Japan commissions Hyuga Class Helicopter Destroyer

last SG · 2009-07-07T03:57:21+00:00

Well, China holds more than US$1 trillion of US debt. If US were to dishonour the debt, then basically, that's a US$1 trillion funding for a war against Chin...

Atobe SG

18 March 2009 saw Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force commissioning the Hyuga Class Helicopter Destroyer (DDH) - the first of two built.

This event was significant in two ways - it was the first time in Japan's MSDF - or the Navy - that women were allowed to join the crew.

It was also the first time since the end of WW-2 that Japan had built a carrier for her JSDF navy, and they had to classify the vessel as a 'Helicopter Destroyer' so as to circumvent the Japanese Post-War Constitution that forbid Japan from building any aircraft carriers.

Atobe SG

From these representation of the Hyuga, it is quite clear that this carrier can also operate with the US designed F35 VSTOL type aircrafts.

More information is availabe from the following write-up of the Hyuga Class Helicopter Destroyer

With the Post-WW2 "Right Wing" elements remaining at the helm of Japanese politics, Asia should be wary of Japan's military development.

Builders: IHI Marine United Operators: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Preceded by: Haruna class Building: 1 Planned: 2 Active: 1

Type: Helicopter carrier Displacement: 13,950 tons standard;
18,000 tons full load Length: 197 m Beam: 33 m Draft: 7 m Propulsion: COGAG, two shafts, 100,000 hp Speed: 30+ knots (56 km/h) Complement: 360 (Hyuga)
371 (18DDH) Sensors and
processing systems: ATECS command system
FCS-3 fire control and air search radar
OPS-20 surface search radar
OQS-XX bow mounted sonar Armament:

Aircraft carried: Up to 11. Usual air wing is 3xSH-60K, 1xMCH-101 Aviation facilities: Flight deck and enclosed hanger

Singmarine SG

The japs badly needed something solid to defend themshelve especailly facing China, Russia & North Korea at their doorstep. The Russians are still holding 4 japanese island afte WWII. China is not going to be kind to Jap from what they have done in the war. Jap are not refleced well in the North Korea history.

Navy is the most important for the Jap to defend their coast line against inflitration & invasion.

Marco_Simone SG

Any one remembers this Hyuga? hehehe... It could carry aircraft as well...

weasel1962 SG

Cost about S$1.5b each. I like the way Japan reconciles this to its constitution prohibiting offensive CVs. A flat top's a flat top.

Maybe SG should get one of these. If Japan says its not offensive, that should apply to RSN as well.

Mistrals cost less, larger, operate more aircraft and requires less crew (160).

Singmarine SG

An aircraft carrier is indeed attractive as it allows war to be fought away from our shores.

PedoBear SG

need to send in the RSN sub to sink that carrier, those damn nips are up to something funny again

Atobe SG

Any one remembers this Hyuga? hehehe... It could carry aircraft as well...

The WW-2 'Hyuga' was a unique Japanese creativity in a desparate period when she had suffered losses to her vast aircraft carrier fleet.

This class of Battleship-Carrier was unique only to the Japanese navy and besides the Hyuga - her sister ship in this Ise class of Battleship was also planned to be converted in similar ways.

They had the capacity to launch aircraft on a very short 70 meter that only allowed aircrafts to be launched with catapaults but with no ability for aircraft landings.

On 23 July 1945, the Japanese Battleship-Carrier 'Hyuga' was sunk by Hellcat planes from US carrier fleet comprising the Ticonderoga, Essex, Randolph, Monterery and Bataan; and battleships North Carolina and Alabama.

Atobe SG

need to send in the RSN sub to sink that carrier, those damn nips are up to something funny again

While nationalism can bring a country together and help to instill the national resolve to strengthen their own independence, such Japanese ‘nationalism’ and ‘right wing rise in political awareness ’ must lead to concern amongst her Asian neighbors that had the suffering experience being subjected to Japan's brutal occupation.

The Japanese 'Right Wing' group is no different from the US neo-cons led by the likes of Dick Cheney and his Republican Cronies - all die hard red neck White Americans believing themselves to be invincibly right on the World Political Stage.

Since the end of WW2, a strong USA was able to put a lid over the rise in Japanese militancy.

However, can a financially weakened USA - in control of the world most technological advanced military - continue to put a lid over the militant ambitions from any Japanese right wing group ?

Each Asian nation must prepare themselves individually, and also act cohesively in confronting any rise in Japanese militancy.

