Posted on 12/21/2016 6:45:36 PM PST by Mariner
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government on Thursday approved an increase in defense spending to record levels to counter growing Chinese military power in the East China Sea and an escalating North Korean ballistic missile threat.
Abe's cabinet on Thursday signed off on a 1.4 percent increase in spending to 5.13 trillion yen ($43.66 billion) for the year starting April 1.
If approved by lawmakers, which is highly likely given the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's control of parliament, it will be the fifth straight annual increase in outlays.
Under Abe, Japan's Self Defense Forces are pivoting away from guarding the nation's north to reinforce an island chain stretching 1,400 km (870 miles) along the southern edge of the East China Sea.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Not even close.
They should be put on notice, formally, with a signed letter from POTUS that the US umbrella is at risk if they do not achieve 2% of GDP on defense within 2 years.
And sustain that minimum level indefinitely.
Imperial Japan, part II, coming soon.
I wonder what it would cost to build a new Yamato. They could keep the 18 inch guns but replace a lot of the other ordnance with more modern stuff.
I bet a cruise missile would do little damage if it hit below the deck.
Let them go. They will be with us against the Chinese. I don’t want to print anymore money to protect them GET OUT NOW.
A few torpedoes could do a lot of damage. And yes, a cruise missile with a 1 ton warhead would do significant damage.
“I bet a cruise missile would do little damage if it hit below the deck.”
While I find Battleships fascinating and awesome, there is a very simple way to kill them in the modern era. Simple and cheap with no risk whatsoever.
Simply blow the antennas off the ship to completely negate its warfighting capability and bomb it from above...or send a sub by the next time it is crossing the area to torpedo it.
Battleships are over.
It took 19 torpedoes plus however many bombs to sink the original.
I read in some naval warfare magazine admittedly 20 or more years ago that a single cruise missile could not sink an Iowa class battleship.
Also the Yamato’s armor had problems which they could correct.
If they build a ship called Akagi I’m paying serious attention.
“It took 19 torpedoes plus however many bombs to sink the original.”
Today, a pair of MK 48 torpedos, below the engine room and below the forward magazine would sink her.
Or a single 2000lb JDAM above the forward magazine.
Boom, or Boom Boom, take your choice.
No wonder they are raising the “ consumption “ tax from 8% to 10% next year . LIBERAL “ Democratic “ Party indeed . Bastards . Everything is taxed inc. rentals , medicine , hospital bills , clothes , food , etc...
We sank the yamato with 500lb bombs and topedoes in 44.It could be done again and with alot less than last time.
IIRC, the Akagi was sunk by one bomb.
I thought there was talk of delaying the increase. Well, at least until
Abe is re-elected!
I oppose any increase in military spending by Abe in light of his destruction of my beloved South during the War of Northern Aggression.
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