Many thanks to Rohan for sending me this link!
via jiji.com
Shocked and amazed.
The Japanese are competent ship builders and have no need to go looking for a capable amphibious assault ship.
So this is more about gaining friends or strengthening friendships than it is about gaining a new capability. If this is aimed at buying the America Class LHA then the Japanese are seeking to tie their military into our own in not only military theory but also in sharing equipment.
Want to talk about real cross decking? If you operate the same ships it becomes much much easier.
Imagine this.
The US Marine Corps has always complained about a dearth of shipping. What happens when the Japanese suddenly find themselves with two ships sitting around that they can't fill?
Sounds like the US Marines and US Army (wouldn't that be a kick in the pants...the Army gets feet wet aboard Japanese amphibs!) just found a new ride. I wonder how the S. Koreans and Chinese would react to that?
via jiji.com
In response to the policy that emphasizes remote islands and defense of the East China Sea, the response to large-scale disasters such as the Nankai Trough earthquake in the new National Defense Program Guidelines adopted by the Cabinet in December last year has been shown, the Ministry of Defense, aviation and transportation capacity I introduced into the Maritime Self-Defense Force amphibious assault ship with excellent operational capability. By 2018, the final year medium-term defense buildup plan to be based on the Charter, established the equipment procurement goal of 5 years (medium-term proof), consider the equipment and functions required. After that, I embody the implementation plan.I have to admit that I'm shocked.
In the medium-proof, clearly "on the study, to obtain conclusions about the existence of multi-functional ship" with the aim to quickly deploy the Self-Defense Forces troops in the remote island defense. You wrote "The rapid transport of troops sufficient scale, completeness initial response to Expand" and also in response to the Nankai Trough earthquake.
Shocked and amazed.
The Japanese are competent ship builders and have no need to go looking for a capable amphibious assault ship.
So this is more about gaining friends or strengthening friendships than it is about gaining a new capability. If this is aimed at buying the America Class LHA then the Japanese are seeking to tie their military into our own in not only military theory but also in sharing equipment.
Want to talk about real cross decking? If you operate the same ships it becomes much much easier.
Imagine this.
The US Marine Corps has always complained about a dearth of shipping. What happens when the Japanese suddenly find themselves with two ships sitting around that they can't fill?
Sounds like the US Marines and US Army (wouldn't that be a kick in the pants...the Army gets feet wet aboard Japanese amphibs!) just found a new ride. I wonder how the S. Koreans and Chinese would react to that?
That would be hell of a helicopter destroyer! ^_^
ReplyDeleteit just dawned on me that the Japanese might be trying to get an aircraft carrier without calling it an aircraft carrier. the US America is purpose built to operate the F-35B. the Japanese could do it from their ships but the America class would get them around the issue of building an aircraft carrier and since we don't classify it as such then they get what they want without pissing off the neighbors.
DeleteWhere does Solomon get the idea that Japan wants to buy the America class?
Deletethe japanese article used an illustration of the America class as part of the article.
Deleteadditionally japan (as i stated) are quite capable of building a nice amphibious assault ship...they already have some in service. so yeah. this is something more.
Solomon
DeleteIt simply means the ship will be like an LHA; not that it will be an America class.
It could be as simple as the person whose job it is to find images for the hundreds of articles the site publishes in a week just punched something into a search engine and that was what they got back. Or their own archives happened to have that picture in it from a previous story.
DeleteHardly the first time a news story from non-experts used whatever picture happened to be convenient, regardless of relevance.
You're welcome Sol. No need to thank. Just spreading the word thats all.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Why not, if Japan has the cash and they want an LHA/LHD that badly for the F-35B, then we can build one for them. Nowadays an LHD/LHA is multi purpose pocket aircraft carriers for countries that want an aircraft carrier, amphibious assault ship in one, but don't want to pay for a conventional aircraft carrier prices. Countries right now are looking to LHA/LHD's to fulfill their Carrier, Sea control and Amphibious assault role in one ship. LHD/LHA's such as the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship,Wasp-class amphibious assault ship,America-class amphibious assault ship,Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship & Juan Carlos I LHD are becoming popular for countries who want to get in on the game. I would not be surprise if more countries are going the LHA/LHD route.
ReplyDeleteI will add what I know.
ReplyDeleteThis ship is supposed to be an Osumi class replacement, but enlarged several times in JMSDF tradition. It will be double-decked for separate aviation and amphibious landing craft hangers.
It still is not determined if this will carry Japanese F-35Bs, because my understanding is that the SDF prefers conventional carriers and are interested in the F-35C, not in the F-35B. But it should still be able to carry the USMC F-35Bs to the battlefield because any military operation involving this LHD will surely involve the USMC.
As for the reactions of Japan's neighbors, they already know and factored in Japanese conventional carriers in their long term build-up plans. You hear the ROK Navy's trying to buy 40 S-3Bs(20 for rebuild + 20 for spares) from the US boneyard and update them with latest avionics to begin "naval aviation operations" training. Guess why they would need S-3s to begin naval aviations training and not Harriers. I need not go over Chinese carrier op plans as every one heard about China's 6 carrier plan.
Hi, I believe the Japanese using these American ships will create a psychological barrier for the Chinese, that is, if war erupt in the East China Sea, will the Chinese attack these Japanese naval assets build by the US? Especially if American personnel & assets are on these ships?
ReplyDeleteWhy would this upset the S. Koreans? I know the Koreans and Japanese aren't friends, but I think the mutual fear/hate of China would override that. Besides, if the US was willing to let the Japanese build/buy their own LHA from us, I'm sure we'd let the S. Koreans do the same thing.
ReplyDeleteJust like the Korean war !
ReplyDeleteAt the landing of Inchon most amphibs had Japanese crews.
that is the most insane thing i've heard today...and todays been a crazy day! proof please!
Delete