Strange Bedfellows or Spirit of Cooperation? US-China Plan Joint Excercises

With all that is going on in the region, a most unexpected move was announced earlier this week. CNN had posted reports that spokesmen from both the United States and the PRC have both announced that the two countries plan to hold joint military exercises this November 13-18th 2016 to focus on Disaster Relief Missions. The Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that China's military spokesperson Wu Qian said in a recent briefing: "The scenario of the joint exercise and exchange is professional disaster relief in high-altitude regions. It consists of three phases, namely, academic exchange, command post exercise and live troop exercise." While only a small number of PLA and US Military personal will take part in this exercise, it is our hope that this spirit of cooperation can be built upon and perhaps the current tensions could be eased. With rising climate related disasters on the rise, it is up to the nations of the world to put aside their petty differences and come together in times of need. Whiles these exercises won't solve all the outstanding issues on the South China Seas, it can in some small part lay the ground work for future cooperation in humanitarian and disaster relief efforts where our two great countries resources can be used in tandem for good. We at American Mishima hope to see more of this.

Chinese Checkers: JASDF Fighter Intercepts Draw Ire

Japan's Air Self Defense Forces have been really busy this year. It is reported that the JASDF has had to scramble fighters 407 times between April 1st and September 30th to intercept Chinese warplanes encroaching on Japanese Air Space. This is double the amount of fighter intercepts for the year of 2015. In a sense of irony, this has drawn cries of foul from Beijing who accuse Japan's pilots of recklessly endangering their pilots and interfering with their activities in or near disputed air space and territorial waters. Activities of which has included the militarization of international airspace and the building of artificial islands for military purposes that The Hague has since ruled unlawful. Despite the ruling, Beijing refuses to recognize it and continues to provoke and complain when someone call them on it. This is like that scene in the film Goodfellah's where Joe Pesci's character kicks Billy Batts to a bloody pulp then has the nerve to complain about what Batts did to his shoes. Well Japan is far from being a bloody pulp and it is up to the JASDF to make sure the PRC's warplanes are met to discourage any hostile action or mistaken intention that could start a war nobody wants. 

Earlier this year, several nations took the PRC to court at The Hague which as fore mentioned above has since ruled against the PRC. We have written about this many times and still do not understand why such provocations are taking place. But it is what it is and it's up to both the JASDF and the US Navy to give the PRC a pause and somehow keep the peace. We don't expect this situation to go away anytime soon and things are just getting increasingly dangerous for the pilots of both China and Japan. There have been incidents in the Miyako Strait and near Okinawa where JASDF fighters have had to turn on their electronic counter measures. In an article posted on CNN Col. Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense said "Such high-frequency reconnaissance against China not only disturbs the routine training of the Chinese military but also undermines the security interests of China." Japan's Defense Ministry has responded by saying: "It has not taken any provocative actions against Chinese military planes nor endangered them as claimed by the spokesman of the Chinese Defense Ministry."

To be continued....

The Dangerous Game: PRC Sub Stalks US Carrier

The Chinese Navy has been making bold aggressive moves in the South China Seas as of late and this week's stalking of a U.S. Navy Carrier the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan was no exception. Sources around the internet say the Russian built Kilo Class submarine tracked the Reagan for half a day off the Southern Coast of Japan. While some may argue that the PRC is out to prove they are not afraid of our Navy, we're sure that if you are a 19 year old sailor aboard that sub and you hear there are Anti-submarine choppers shadowing your every move from up above, whatever confidence the skipper may have instilled would have likely went up the blow hole. Just as the Chinese Navy wanted our Navy to know they were there, we're confident our response was made loud & clear the minute our sub hunting radar let them know where we stood on the matter. 

While we don't like these rising tensions, it's up to the PRC to decide where they want to go with these moves. 50 years of playing cat & mouse with the Soviet Navy brought only years of tense encounters and an unknown number of widows for a war fought with no battles and only bodies at the bottom of the sea. China is new at this and this is dangerous business. Nobody wants a war and we sure hope it doesn't come to that. That being said, our Navy is there to keep the peace and international shipping lanes open no matter who builds what island where in international waters. We hope cooler heads in Beijing prevail.

