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.
Beat me to it! Bet the Japanese would do a good job with it.
Or as Reefs ?
very cool
“Japan will return as a Great Power.”
Not if they don’t start breeding again real soon. Japan is in a demographic death spiral.
L
Converting a super-tanker may not be to big of a deal.
I’d say they should build 4 carrier groups. Fleet up Japan, you’re going to need it.
Depends on what you are counting. I think Britian had 8 fleet carriers to Japan's 7 at that point. Japan did have more light / escort carriers. The US had 7 fleet carriers, plus what was later classified as an escort carrier and another carrier that had been re-titled a seaplane tender but which had only Army P-40s on board when sunk by the Japs.
Not a naval architect, but carriers need fast hulls and I doubt that a supertanker can provide the requisite speed. Wind over the deck is good for naval aviation. Our CVNs are generally understood to be faster than is publicly acknowledged.
After the Battle of Midway, the tide was turned and the Japanese were doomed to defeat.
Actually, the Japanese were doomed to defeat even before Pearl Harbor. As Admiral Yamamoto said after Pearl Harbor, “I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve.”
They would do well to purchase or license American Essex class LHD and Tarawa class LHAs.
40,000t and designed for fixed wing VSTOL aircraft, with plenty of room for fuel and maintenance/weapons.
Most folks don’t know we have 10 of these and they all can carry about a dozen F-35b’s along with another 30 helos.
Proven design and capability.
Probably because it might be a violation of their constitution. I am a generation away from that war. I like the Japanese staying at home and not projecting any power anywhere.
That’s almost as big as France’s only carrier, (India’s too), and larger than those of Italy, Spain, or Turkey.
All of our Tarawa class are retired though, correct? I am reading that we presently have operational 8 Wasp Class LHD’s (including the Essex - LHD-2) and 1 America Class (45,000t) with 10 more of the latter planned.
The WASP’s can carry up to 20 F35B’s (if they don’t take ‘copters along) — according to Wikipedia as many as 24 Harriers have been accommodated.
I pondered this a while: Of course it would never happen this way, but leaving the British out of the fight, our amphibious assault ships could in most scenarios defeat all the other carriers in the world. (Ok, if the Chinese get a couple more carriers built, bring in the Brits or the under-construction Italian carrier on our side.) Then our LHD’s land the Marines.
Arpeggio of Blue Steel. Good show, I give it 7/10. It’s entirely 3D though, which puts some people off.
LOL yeah, Brave / Strike Witches were kinda weird. Then again it’s anime, and they do almost anything.
But I will say it’s better than anything in America by light years.
I think Enterprise is/has had the fuel rods removed. For sure it has been stripped of many parts common to the Nimitz class.
Your image, for the win.
You might as well post an image of the Macross craft that fell to earth, bringing new technology to us humans.
There is one LHA in service and another due to be launched.
LHAs 6 and 7.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.