Posted on 04/22/2017 9:49:13 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Japanese ships join U.S. carrier for drills as it nears Korean waters
By Nobuhiro Kubo and Tim Kelly | TOKYO
Two Japanese destroyers on Sunday began an exercise with the U.S. Carl Vinson carrier strike group in the Western Pacific as it approaches waters around the Korean peninsula, Japan's navy said.
The two Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan on Friday to join the Carl Vinson in a show of solidarity as the United States confronts North Korea over its ballistic missile program and nuclear tests.
The destroyers will "practice a variety of tactics" with the U.S. strike group, the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (MSDF) said in a statement.
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Carl Vinson carrier strike group to sail to the waters off the Korean peninsula in response to rising tension over North Korea.
Japan's military ordered the warships to accompany the Carl Vinson north at least into the East China Sea, a source with knowledge of the plan said. He asked not to be identified because he is not authorized to talk to the media.
The MSDF did not say how long the Japanese destroyers would stay with the U.S. carrier.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
P!
No. It’s not Avon calling.
No. It’s not Dennis Rodman...
The Japanese destroyers will stay until they rouse some dozing sea monster.
Or until they come across a large pod of whales.”BANZAI!”
That’s #3 on my bucket list: Witness whale nuking.
The Ashigara is an AEGIS equipped ship. Wonder if it has the BMD upgrades? It is a potent addition to the group. Wonder who they would answer to if NK got stupid. The JDF ships might be operating under their own ROE and orders....
Bet Kim is pooing his pants.
Does it have anti-sub munitions?
I think Japan has four Aegis destroyers, built very closely to US specs...
What class is the Samidare? Does it carry the SM-3 ABM variant like the Ashigara?
I keep wondering when we’re going to just drop a “MOAB” on Kim Jon Losers presidential palace and call it done.
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