Posted on 07/15/2003 8:38:05 PM PDT by overtaxed_canadian
Japan departs from pacifist stance, plans two aircraft carriers Perception of North Korean threat may have led to decision
By Richard Halloran
HAWAII - The Japanese navy is preparing to build two small aircraft carriers, its first in more than 60 years, according to Japanese and United States officials.
The plan is further evidence that Japan is departing from its pacifist post-World War II Constitution that restricts its military to self-defence.
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The carriers can be deployed as command ships in a task force to give the Maritime Self-Defence Force, as the Japanese navy is called, a modest ability to project power into the sea-lanes that are vital to Japan's trading economy.
That capability is likely to draw protests from China, North Korea and South Korea, which were invaded by Japan during World War II.
Tokyo's decision to go ahead with the aircraft-carrier plan is believed to be prompted by its perception of an immediate threat from North Korea and a longer-term threat from China.
In its 2003 White Paper on defence published last week, the Self-Defence Agency asserted in more forceful terms than in earlier versions that the nation must build up its fundamental defence capabilities to ensure its independence.
In that respect, Japan is on the verge of building a missile defence. It has also just launched a second pair of intelligence satellites to watch North Korea.
Tokyo also recently passed laws giving the Self-Defence Forces wider latitude in defending their homeland.
Funds for the first small carrier have been included in Japan's defence budget for fiscal year 2004, beginning April 1 next year. The second carrier is scheduled for fiscal year 2005.
Japanese naval officers are calling the new ships 'destroyers' instead of 'aircraft carriers' in an effort to avoid triggering opposition from those against enhanced defence in Japan as well as from China and the two Koreas.
Yet drawings of the warship show the flat deck of an aircraft carrier and an 'island', or command structure, at the starboard or right edge of the deck.
Moreover, officials familiar with the ship's design said the deck and hangar below are capable of handling aircraft such as the joint strike fighter being developed by Lockheed Martin, a leading US defence contractor. That fighter, also called the F-35, is scheduled to go into production in 2008 just as the first Japanese carrier is ready for sea.
The F-35 will be a supersonic warplane capable of flying at 1 1/2 times the speed of sound. It will also incorporate stealth technology to enable it to evade radar detection.
The Japanese vessels will be comparable in size to Spain's 16,700-ton Principe De Asturias, which carries 17 planes.
The plan calls for equipping the carriers with new SH-60 Seahawk helicopters, which are designed to patrol the ocean, to detect submarines, and to protect the fleet.
The first ship is to be commissioned in 2008, the second in 2009. Two more may be built later.
An earlier proposal by the Self-Defence Forces to buy 'jump jets', that can fly as fighters or bombers, for four 14,700-tonne assault ships ran into political opposition. But that was before Japan got worried about North Korean missiles and nuclear arms.
Quite right. I don't know if I feel good enough about Germany yet to allow them to re-arm as much as they want, but I think Japan is ready. Bushido is dead. They can be an extremely valuable ally if we let them, and we can save ourselves some money by lessening our defense obligations to them (provided we allow them to build up even more).
...and with a little retrofitting or modification on the design would look just like their artists concept where they can easily, quickly build two that are compatible with the F-35 JSF.
In fact, in Volume II of my Dragon's Fury Series, when Japan and China square off, they use the modified version in just the way I describe.
Yeah, my point It's a carrier.
It is so 1970's
may be appropriate. Japan is in the same position the UK. Italy were in the 70s. A navy that wants carriers, a government that has a political position of no carriers ever,
So.
1. Approval sought for Helicopter carrying Cruiser/destroyer of c.13,000 tons.
2. When that is given it grows in design to 20,000 tons and it is claimed that operating helicopters will be improved if we move the superstructure over to one side (But it's only for helicopters yes Sirree bob)
3. When built it's found that a with a few structural modifications it can operate combat aircaft. Who knew?
4. After a couple of decades operation it's declared that while successful, the next generation carriers should really be twice the size.
I see no reason to worry. We really are talking about a different Japan nowadays.
This just cracks me up. :-)
It is such a perfect synopsis of the budgetary games that militaries (and other agencies) around the world are forced to play.
That's right. To get our (UK) Invincible class light carriers through a hostile Labour Parliament, the RN referred to them as 'through-deck cruisers' throughout the consultation process!
They will put together very effective CBGs...but of course they have a history of it.
In Volume II of my series that is exactly what they do when they are forced to square off against China...but their leaders are coersed and convinced that China is willing to have a full scale exchange after Japan suffers a major military defet on the high seas and they capitualte with "generous" terms.
All three of these were in Philly as as 1998, ( the last time I was up that way). You get a real good view of them from the freeway. I served aboard the America during Gulf War I.
Aircraft carriers known to be in existence:
CV 10 Yorktown; Museum in SC. since 1992 (on National register of historic places)
CV 11 Intrepid; Museum in NYC, NY since 1981 (on NRHP)
CV 12 Hornet; Museum in Alabama since 1998 (on NRHP)
CV 16 Lexington; Museum in Corpus Christi TX since 1992
CV 34 Oriskany; To be scrapped. in Beaumont TX since 1997
CV 41 Midway; To be museum, in Bremerton WA since 1997
CV 59 Forrestal; To be museum, in Newport RI since 1993
CV 60 Saratoga; To be museum, in Newport since 1994
CV 61 Ranger; Reserve fleet, in Bremerton since 1993
CV 62 Independence; Reserve fleet, in Bremerton since 1998
CV 64 Constellation; Active duty, (to be decommed soon)
CV 66 America; To be disposed of, in Philadelphia since 1996
Please note that the CV is not neccesarily their last designation (Lex and Forrestal were both AVT's when decommed)
[Of course all the nukes (65, 68-76) and CV63 and CV67 are still in commission]
Thats Alameda, CA:)
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