Posted on 03/24/2015 10:27:33 PM PDT by Paid_Russian_Troll
YOKOHAMA (Reuters) - Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force on Wednesday took delivery of the biggest Japanese warship since World War Two, the Izumo, a helicopter carrier as big as the Imperial Navy aircraft carriers that battled the United States in the Pacific.
The Izumo with a crew of 470 sailors is a highly visible example of how Japan is expanding the capability of its military to operate overseas and enters service as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe seeks lawmaker approval to loosen the restraints of Japan's pacifist post-war constitution.
The 248 meter (813 feet) long Izumo resembles U.S. Marine Corp amphibious assault carriers in size and design but it is designated as a helicopter destroyer, a label that allows Japan to keep within the bounds of a constitutional ban on owning the means to wage war. Aircraft carriers, because of their ability to project force, are considered offensive weapons.
"The vessel can serve in a wide range of roles including peace keeping operations, international disaster relief and aid," Gen Nakatani, Japan's Minister of Defense said standing beside the vessel after a handover ceremony at the Japan United Marine shipyard in Yokohama.
"It also helps improve our ability to combat submarines.
Abe's moves to ease Japan's pacifist constitution and its build up in defense capabilities is unnerving neighbor China.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
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Pei-Ping (tangentially)
No pix no clicks
Ok, here's a picture of a classic flat top.
Your point being?
Yup, doesn’t looks like a Japanese ship:) Both of them.
I’d say we are looking at CVN-74 (Stennis).....
Take that Red China!
Oztrich, it was posted in error. I found it under ‘images of Izumo.’ It was posted believing the ship on the right being the Izumo for size comparison. The other class Japan has operating is the Hyuga-class and not sure if that is the case.
Left one is certainly Nimitz and British Invincible-class on the right.
I would guess it’s Spanish. A6s and F14s on the American ship so it is not a new pic.
I would say you are correct, that it is Invincible.
That’s not a Japanese classic flat top.
LOL. True. But he’s the first guy I thought of.
It certainly looked like a Royal Navy ship to my inexpert eye, I never realised how small those things are compared to a US carrier.
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