Ready on the left?
All ready on the firing line!
Posted on 07/01/2006 1:48:00 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
U.S. aircraft carrier to enter Hokkaido port with MSDF destroyer
(Kyodo) _ The U.S. aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, based in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, is to enter a Hokkaido port on Saturday accompanied by a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer, MSDF officials said Friday.
The 3,500-ton Yugiri will "strengthen friendship and goodwill" between the MSDF and the U.S. Navy by accompanying Kitty Hawk, and it will not be guarding the U.S. vessel, MSDF officials said, brushing off criticism by civic groups that the MSDF and the U.S. Navy are promoting their integration.
The groups have said integration would amount to exercising the right of collective self-defense, which is banned under the pacifist Constitution.
Yugiri, which belongs to the MSDF Ominato base in Aomori Prefecture, has left Ominato port and is to enter Otaru port in Hokkaido with Kitty Hawk after the two vessels conduct a joint exercise, according to MSDF officials.
A U.S. Navy ship equipped with the Aegis system will also enter Otaru port along with the MSDF destroyer and Kitty Hawk, they said.
Yugiri is expected to leave Otaru next Wednesday along with the two U.S. ships but the officials refused to disclose detailed schedules or information about the exercise. ADVERTISEMENT
According to officials familiar with military affairs, an aircraft carrier is exposed to "the highest risk when it enters or leaves a port" because it cannot move quickly and its aircraft cannot be used.
Shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the United States, about 10 MSDF vessels accompanied Kitty Hawk when it left Yokosuka port for the stated purpose of "investigation and research," according to the MSDF officials.
The move was criticized at that time as a de facto exercising of the right of collective self-defense.
Ping!
Ready on the left?
All ready on the firing line!
Going up and down Japanese E. N.W. Coast
It is good that Japanese ships happen to be traveling to the same places as our aircraft carriers. If the enemy launches against one of our carriers, the Japanese vessels can then separately return fire against the enemy in order to defend themselves. ...see? ...no "collective" defense happening there. ;-)
I rememer one of your Carrier Group Commanders saying "When we turn up in your garden pond it tends to get your attention".....outstanding!
Hmmmm...
According to officials familiar with military affairs, an aircraft carrier is exposed to "the highest risk when it enters or leaves a port" because it cannot move quickly and its aircraft cannot be used.
Why can't a carrier's planes be used in port?
Simple. An aircraft carrier must turn into the wind at high-speed to get sufficient wind over the flight deck to launch & recover aircraft. If you can get say 30 knots across the deck, that's 30 knots extra speed as 'seen' by the aircrafts wings. More lift. Even with steam catapults this is still necessary.
Typically the carriers air wing component flys off to a naval air station prior to the carrier entering port. The only aircraft useable in port would be helicopters.
Yup...I remember launching our helo while tied to the pier at least a couple of times...and that was from a destroyer (an FF actually).
Otaru is famous for its glassware.
Seafood is great in Otaru (as it is generally throughout Hokkaido):
You can also buy fresh crabs (in season only, I imagine) to be shipped anywhere in Japan.
But my guess is that it is Otaru's proximity to the site of North Korea's missile-perhaps-to-be-launched that is bringing the Kitty Hawk north, not the delights of July in Hokkaido.
The Kitty Hawk still around? She was old when I was in 30 years ago...
You're right. When the carriers come into port the planes have already left - for reasons you describe and because it lightens the load.
BTW the commander of the Pacific Command right now is Navy. He has been making public statements making nice to the Chinese. The statements were drafted, I assume, at the White House.
Thanks! I understand the Kitty Hawk is still around because the people of Japan still have an issue with atomic powered vessels. I feel they are changing their minds rather quickly!
She's an oil burner and I guess the only reason she's still sailing in the nuclear power issue.
She's pretty worn-out. The Japanese Government still wants to homeport a US Carrier, so they know they are getting a nuke with the retirement of the Kitty Hawk.
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