Japanese Through-Deck Cruisers
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Japanese Through-Deck Cruisers
StrategyPage: Japan Seeks A New Class Of Larger Carriers
September 4, 2009: Japan is now planning a second, larger class of 763 foot long, 25,000 ton aircraft carriers. How can that be? Japan's post-World War II constitution specifically forbids its navy (ah, make that, "Naval Self-Defense Force") from having aircraft carriers. Very simple, Japan has already built two "helicopter-carrying destroyers" that happen to just look like aircraft carriers. A class of "helicopter-carrying cruisers" would apparently keep the constitutional lawyers quiet.
Japan recently launched its second aircraft carrier ( the Ise) since World War II. This past March, it commissioned the first of these ships, the "helicopter-carrying destroyer" Hyuga. These are 610 foot long, 18,000 ton warships that operates up to 11 (mostly SH-60) helicopters from a full length flight deck. Although called a destroyer, it very much looks like an aircraft carrier. While its primary function is anti-submarine warfare, the Hyuga will also give Japan its first real power projection capability since 1945. The Hyuga is the largest warship built in Japan since World War II. The Japanese constitution forbids it to have aircraft carriers, which is the main reason it is called a destroyer. That, and the desire to not make the neighbors anxious. East Asian nations still have bad memories about the last time Japan had lots of aircraft carriers.
The Hyuga also has 16 Mk41 VLS (Vertical Launch System) cells for anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles. There are also two 20mm Phalanx anti-missile cannon and two triple 12.75-inch torpedo mounts. There is a crew of 350 and a top speed of about 60 kilometers. Vertical takeoff jets like the Harrier and F-35B could also operate from the Hyuga. A third Hyuga class ship is planned.
The last Japanese warship to be called the Hyuga was a World War II battleship that entered service in 1918, and was converted to a hybrid battleship/aircraft carrier in 1943. The new Hyuga will be used for peacekeeping missions as well, and for that role its many helicopters will be most useful. During World War II, there was also a Japanese battleships named Ise, which was the lead ship of a class of ships that also contained the Hyuga. Both were 35,000 ton warships, and both were sunk, in the same week, in late July 1945. The Ise was also rebuilt, during the war, as an aircraft carrier (actually a hybrid battleship/aircraft carrier.)
The Japanese are apparently quite pleased with their new carriers, and much relieved that there was not a worldwide uproar over how they circumvented their own constitution. The Japanese Navy is apparently back in the carrier business, 64 years after the last of their World War II carriers went to the bottom.
September 4, 2009: Japan is now planning a second, larger class of 763 foot long, 25,000 ton aircraft carriers. How can that be? Japan's post-World War II constitution specifically forbids its navy (ah, make that, "Naval Self-Defense Force") from having aircraft carriers. Very simple, Japan has already built two "helicopter-carrying destroyers" that happen to just look like aircraft carriers. A class of "helicopter-carrying cruisers" would apparently keep the constitutional lawyers quiet.
Japan recently launched its second aircraft carrier ( the Ise) since World War II. This past March, it commissioned the first of these ships, the "helicopter-carrying destroyer" Hyuga. These are 610 foot long, 18,000 ton warships that operates up to 11 (mostly SH-60) helicopters from a full length flight deck. Although called a destroyer, it very much looks like an aircraft carrier. While its primary function is anti-submarine warfare, the Hyuga will also give Japan its first real power projection capability since 1945. The Hyuga is the largest warship built in Japan since World War II. The Japanese constitution forbids it to have aircraft carriers, which is the main reason it is called a destroyer. That, and the desire to not make the neighbors anxious. East Asian nations still have bad memories about the last time Japan had lots of aircraft carriers.
The Hyuga also has 16 Mk41 VLS (Vertical Launch System) cells for anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles. There are also two 20mm Phalanx anti-missile cannon and two triple 12.75-inch torpedo mounts. There is a crew of 350 and a top speed of about 60 kilometers. Vertical takeoff jets like the Harrier and F-35B could also operate from the Hyuga. A third Hyuga class ship is planned.
The last Japanese warship to be called the Hyuga was a World War II battleship that entered service in 1918, and was converted to a hybrid battleship/aircraft carrier in 1943. The new Hyuga will be used for peacekeeping missions as well, and for that role its many helicopters will be most useful. During World War II, there was also a Japanese battleships named Ise, which was the lead ship of a class of ships that also contained the Hyuga. Both were 35,000 ton warships, and both were sunk, in the same week, in late July 1945. The Ise was also rebuilt, during the war, as an aircraft carrier (actually a hybrid battleship/aircraft carrier.)
The Japanese are apparently quite pleased with their new carriers, and much relieved that there was not a worldwide uproar over how they circumvented their own constitution. The Japanese Navy is apparently back in the carrier business, 64 years after the last of their World War II carriers went to the bottom.
