Posted on 12/28/2017 5:15:06 PM PST by iowamark
Japan, once a world leader in aircraft carriers, is preparing to wade back into the world of fixed wing aviation. The Pacific country, which swore off flat-tops in the aftermath of World War II, is preparing to reverse decades of government policy and add fighter planes to so-called “helicopter destroyers" to counter Chinese air power.
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Japan was an aircraft carrier superpower. Japan had more carriers than any other country, including the United States, and its pilots were trained to a high standard by years of war. A little more than four years later, all but one of Japan’s carriers were on the bottom of the ocean, and most of the pilots had been killed in battle.
Japan, which reinvented itself under American control as a pacifist country, swore off “offensive” weapons of war such as marines, bombers, and aircraft carriers. Despite this, for decades Japan’s navy, the Maritime Self Defense Force, quietly plotted a return to naval aviation. Over the years it has gradually built ships with increased aviation duties in mind, from destroyers with large helicopter landing decks to tank landing ships with full-length flight decks.
Japan’s latest aviation ships, the Izumo class “helicopter destroyers,” are aircraft carriers in all but name. Izumo and her sister ship Kaga resemble miniature carriers, with an island, full-length 814 foot long flight deck, a spacious hangar, and elevators that shuttle aircraft between the flight deck and the island. At 27,000 tons, the ships are roughly a third the size of the U.S. Navy’s Ford-class supercarriers.
I would not put it beyond he Japanese to field ships that were specifically designed so they could be converted to ACs.
I would imagine that its set up to be put in place on short order.
To answer my own question, it would appear to be USS JFK and Kitty Hawk.
Thee look like all they added need is a “ski-jump” deck.
“To answer my own question, it would appear to be USS JFK and Kitty Hawk.”
And, I believe, Enterprise.
The US also maintains several “Amphibious Assault Ships” That can launch F35B type planes and are often considered to be small carriers if an emergency called for them to be used that way.
http://www.public.navy.mil/surflant/lhd7/Pages/default.aspx
In this day and age a larger number of smaller carriers might be smarter.
Need a new class of light carriers to handle Drones and small copters for the new kinds of war. Take a big hull and convert it—maybe a cruise ship? and that should give them a great hull to start with—only way to counter China’s big navy. They can’t depend on the USN to protect them. One election and we will get an Obama Clone.
The Japanese Navy is bigger, more powerful, and probably more disciplined that the British Navy today. The Brits only beat them in Polaris subs, but those have very little use outside of their main mission.
Why not? Because Lexus, Infinity, Sony, Toshiba, etc... They know how to build ships and can probably build a better one in all honesty.
Also, they can’t use our plans because they have no need for things like maternity wards, and family centers aboard.
Yes they did.
Kaga
there is a name from the past/.
sunk at Midway 1942
Also they wouldn't need on board MØØslime prayer room.
If I were the Japanese, with no real institutional “overhead” or long-standing traditions to be held to, I’d look ahead to the future and build drone carriers.
No surprise. Since the end of WWII Japan has always been planning and positioning itself to return as a Great Power. Much of its industry has always been configured for dual civilian/military use. And its Navy has quietly been rebuilt and trained.
Japan has limited its largest ships to destroyers. However, it just builds whatever it wants and calls it a "destroyer". As far as converting existing ships to fully capable aircraft carriers, I have no doubt they have been designed for just such changes. As well, I have no doubt that Japan has already designed purpose-built attack carriers and ensured its shipyards are capable of quickly building them.
Japan will return as a Great Power, which includes sea power. That's always been a given. The big question is: "Who will a rearmed Japan ally with?"
And if that question concerns you, better start thinking about a nuclear armed Japan.
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