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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| IJN Commissions World's largest Helo Carrier |
| 2009-03-18 |
| From Xinhua news, so season the commentary with plenty of MSG. Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) commissioned its largest helicopter-carrying destroyer with resemblance to a light aircraft carrier on Wednesday amid international concerns. The 197-meter long, 13,950-ton Hyuga, which can carry 11 helicopters on its flat deck, will be stationed in Yokosuka port, near Tokyo, and is expected to be sent on overseas missions such as disaster relief, according to the Defense Ministry. The Hyuga has 340 crew, including 17 women officers and sailors on board, the first time since the Self-Defense Forces' was established in 1954. Self-Defense Force commissioned the warship on Wednesday, marking the largest "helicopter carrier" with a length of 197 meters in service officially. Under Japan's post-war pacifist constitution, it renounced using or threatening force in international disputes. However, the Japanese Self-Defence Forces (SDF) is one of the best funded armies in the world. Translation error: "army" in Chinese is "jun", which means "military". Navy is "ocean army", for instance. The carrier raises concern in the region. But the government insisted the destroyer will not carry fighter plane and is different from an aircraft carrier, and that the constitution grants the SDF the right to possess a minimum level of armed force for self-defence. Photo gallery here, click next next next for hot IJN action pics. |
| Posted by:gromky |
| #9 Come on, guys, at least give us Akagi, or Hiryu, or Ryuho ..... I just love the IJN names being carried over by the JMSDF. Gotta love the line about the new ship causing "concern in the region". Yeah, right. The Taiwanese and Vietnamese are absolutely petrified in fear of Japan ..... and not of the Middle Kingdom. Uh huh. |
| Posted by: Verlaine 2009-03-18 21:49 |
| #8 This thing is not even a small Gator, way too light in displacement and too short a deck. What it is might be a jump jet landing pad that can carry helos, Harriers could use it but they would be flying a little light. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2009-03-18 19:03 |
| #7 The JMSDF is not the IJN. The IJN would never have let this happen: |
| Posted by: Mike 2009-03-18 13:50 |
| #6 5 and they would have realistic facial expressions |
| Posted by: lotp 2009-03-18 13:16 |
| #5 They really need to amend their constitution to allow spending more money on Defense and larger ships/vehicles. I'd bet we'd see giant mechs inside of 20 years if that happens. |
| Posted by: Anon4021 2009-03-18 12:04 |
| #4 It's not the world's largest, it's Japan's largest. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-03-18 11:02 |
| #3 Could use a ski jump and some of those new F-35 helos. Speculation grows on China aircraft carrier plans China will have an aircraft carrier "very soon," a top Chinese naval officer told a newspaper published Friday, fueling speculation over a pending official announcement on the long-awaited project. |
| Posted by: ed 2009-03-18 10:10 |
| #2 IJN? must be the smallish empire in world :) |
| Posted by: Large Snerong7311 2009-03-18 09:56 |
| #1 Largest in the world at 11 helicopters? USMC's Bonhomme Richard carries 52 of them. |
| Posted by: JFM 2009-03-18 09:55 |