Japan PM Shinzo Abe Boards U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier

Current Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became the first sitting Japanese Prime Minister to board a United States Navy Aircraft Carrier, the newly deployed USS Ronald Reagan weeks after it arrived at its new home port at Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture. This comes one month after the Japanese Parliament (Diet) voted to enact new laws expanding the role of Japan's "Self Defense Forces" in a time of crisis to assist Japan's allies if needed. After the 3/11 Tohuko Disaster, the USS Ronald Reagan participated in Operation Tomodachi. Such good will on the part of the US Navy has not been lost as PM Abe declared the USS Ronald Reagan a Tomodachi (friend) who was there to help the people of Japan during it's time of need.

To the Ship and its crew, PM Abe wished to give a "hearty welcome" and a continuation of what he calls the US-Japan "Alliance of Hope."

ばか! Are They Serious? North Korea's Latest Maritime Threat

North Korea has once again stunned the world in their use of retro technology. Recently put out to sea, this Soviet Era Golf Class Diesel that was originally built in 1958 then later taken apart then reverse engineered and further re-dubbed by the North Korean Navy as Romeo Class is out on the prowl. While this reverse engineered throwback to the Dr. Strangelove Era has yet to be outfitted with ballistic missiles, it still retains its original torpedo launch capability which according to the South Korean Government is believed to have fired a torpedo at a South Korean vessel in the Yellow Sea March of 2010 which resulted in the South Korean vessel sinking. While being a maritime menace to South Korean vessels we don't believe Japan's JMSDF or the U.S. Navy will be shaking in their boots any time soon. Nice Try Baby Kim! Go home, you're drunk! ばか!

American Mishima Visits The Battleship Iowa BB-61

We've long been a big fan of WWII era battle wagons such as the Bismark, Yamato, and the USS Missouri. This last weekend we got our opportunity to step aboard the USS Iowa BB-61, one of four remaining Iowa Class battleships in the world. With her 16 " guns she was the pride of the US Navy who deployed her in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the first Gulf War. She is currently moored in San Pedro California and is well worth the visit. Please enjoy!

Massive 16" guns were the super weapons of their day hurling a shell 25 miles over the horizon.

 

Firing one of these shells is like firing a Volkswagon Bug 25 miles at you.

 For anyone who had seen the film Otoko Tachi no Yamato, it's hard not to think of it from this angle.

Memorial plaque for the lives lost when the main turret exploded killing scores of crewmen trapped inside.

View of one of the remaining 5" guns.

Here's a view of the Phalanx Air Defense System installed in the 1980's.

Here is one of the two Tomahawk Missile batteries installed in the 1980's.

Anti-Submarine/Ship Harpoon Missiles.

 

And finally, the fantail view of the ship.

To visit or simply learn more about the battleship please visit:

Pacific Battleship Iowa

Midway Remembered

Seen here is The Last Zero Fighter Author Daniel King with Japanese & American Veterans of the Battle of Midway Atoll that took place June 5th, 1942. This battle ended in a major defeat for the Empire of Japan with the loss of four carriers in it's attempt to seize the strategic atoll. This marked the turning point in the Pacific War and the beginning of the end for the Imperial Japanese Navy. American Mishima is happy to see that time has indeed healed old wounds where these old warriors can come together in peace. 

Captain Kirk's New Cloaking Device

If you're a fan of Star Trek, you'll recall that original series episode where Captain James T. Kirk steals a cloaking device from the Romulans to hide his ship from danger. We'll today in the 21st. Century if Captain Kirk needed a cloaking device the US Navy can now simply issue him one. Seriously? All joking aside, yes! And that's exactly what happened this month. Yes that's right!

The US Navy gave Captain Kirk a cloaking device. That is Captain James A. Kirk of the United States Navy. He has been given command of the first DDG-1000 Class Destroyer with stealth capability, the USS Zumwalt.

