Japan unveils new carrier-like warship, largest since WWII

[Greg]

Nah, not this one. They're still building up to something fixed-wing capable (non-VTOL, think what I'm looking for is STOBAR). There's plenty of use for this one as a helicopter/VTOL carrier either in the sea control or amphibious assault role.

Now Japan building a Marine Corps... THAT should have people squeezing out bricks.

[Netpackrat]

I guess the bigger question is how much longer is it reasonable to expect them to do penance for WWII? Particularly with rambunctious neighbors who seem eager for some payback?

[Aesop]

I guess the bigger question is how much longer is it reasonable to expect them to do penance for WWII?

Well, off the top of my head, 75 years years from the time they admit what they did would be a good starting point.
As they have yet to corporately cop to what they did, that clock is still waiting to start.

Particularly with rambunctious neighbors who seem eager for some payback?

They've had those since 1945, if not since 1245.

What's different now, vice the last 65+ years, is our newfound comfort with leaving their collective asses in the breeze with regard to China, N. Korea, etc.
Above all, they're a prudent people.
The minute they get a whiff of having to go it alone, the next nuke that pops 8,000 NM away will be a Japanese bomb, followed by inscrutable denials of its existence.
Followed in short order by a sudden reticence in discussing non-proliferation in places like Oz, NZ, Singapore, Taiwan, and S. Korea.

Then things get interesting, in a geopolitical sense.
It's almost as if they didn't cover the history of the 1930s in a certain Indonesian madrassa circa 1970.

I would bet that if someone REALLY inspected the insides of that ship, they'd find ready access for modification to accept catapults and/or jump ramps (which could be EASILY and quickly installed, probably much more so than dropping in catapult launch systems after cutting out all the identified locations needed to be removed/modified/strengthened and new parts installed/welded/bolted into place then tested)

I'm betting the bolt holes are already in the subdecks, and the equipment is long-term stored in a few conexes either in the hold, or a secure homeport warehouse, with the assembly instructions in the back of the captain's new Owner's Manual.

I hope they bought the extended warranty. Jap carriers have a tendency to sink.
And countless periscope photos of our own taken by our attack skippers during exercises don't argue well for the long-term viability of anyone's.

[mekender]

The minute they get a whiff of having to go it alone, the next nuke that pops 8,000 NM away will be a Japanese bomb, followed by inscrutable denials of its existence.

And I bet it will be made out of damn good electronics, powered by kinetic motion, cased in high-tech forged steel... And have tentacles... And a great warranty.

[MiddleAgedKen]

My favorite comment so far over at The Miniatures Page (a wargaming forum) is, "Still no wave motion gun."

[Jericho941]

"Destroyer". Sh'yeah, right.

They are simply following the time honored standard set by the Soviets and their "Heavy Aircraft carrying Cruisers" (see Kuznetsov)

What do CV and CVN stand for?

[blackeagle603]

add cats and arresting gear to this after the fact? Seriously?

Put. The Brownies. Down.


VSTOL? Absolutely.
Electromagnetic Cats. Maaaaaaybe. Still really not proven in Fleet use. We're just now building out first into new carrier.
Arresting gear? You really have no idea how tiny a tip of the iceberg those cross deck pennants are vs how much engineering space it takes up under the deck.
Steam Cats. Ah ha. hahahahahahahahaah


None of the above except VSTOL are remotely useful w/out hanging an angle deck on it. Not a trivial engineering and 'righting moment' problem to solve. The Midway has a permanent list to Port with the addition of an angle deck even with a bunch of spaces pumped full of concrete.

Move along to talking about the likely power projection and air war scenarios Japan will face. They can project a some serious AEW and fighter/attack capability from shore now. They need to be able to get troops on the spot quickly -- a gator ship like this does the trick.

[blackeagle603]

If the Japanese want to go full blown angle deck we've got 5 good used ones at the pier decommissioned or defueling prior to decomm they can get for pennies on the dollar -- and more newer ones on the way.

Probably have no trouble manning/training them with prior service US NavVets who'd be happy to give the ChiComs a lesson in Cold War sea power projection.

[Netpackrat]

I guess the bigger question is how much longer is it reasonable to expect them to do penance for WWII?

Well, off the top of my head, 75 years years from the time they admit what they did would be a good starting point.
As they have yet to corporately cop to what they did, that clock is still waiting to start.

All of that is true, but we're also rapidly approaching the time when nobody even remotely responsible for anything that happened in WWII will be alive anymore. At some point in the not too distant future, blaming the Japanese for the war and all of the atrocities simply because they are Japanese, will make about as much sense as blaming me for slavery in the US because I am white, or the Irish hating me because I'm a descendant of the house of Cromwell.

If the Japanese want to go full blown angle deck we've got 5 good used ones at the pier decommissioned or defueling prior to decomm they can get for pennies on the dollar -- and more newer ones on the way.

Of course, given their history, what makes you so sure that they'd have a need to recover any of the planes they'd be launching?

[Captain Wheelgun]

Did any of you notice that this came out on August 6th? Any bets on if that was deliberate?