Perhaps they might consider a goodwill tour of the Pacific with one of their new flat-tops? Visiting such places as a certain naval installation on Oahu.....
? And then across the South China Sea to Singapore?
? And then across the South China Sea to Singapore?
Last edited by BEagle; 7th Sep 2009 at 16:50.
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sandhurst
Age: 50
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ahh but it's Japanese isn't it, so it either turns into a 300ft tall flying, laser toteing robot. Or it's aircraft are Microscopic at 2cm wingspan, yet more capable than the F-22, it carries a wing of 12400 fighters (and that's just the lower deck).
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Devon, England
Posts: 816
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Some Facts and pics of the class here:-
Hyuga Class Destoyer - Naval Technology
Hyuga Class Destoyer - Naval Technology
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: by the Great Salt Lake, USA
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ummm... Razor61... Hyuga was only mentioned as a comparison... the article (and thread) are about Japan's planned NEW class which will be significantly larger than the Hyuga class.
And Strategypage has it wrong (as usual)...
Japan's constitution makes NO mention whatsoever of aircraft carriers!
Here is the only part of the Constitution which mentions military matters:
THE CONSTITUTION OF JAPAN
And Strategypage has it wrong (as usual)...
Japan's constitution makes NO mention whatsoever of aircraft carriers!
Here is the only part of the Constitution which mentions military matters:
CHAPTER II: RENUNCIATION OF WAR
Article 9:
Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. 2) In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.
Article 9:
Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. 2) In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Confirmation of new class: new helicopter carrier part of defense budget
The Ministry of Defense released its 4.85-trillion-yen budget plan for the next fiscal year on Monday, including provisions for upgrading the nation's missile defense system and purchasing a new helicopter carrier..........
As well as missile defense, the ministry plans to purchase a new helicopter carrier for the Maritime Self-Defense Force, based on the Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer. The new 116.6-billion-yen carrier will be 25 percent longer than the Hyuga, capable of carrying nine helicopters that can conduct operations simultaneously. In addition, it will a have limited naval resupply capability, and as well as antisubmarine operations -- in light of the Chinese Navy's recent submarine construction. The new carrier will also be able to take part in disaster relief and U.N. peacekeeping activities.....
The Ministry of Defense released its 4.85-trillion-yen budget plan for the next fiscal year on Monday, including provisions for upgrading the nation's missile defense system and purchasing a new helicopter carrier..........
As well as missile defense, the ministry plans to purchase a new helicopter carrier for the Maritime Self-Defense Force, based on the Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer. The new 116.6-billion-yen carrier will be 25 percent longer than the Hyuga, capable of carrying nine helicopters that can conduct operations simultaneously. In addition, it will a have limited naval resupply capability, and as well as antisubmarine operations -- in light of the Chinese Navy's recent submarine construction. The new carrier will also be able to take part in disaster relief and U.N. peacekeeping activities.....
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Since my last post was apparently deleted by the Mod's, I'll try a 'OOlite' version.
BTW Double Zero stands for Dastardly & Muttley's car...
We British of course used ' Through Deck Cruiser, ASW ' as a euphanism for small aircraft carrier a while ago.
I personally took pictures when a VIP bunch of Japanese expressed interest in the Sea Harrier & especially the Sea Eagle anti-ship
missile ( way above Exocet capabilities at that time ).
They then expressed serious interest in the Harrier II / AV-8B, which I would think only the 2+ with a bit of wiring & software would suit.
Still hardly a peace-keeping helicopter ship.
As Homer Simpson's dad put it, " I haven't been so relaxed since I was on lookout duty at Pearl Harbour " !
Due to the treatment of prisoners, men & women, I avoid buying anything made in Japan unless there's no choice.
BTW Double Zero stands for Dastardly & Muttley's car...
We British of course used ' Through Deck Cruiser, ASW ' as a euphanism for small aircraft carrier a while ago.
I personally took pictures when a VIP bunch of Japanese expressed interest in the Sea Harrier & especially the Sea Eagle anti-ship
missile ( way above Exocet capabilities at that time ).
They then expressed serious interest in the Harrier II / AV-8B, which I would think only the 2+ with a bit of wiring & software would suit.
Still hardly a peace-keeping helicopter ship.
As Homer Simpson's dad put it, " I haven't been so relaxed since I was on lookout duty at Pearl Harbour " !
Due to the treatment of prisoners, men & women, I avoid buying anything made in Japan unless there's no choice.
Doublenuts,
Oh please grow up!
It was 70 years ago.
If the whole world took your narrow minded blinkered attitude to history then this country, thanks to the antics of our Empire building ancestors, would be the most isolated disliked nation on the planet.
Oh please grow up!
It was 70 years ago.
If the whole world took your narrow minded blinkered attitude to history then this country, thanks to the antics of our Empire building ancestors, would be the most isolated disliked nation on the planet.
Looks like Carriers are the new black, what with the Brazilians, Chinese, Indians, French and now Japanese back in the club.
