm posting it for your eyes.

The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force has been noted for a couple of things. One of those has been it's capability. Most pundits rate it as the #2 navy in the world. Now Japan also has a rather colorful history in terms of military expansionism, so one of the things that tends to freak out the neighbors is any time the Japanese say the words "Aircraft Carrier". This has become a phrase not even uttered anymore in JMSDF thinking. So, when they decided they needed some flagship capable Destroyers capable of carrying helicopters, much like their current Haruna and Shirane classes, they most certainly did not say "Aircraft Carrier". They said Destroyers. Just a quick pop quiz for folks....below are some pictures of modern destroyers, including the previously mentioned Helicopter carrying Destroyers, the Shiranes, and then some small aircraft carriers in service with other countries, followed by the designated DDH-X proposed by Japan. I'll let ya'll decide what the DDH-X really is.

Destroyers by Class name:

Arleigh Burke: http://www.gibbscox.com/photos/arleigh2.gif
Manchester: http://www.mattmar.com.au/Warships_..._manchester.jpg
Brandenberg: http://www.naval-technology.com/pro...ages/f122_1.jpg
Shirane: http://www.globalsecurity.org/milit...ST-87-09121.jpg

Aircraft Carriers by Class name:

Giuseppe Garibaldi: http://www.naval-technology.com/pro.../garibaldi6.jpg
Invincible: http://www.naval-technology.com/pro...ible_new_10.jpg

The Japanese DDH-X: http://www.ships-net.co.jp/detl/200107/091l.jpg

I find his comments suspect, since I find it hard to believe japan has the number two navy, but interesting nonetheless.

[Brian328i]

Links got shortened...

[reagandemo]

Wasn't it lost with a couple of others at the battle of Midway? Heard the sunk like a rock.

[Mr. Lucky]

Hello?

[AppyPappy]

[2banana]

Looks like they have an old British and an Italian aircraft carrier...

[Lurking in Kansas]

Anybody heard about Japan's Aircraft Carrier?

I'll bite, no, what about it?

(OK, so what's the punchline?)

[Pyro7480]

[patent]

Japan needs to step up in that region. The other options aren't very good.

As a side note, Japan today shows what American troops taking over a dictatorship can do. We had to stay there for quite some time too. Today, I have no problem trusting the Japanese. Can't say that about many other countries.

patent

[r9etb]

Apparently the procurement specs crossed out "machine gun" and wrote in "pizza oven."

[t-1000]

The Japs having aircraft carriers does not worry me.

As long as they are RED or Muslim.

[BenLurkin]

I believe the eyewitness account was "Look at that flat-top burn!"

[Frank L]

If memory serves, the US strike force escorting, protecting, and including Yorktown, Enterprise, and a third US carrier (either Saratoga or Hornet) sank three of the four Japanese carriers attacking A-F.

[freedumb2003]

Sounds like a setup for a joke....

It's built sideways??

[t-1000]

The Japs having aircraft carriers does not worry me.

As long as they are NOT RED or Muslim.

[26lemoncharlie]

Are these Nissans or Toyota's ?

[pabianice]

Already Covered Here

[Pyro7480]

It was the Hornet.

[ArrogantBustard]

They can call that a "destroyer" if they like ... she's their ship. But I note that her "top" is remarkably "flat" ... She could be a formidable sea control and ASW asset.

[Cincinatus]

Are they going to name it the Yamamoto?

[dirtboy]

(OK, so what's the punchline?)

With a Japanese aircraft carrier, you only need to launch the planes, not land them.

[MortMan]

But don't try to requisition a culture incubator (what the heck is the right name for that thing?!?) ;-P

[fso301]

Japan hasn't had flattops for 60 years. The technology required for a modern carrier is immense. This small carrier is a logical step on the road to large carriers.

[hosepipe]

I see this as interesting....
China does need something to "think" about..
A nuclear Japanese Navy, would be one of those things..
REALLY nuclear, not just nuclear powered.. China looking at a nuclear Taiwan Navy with one eye, and a Japanese nuclear Navy with other eye.. trying to match(subvert) the U.S. at the same time economically.. and militarily could make Kim Chi out of their brains..

GOOD...

