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April 4, 2017
It's probably nothing.
This was the first Japanese aircraft to enter service since 1945. The Hyuga class are 197 meter (610 foot) long, 18,000 ton warships that operates up to eleven (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 was also the largest warship built in Japan since World War II. The Japanese post World War II constitution forbids it from having 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.
Posted by gerardvanderleun at April 4, 2017 8:15 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
Indonesia: Change our vote to "Not enough", okay?
Posted by: Ray Van Dune at April 4, 2017 12:27 PM
And actually, Japan has no sailors in its navy. The navy is funded and authorized as part of the Japanese civil service, not a military force.
Posted by: Donald Sensing at April 4, 2017 3:41 PM
'East Asian nations still have bad memories about the last time Japan had lots of aircraft carriers.'
Well, at least until Midway.
Posted by: Walt Erickson at April 4, 2017 9:26 PM
I believe Walt just won this one.
Posted by: SteveS at April 4, 2017 10:15 PM
The only Japanese war ships I have ever seen were at the bottom of the Sulu Sea around Coron Island, Palawan, Philippines.
Posted by: Snakepit Kansas at April 5, 2017 4:34 AM