[colorado tanker]

Your eyes are deceiving you. That’s not a carrier; it’s a destroyer. Doncha know Japan can’t have offensive weapons like carriers?

[Joe Boucher]

Yo,
Chi-coms
How do ya like em now.
Can you say Nanking?

[Rashputin]

24,000 tons is small for an aircraft carrier, it's what, about the same as three Burkes in tonnage? I'll check but I remember my old man who went through the Doolittle Raid, Coral Sea, Midway, and many other battles on an 1,800 ton destroyer refusing to consider anything that was over 9,000 tons a destroyer rather than a light cruiser.

This little carrier does get ASW aircraft at sea in large enough numbers to work well as the center of a hunter/killer group, though, so it gives Japan capabilities they don't now have and do need given the increase in the number of Chinese and other subs in the region.

If it can handle the Osprey as well, Japan can extend the duration of operations as well since the Osprey can work pretty well as a COD aircraft.

JMHo

[Jaxter]

Coincidentally, the US Navy is introducing the new Douglas SBD Dauntless II dive bomber.

[central_va]

Kaga? Really?

[rmlew]

A carrier named Kaga? Where are the Akegi, Hiryu and Soryu?