On March 22, 2017, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's frigate Kaga officially entered service at the Yokohama Shipyard.
Historically, the name "Kaga" is also notorious, it was not only the main warship of the Japanese Navy in the Japanese invasion of China, but also participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor in the Pacific War. What is the purpose behind the Japanese side's resurrection of this battleship full of "black history"?
Kaga is the second ship of the Izumo-class helicopter frigate, hull number DDH184, which can carry the patrol helicopter of the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the new Osprey transport aircraft to be introduced by the Land Self-Defense Force.
Although the Japanese claim that the Kaga is a helicopter frigate, in fact, the Kaga and the Izumo, which entered service in 2015, belong to the same class, with a full load displacement of 27,000 tons and a wide straight-through deck.
This is a photo of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force "Izumo" "Hyuga" helicopter carrier sailing with the US Nimitz-class nuclear carrier formation. As can be seen from the photos, the "Izumo" in the picture is almost the same size as the US aircraft carrier.
Expert Comments:
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It is actually an aircraft carrier because it conforms to the elements of an aircraft carrier. But because of its relatively small tonnage, it can only take off and land helicopters. Such a large ship is also called a frigate, which is actually to cover up its ability to build such a large ship and carry out high-sea combat.
It now wants to break through the Pacifist Constitution and add an active offensive capability and a coastal combat capability.
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In recent years, Japan has developed from the Osumi class to the Hyuga class to the Izumo class, and every time a new helicopter aircraft carrier is developed, the latter is nearly 50% larger than the former in terms of displacement.
The recently commissioned "Kaga" is different from the various types of helicopter carriers that were commissioned earlier, in addition to the largest tonnage, according to Japanese media reports, the "Kaga" has further improved its stealth performance compared to the "Izumo".
The Kaga's hull openings were newly equipped with shields and other devices, which made its radar reflection area at sea smaller than that of the Izumo and less likely to be detected by the radar of the opposing ship.
The "Izumo" and "Kaga" have a large displacement, and the ability to deliver from the open sea is very strong, and they can carry out the delivery of these equipment on the island and land, and the support of the firepower of the land. In the future, if it is improved on the deck, it can also take off and land an aircraft such as the F-35B, which takes off and lands vertically.
In fact, Japan is laying a foundation for itself to build a real aircraft carrier.
Editor-in-charge: Xu Rong
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