PedoBear SG

Since the end of WW2, a strong USA was able to put a lid over the rise in Japanese militancy.

However, can a financially weakened USA - in control of the world most technological advanced military - continue to put a lid over the militant ambitions from any Japanese right wing group ?

Each Asian nation must prepare themselves individually, and also act cohesively in confronting any rise in Japanese militancy.

agreed, so we need to plan a preemptive strike to take out those carriers and also take out dick chebey if possible

Shotgun SG

You're kidding right?

In any case, the Japanese just demonstrated to the Chinese that they are capable of building up naval airpower if they want to. Ever considered this to be in response to China's quest for an aircraft carrier?

Also, this could also be a set piece move for those parties interested in acquiring the F-35Bs for Japan. If the Japanese Maritime Self Defence force were to acquire a series of these, it would mean more sales for the F-35, thus ensuring the program's survivability. I think its more than just a case of Japanese militancy at work. Lots of trans-national NGO fingerprints too.

Singmarine SG

While the world is remincing how the japs suffered under the 2 atomic bombs every year, no one mentioned what the japanese did to Chinese during WWII such as Unit 731, Rape of Nanking. Japan fought with China for 8 years causing millions of our chinese to be displaced. Families are seperated. Women and girls are raped. Babies are killed prematurely.

Millions of Chinese lead a life worse than death.

weasel1962 SG

The atomic bombs were never dropped. It was just a staged attempt to sway public opinion for Japan to have an excuse to re-enter the global stage. Same line of thought with how certain segments of Japan feels about the nanking massacre.

Shotgun SG

You're kidding right?

Singmarine SG

Sad to say that the death of millions of Chinese is nothing compared to the death of thousands of Japanese during the atomic bomb attack.

Every year we remember those japanese who are killed in the atomic bomb attack. How about those people who are killed by Japaense? They are even more innocent. They suffered because they are born at the wrong place, wrong time.

On the other hand, the japanese know they had it coming to them when the tide of battle turn against them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_of_nanking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_occupation_of_Singapore

weasel1962 SG

You're kidding right?

Are those people who deny the holocaust or incidents such as the nanking massacre kidding?

Singmarine SG

“The atomic bombs were never dropped.” May I know is the statement a fact?

Atobe SG

agreed, so we need to plan a preemptive strike to take out those carriers and also take out dick chebey if possible

Pre-emptive strike ?

Are you proposing the start of WW-3 ?

Asia should be wary of Japan's efforts at military reconstruction does not require us to make such war mongering pre-emptive strikes.

It will be sufficient for Asia to protest loudly in Japan's attempt to be so dishonest as to call their "helicopter carrier" under a disguised name "helicopter destroyer".

This first of two vessels will simply demonstrate to Asia that Japan has not lost its technology nor industrial ingenuity to turn civilian assets for military activities.

The two vessels were completed in approximately two years, and it will probably take it a little longer to construct a larger "helicopter destroyer" that is double the tonnage of the present accomplishment.

Asia should wake up to this Japanese deceit.

Atobe SG

You're kidding right?

Is there any real benefit to the Japanese even if they can build up a naval airpower that rivals the USA ?

As matters stand, China has developed her military to a higher technological standard than before, even if it is not at par with other Western Powers.

Its aeronautical industry has produced the J-7 and J-10 planes that are far superior than the old MIGs in the Chinese PLA inventory.

Even if these newer aircrafts are no match to the advanced US F-22 or even the F-35, the vast numbers produced for the Chinese Air Force will overwhelm the limited number of aircrafts launched from any expeditionary force of aircraft carriers.

In the first place, even if the US industries push for a bigger market for the F-35, will the public opinion in the USA or the other Asian neighbors allow Japan to continue along this path ?

Will Japan's own citizens allow such a development after suffering the consequences of the Right Wing Japanese militancy that led to the atomic destruction of WW-2 ?

China's quest for an aircraft carrier is not to threaten Japan specifically, but as a tool to counter what they see as the unchallenged threat by the US carrier fleet that sail unopposed into the Chinese exclusive territorial economic zones that is recognised by all nations to be 200 nautical miles from the coast.

Atobe SG

Are you suggesting that the US and the Japanese collaborated to stage this event at Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 and Nagasaki on 9 August 1945 - to sway public opinion for Japan ?

How was this arrangement planned 64 years earlier to allow Japan to have an excuse to re-enter the global stage 64 years after the end of WW-2 with the capitulation of the right wing Japanese Militant Government ?