Tuesday, August 06, 2013

Japan Launches "Destroyer" with a Flat Deck

Well it seems that Japan might be feeling the pressure from the Red Chinese navy.

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. 

It could be turned into a pocket carrier if need be with just the addition of a catapult system. The name of the ship, Izumo, is interesting as well. It was the name of the flagship of the Japanese 2nd fleet commanded by Admiral Baron Kamimura Hikonojō during the Russo-Japanese war. It actually docked in Hawaii for a time on the way to the West Coast to celebrate the 140th Anniversary of the founding of San Francisco in 1909. In any case you will probably see the Japanese navy start to build out going forward.

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