The Izumo and the Kaga, Japan’s Helicopter carriers Newsline
Popular Mechanics: Japan’s Ships May Carry Fighter Jets, But Don’t Call Them Carriers
The ships would be called “multi-purpose operational mother ships.”
The Japanese government is considering a bold plan: converting its largest ships to carry the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in order to shore up a key defense vulnerability. The country’s use of aircraft carriers during World War II, however, has made loathe to actually use the phrase “aircraft carrier,” instead preferring the term “multi-purpose operational mother ship”.
In the early years of World War II, Japan had the largest and most power aircraft carrier fleet in the world. An island nation bereft of natural resources, Japan needed to procure them abroad, making a powerful navy vitally important. Japan’s carrier force swept across the Pacific, bombing China, attacking Australia, and infamously the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor.
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WNU Editor: They can call it want they want .... but everyone knows that these will be mini-carriers.
2 comments:
And????? Whats the issue with it? They are geographically located in the next potential conflict zone and would be facing peer competitor. People raise issues with the perceived offensive capabilities of the mini aircraft carriers but yet i rarely hear anything about the 17 or so submarines that Japan currently fields.
So to be fair it should be worth mentioning that China was the first in the region to base fighter aircraft on a aircraft carrier. Tit for Tat anyone?
"And???? Whats the issue with it?" I think the issue is that some are stuck in an antiquated post WW2 model that suggests that Japan is not to have a fully functioning military. First of all Imperial Japan is dead, buried, and is NOT coming back EVER. Secondly, the ability and the willingness of America to continue with the current level of responsibility for Japan's defense is wearing thin. Third, if we MUST confront China in the South China Sea we are going to need strong and capable allies who can and will act completely independently of the American military. Japan could serve as an excellent bulwark in this area and a valuable buffer. To do so, they are going to need to increase their military capability. This will also take some of the strain off of America likely improving our relations.
What needs to happen to get this done? Some are wed to the post WW2 Japanese Constitution. Unfortunately this agreement is incompatible with the facts and reality of the latter portion of the second decade of the 21st century. If a new constitution is needed to make this happen, then so be it. I applaud these efforts by Japan.
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