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The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's latest "helicopter destroyer" (and first real helicopter carrier), "Hyuga", was launched today!
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Well, they've launched her Obi Wan. A very impressive vessel...nice lines and a lot more capability than advertised.As I said earlier, the Japanese don't have to aquire the capability (F-35Bs) to be able to present the 'threat' that they could upgrade at short notice if they so chose. As things are they can with all honesty put their hands on their hearts and say "What carriers? These are just DDHs," whilst giving a knowing an inscrutable look to their regional neighbours as if to say "you upgrade and we upgrade, and we can do it quicker than you!". It's all about potential. Classic Sea Power strategy, Risk. Seems the JMSDF still teach Mahan to their cadets...
More pics:The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's latest "helicopter destroyer" (and first real helicopter carrier), "Hyuga", was launched today!
[qimg]http://ca.c.yimg.jp/news/20070823172549/img.news.yahoo.co.jp/images/20070823/jijp/20070823-00000035-jijp-soci-view-000.jpg[/qimg]
Hehehe...only the Japanese would call that a destroyer...and clearly purely for political purposes IMHO. With the PARS and with a 16 cell VLS carrying ESSMs, that's 64 ESSMs for self defense, and two 20mm Phalanx CIWS, they will be well defended...and probably never out of company of at least one Kongo. Embarked with a Kongo and an Atago along with a couple of other JMSDF DDGs, they will form a very impressive helo strike group.
Only the Japanese would call that a destroyer...and clearly purely for political purposes IMHO.
With the PARS and with a 16 cell VLS carrying ESSMs, that's 64 ESSMs for self defense, and two 20mm Phalanx CIWS, they will be well defended...and probably never out of company of at least one Kongo. Embarked with a Kongo and an Atago along with a couple of other JMSDF DDGs, they will form a very impressive helo strike group.
No doubt she will use her helos for that purpose. She is also a very powerful Command and control centerpiece.She is certainly a long way from the early destroyers of the WW1 era. I suppose it will perform one of the traditional destroyer functions of screening the fleet against submarine attack!
Tas
Well, with these vessels, the JMSDF will be able to put to sea a very credible SAG/Sea Control task force with a Hyuga, a Atago, a Kongo, and a couple of each Takanamis and Murasamis. Very powerful indeed.Just as the Invincibles were first called "through-deck cruisers" - of course it's politics, though not something we should go into for obvious reasons!
Absolutely. They'll probably form the core of any future MSDF taskgroups.
That's a good point. Let's see what number two is christened. Clearly, with these vessels, and the other modern and capable combatants they have built, whatever else, the JMSDF is making a large statement in WestPac. The capabilities are becoming such that you could take the "SD" letters out of their JMSDF.The Hyuga was named after the battleship Hyuga, an Ise class battleship that was later converted into a hybrid carrier/battleship in 1944. Since this ship is not really a "carrier" and not really a destroyer but a "hybrid", is Japan telling the world something? If the second one is named ISE, the other Hybrid battleship, then that could be it.
The Hyuga was named after the battleship Hyuga, an Ise class battleship that was later converted into a hybrid carrier/battleship in 1944. Since this ship is not really a "carrier" and not really a destroyer but a "hybrid", is Japan telling the world something? If the second one is named ISE, the other Hybrid battleship, then that could be it.