_and_USNS_Mercy_(T-AH-19)_in_the_South_China_Sea,_-14_Jun._2010_a.jpg)
This is piggy backing off my post yesterday. The debate. Are the Japanese building a Marine Corps?
The answer is an unqualified yes.
In recent years the Japanese have bought or stated that they plan to buy the following...
*Hyuga Class Helicopter Destroyer. In any other navy it would be called a LHA.
*Osumi Class Tank Landing Ship. We would call it an LPD. Its in the European fashion of that class of ship (see the Italian San Giorgio).
*AAV-7A1. Self explanatory.
*MV-22. Self explanatory.
*F-35B. This nugget was hidden in the story yesterday that I initially failed to notice. Not only are they looking to buy F-35A but also F-35B.
Defense experts don't like dealing with reality. A quick glance at Japanese defense purchases reveals the truth to all that want to see it.
They're making a Marine Corps, they're gearing for a fight and the target is an aggressive China.
Don't forget the puppet that is North Korea. I hope this keeps them in check.
ReplyDeleteI take this as good news, being a resident of this part of the world.
the only country i would worry about when it comes to having fortitude when facing the Chinese would be the US.
Deletei am seeing a pretty unified block of nations seeing a threat and acting appropriately. from Thailand to Vietnam, Japan, S. Korea and the Philippines are all getting geared up.
remember this too (and i'm going to write a post on this) technological advantages mean nothing, its all about how dedicated your fighters are. remember China invading Vietnam? China got their ass kicked!
The Hyuga isn't an LHA. It's not meant for or designed to carry amphibious forces.
ReplyDeleteIt's meant to be part of the JMSDF ASW escort flotilla structure as an aviation-focused, ASW destroyer.
http://www.usnwc.edu/getattachment/845c374a-6615-4872-9c65-8dcf522739ee/A-New-Carrier-Race--Strategy,-Force-Planning,-and-
i could care less what some pin head at the naval war college thinks. he's wrong. the ship is designed to carry F-35's and Harriers and despite what the Japanese have said publicly they have also stated..."the ships join the Osumi-class ships for peacekeeping and relief operations, as well as the “diverse situations” Japan foresees confronting on the high seas."[5]....
Deletethey said all the helicopter ASW nonsense to keep in line with a pacifist constitution. but they were wise enough to build in capabilities to ensure that it could act as an amphib. its obvious that they're going to act on that need and might i remind you that the Marine Corps once used LHA's that only carried helicopters.
It's unclear if the Hyuga could operate F-35Bs or Harriers, or how effective it would with them. AFAIK it wasn't necessarily designed to do so (especially Harriers). There are many internal and external design choices that will play into its effectiveness in this role.
DeleteSame goes for its use as an LHA. How many Marines can it carry? Vehicles? Equipment? Can it even operate MV-22s? If so, how many?
The JMSDF has a clear history of ASW escort flotilla designs going back several generations. IMHO, the Hyuga is just the logical extension of those designs.
this time you're ignoring the obvious and it makes me wonder why. you've read the recent reports of Chinese aggression. you've also read the increasingly alarmed reports coming out of Japan for this. you're also aware that this isn't new and that China has been flexing its muscle for a long time now....long before this ship was built. we also give the Japanese credit for long range planning but you don't want to believe that this is in fact a thinly disguised LHA?
Deleteeither you're being argumentative OR you're refusing to see the obvious. i hope you're just picking a fight...if a guy thats served and is knowledgeable about current military events can't see this then we're quite seriously fucked.
I agree that Japan is looking to beef up its amphibious capability.
DeleteI just don't think the Hyuga class is representative of this move. If it's a thinly disguised LHA, it's a pretty bad one. It doesn't have a ramp or well deck to offload vehicles. It can't carry any landing craft. There's no mention of additional accommodations for Marines.
The forthcoming, larger 22DDH may be more appropriate. The marketing mentions
being able to carry 400 Marines. And it may have design changes, relative to the Hyuga, to support operating V-22s and F-35s.
When Japan finally decides to pursuit re-armament, I am afraid she will ditch her security pact with US soon or later. Isn't that what the Japanese right winger really wanted after all? A powerful and independent Japan ain't nobody b*tch. Also, you can kiss Washington-Tokyo-Seoul axis good bye since S. Korean will never accept a re-armed Japan. The Koreans hate Japs guts.
ReplyDeleteJapan doesn't have the population metrics to ever be a real offensive threat to anyone in the region. they've seen what economic success can bring and will always default to that position. quite honestly the real fear isn't a rearmed Japan, but rather a Japan that harnesses every ounce of tech possible to become technologically superior, energy independent and that they revert to extreme isolationism. so no fears of an uparmed Japan here.
DeleteS. Koreans are going through there own growing pains and once they reunite with the North, all thoughts about Japan will be history. besides. the old ways aren't being taught in either country so the hate isn't as great as the fear of an unruly China is.
Among Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans, the hatred is mutual. They just dislike each other for historic and nationalistic reasons. Many ordinary S. Koreans are very anti-America. Once the peninsula is re-united, there is no expectation to host US Forces any longer. On the other side, Japan-US alliance is really dependent upon two elements. How big the real threat China emerges, and how valuable Japan views America as an ally or vice versa. Japan will decide what’s best for her in the long term. When I was in Japan couple years ago, I saw this TV program when Japanese experts were debating if Japan should join China to lead Asia Pacific and US was perceived as a permanent declining power. The guests questioned the value of a long lasting alliance with US!
ReplyDeletei was there at the height of the protest over US bases. saw a couple of demonstrations against US forces when a stupid Marine or moronic Sailor was accused/committed a lack of zipper control that doomed everyone to base for weeks/months at a time.
Deleteso i know all about asian hatred for each other. what i'm telling you and you're refusing to accept is that times are changing and the old paradigms are shifting. we're seeing something new develop and you're still trying to fit the new issues into a new box.
One side note, Japan is considering a marine force. Amphibious fighting vehicle is one of the core requirements. Maybe USMC and MSDF should team up to co-develop ACV. Both nations share the development cost, a bi-national acquisition program means large production volume and lower unit price.
ReplyDeleteThe second picture shows a big deck ship, I would rather classify it as LHA/D too. It looks nothing like a LPD.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. The Osumi is closer to an LHD/A than the Hyuga, IMHO.
Deletesorry gents. in that case the classification is correct. the Japanese use this ship in the same way that the Italians use the San Giorgio..that big flight deck looking thing only has two landing spots and most of the time the rest of the deck is used for vehicle parking.
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