[Fierce Allegiance]

Why did they attack Abercrombie Fitch?

[Pyro7480]

I wonder how long this ship is going to be. If we sell the Japanese the STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter or if they develop their own, they may be able to fly those planes off it.

[ProudVet77]

Without numbers such as length and weight it's hard to be sure, but I'd go for a ASW carrier designed for copters. But a VTOL like the Marine Harrier and JSF would work from this platform as well.

[Lurking in Kansas]

With a Japanese aircraft carrier, you only need to launch the planes, not land them.

LOL!

Good one!

[ASA Vet]

That's only because AF was short of water.

[KOZ.]

With a Japanese aircraft carrier, you only need to launch the planes, not land them.

they could save money without putting in those pesky arrestor cables and tailhook thingys.

[Captain Rhino]

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/osumi.htm

For your information.

[Owl_Eagle]

My recollection is that Mothra took it out.  Smashed it right in half the fella did.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[Chad Fairbanks]

I wonder if it will be one with a straight deck, or one of those slanted ones...

[hc87]

It's true, they are building the functional equivalent of helicopter carriers. They classify them as DDHs for fear of stirring up opposition from neighbors in Asia who remember the Kido Butai and to tone down domestic opposition to the build up of Japan's blue water navy. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they were considered the number 2 navy in the world, despite their current lack of SSNs and CVs.

If you're interested in this topic, the link below will take you to the Google group seach page results for "ddh" for the sci.military.naval group in USENET. Plenty of good stuff there.

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&q=ddh&meta=group%3Dsci.military.naval

[dirtboy]

I probably shouldn't have posted that one, given that the carier my grandfather was on was kamikazied during the Battle of Okinawa. But history has a way allowing us to make jokes of such things much later.

[Dilbert56]

The Kaga, Akagi, and Soryu were mortally struck in one attack by SBD Dauntless dive bombers. The 4th carrier, the Hiryu, was polished off later, after it had badly wounded the Yorktown. The Yorktown sank, torpedoed by a sub as it was being towed home.

Four IJN carriers to one USN carrier lost. The end of the beginning only six months after Pearl Harbor.

[fooman]

[Lurking in Kansas]

I wonder if it will be one with a straight deck, or one of those slanted ones...

Will it burn rice?

[clamper1797]

All four Jap carriers were sunk
Hiryu
Soryu
Kaga
Akagi

US Carriers
Enterprise
Hornet
Yorktown sunk

[r9etb]

It was a baby incubator, IIRC....

[Antoninus]

Excellent. This is a response to the supposed "build-up" of China's navy. Japan has proved itself trustworthy and a good ally over the past 60 years. It's time for them to re-emerge as a military power in the Pacific. As a naval power, they'll kick China's butt all over the far east. China has never been a serious naval power.

[DaisyCutter]

Well, to my untrained eye, that DDH-X looks similar, at least on the surface, I can't get a sense of size from that drawing, to the Tarawa class marine amphibious assault ships, although a bit more streamlined. The LHAs (Tarawa class) are capable of carrying 25 or so choppers, primarily the heavy lift variety, but can also accomodate VSTOL type fighters, such as the Harrier.

USS Peleliu - LHA-5

USS Tarawa - LHA-1

And as you can see from the first image, the Peleliu is either launching or landing a Harrier.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Actually, I think the correct question should be "Will it burn?" period. ;0)

[demlosers]

it looks more like an assault ship.

[r9etb]

I wonder if it will be one with a straight deck, or one of those slanted ones...

I think they almost all have slanted decks when sinking....

[Pyro7480]

I think you're right. According to the link above, the thing is only 178m long, which is over 500 ft. long, which is little more than half the size of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.

[xrp]

All 4 Japanese carriers at Midway were sunk. They were Kaga, Akagi, Hiryu, Soryu.

[fooman]

=

[xrp]

The Japanese Navy has Aegis equipped destroyers with Standard SM-2 surface to air missiles and vertical launch system technology. Where do you think they got that?

Imagine Japan building a Nimitz class carrier or two (or buying Constellation and Kitty Hawk from the USA).

[hc87]

The US Navy LHAs are roughly 40,000 tons. The Japanese DDHs are slated to be roughly 13,500 tons.