Named after Admiral Elmo R. “Bud” Zumwalt who was chief of Naval Operations in the early 1970's, this new warship (the first of three being built) is longer and faster than the current Arleigh-Burke class destroyers. The Zumwalt is equipped with the latest and deadliest array of weapons that can strike targets more than 60 miles away.

Wrapped in a high tech light weight carbon fiber composite, this new ship is 50 times harder to spot on radar. While not quite the 23rd Century cloaking device of James T. Kirk, this new vessel under the command of Captain James A. Kirk represents the new direction of the US Navy's quest for an efficient warship capable of meeting the ever changing needs of the 21st Century.

We at American Mishima would like to wish Captain Kirk and the yet unnamed crew of the USS Zumwalt much success in thier upcoming sea trials and missions to come!
Anchors Away Captain!

Another Iconic Ship Bids Farewell

The Decommissioned (CV-59) USS Forrestal, another iconic ship from our youth embarks on one last final voyage to the scrapyard. First commissioned in 1955, "The FID" as she was known saw action during the Vietnam War and is best known for an incident where a Zuni missile accidentally fired from a parked F-4 Phantom into a line of fueling A-4 Skyhawks. Among the pilots of those Skyhawks was John McCain. The blast and resulting fire killed 134 of her crew, injuring another 161, destroying 21 aircraft and costing the Navy US$72 million. She would see service until her decommissioning in 1993. The former multipurpose carrier will be towed from her berth in Philadelphia to Brownsville Texas for her final dismantling.

So long!

To learn more of the 1967 tragedy, watch the video below:

Fitting Tribute. US Navy Names New Destoryer after Japanese-American Hero.

On May 23rd, US Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced the naming of one of two new Arleigh Burke-class Destroyers (DDG) after the late US Senator Daniel Inouye. We celebrate this as a high honor upon many honors bestowed upon the late Medal of Honor recipient and former US Senator of Hawaii. DDG-118 will bear the name of this most distinguished Japanese-American who fought bravely in the Legendary All Nisei 442nd "Go for Broke" Regimental Combat Team who saved the Lost Battalion of the 141st Infantry who were surrounded by the Germans. After leaving the Army he would go on to have a successful political career first with two terms in the House and then the rest of his career until the time of his death in the Senate. It is said that the Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer is one of the most formidable and advanced surface ships in the world. A fitting tribute to the late Distinguished Senator and war hero that inspired so many.

Saying Goodbye to the U.S.S. Enterprise

As America's oldest active duty nuclear powered aircraft carrier CVN-65 U.S.S Enterprise sails home from her final patrol, we at American Mishima wanted to share our reflections on this proud ship and symbol of America's Naval Might. The Big E as she is known has not been the first warship to bear the name Enterprise nor will she be the last. But all things come to an end. Sadly, we couldn't disagree more with the manner in which that end has been slated and we will tell you why. There has not been a time in this author's life that we did not know about the U.S.S. Enterprise. As she sails off to her fate awaiting the cutting torches of the scrapyard we feel saddened that this most iconic ship that had protected us for generations could not be saved in a more dignified retirement by converting it from warship to floating museum like that of the Intrepid. It is truly a sad day for fans of the "Big E" and even sadder for those who had proudly served aboard her. Though we never served aboard her or in our military for that matter, much like a death in the family we feel like were losing a friend we have known since childhood. We've built countless models, seen her in countless movies, and have been fortunate to have met many of her proud crew who have shared their experiences in this lifetime. From Vietnam to the Wars in Iraq, she had be served by generations. It is with heartfelt sentiment that we at American Mishima offer a final Sayonara and salute to this great warship who throughout our lifetime kept us safe though the dark days of the cold war and in times of peace. Though she will never sail again nor her iconic "Island" be saved, she will forever be etched into the memories of those who knew her. As one fictional Captain of another Enterprise once said: "Let history never forget the name... Enterprise."