Japan's New Izumo Carrier Gets Commissioned

After lengthy sea trials, the JMSDF commissioned it's newest class of "Helicopter Destroyer" carrier DDH-181 Izumo in a formal ceremony atop her decks on March 25th, 2015. The Izumo is one of two scheduled ships of her size and class to be built for the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. The Izumo is the exact size of the WWII IJN Carrier Shokaku. What separates the Izumo from other aircraft carriers is the absence of a steam catapult or ski-lift. However this does not stop the Izumo from carrying STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) aircraft such as the proposed F-35B variant of the F-35 II Lightening. 

 

All fixed wing aircraft debates aside, the Izumo will carry up to 25 aircraft. She is planned to carry up to 9 V-22 Ospreys, 7 ASW helicopters, and 2 SAR helicopters. The Izumo comes fully loaded with an electronic suite, antisubmarine gear, 2 phalanx guns, and 2 SeaRam Close in weapon systems making her a formidable weapons platform for the 21st Century. 

So now that you got your commission, what are you going to do next? Well, for the Izumo it's six months of training out of her home port at Yokosuka than off to her first patrol doing surveillance. While the Izumo may appear small next to the US Navy's Nimitz Carriers, she carries enough firepower and equipment to provide a variety of missions from humanitarian to peacekeeping. While the debate will continue on the part of PM Shinzo Abe as to the need to scrap Article 9's provisions limiting Japan's defense forces, we at American Mishima hope to see Japan one day have a fixed wing aircraft carrier of her own to help provide more security in the region and continue to play an ample role in our continued military alliance. Until that time we wish the Captain and the crew of the Izumo a big Ganbarre and may she keep Japan safe.

Iran's Navy Blows Up Fake Carrier

In what can be best surmised as a publicity stunt for the home audience, the Iranian Navy staged a "Military" exercise to prove they can blow up a U.S. Navy Carrier. Naval observers from around the world have described Iran's full scale mockup of what they claim to be the USS Nimitz as nothing more than a cheap B-Movie prop that's bound to titillate at most 13 year old boys and those hard line Mullahs who really think the Iran's Revolutionary Guard is up to the task of defeating the most powerful navy in the world with little more than speed boats armed with RPG's. Sounds silly? Sure! In the even they might be serious, let us introduce a reality check. They could send 100 speed boats and we can introduce their "Swarm" of high speed boats to our little friend we like to call Mr. Phalanx.

Yes, the Phalanx is a sea borne version of what the A-10 Thunderbolt does in the air but is standard compliment for all US Naval Warships. This weapon system can shred apart a missile miles out at sea. No one in their right mind would want to go toe to toe against one of these automated terrors. Oh hell no! For Iran's little excuse for a navy, it would almost take the fun out of martyrdom. Anyone who knows anything about Carrier task forces can tell you that our carriers don't sail alone. Nobody's does. We have other ships to handle those kind of threats but if you are dealing with missiles or by some odd miracle one small high speed boat actually gets through, then I once again will defer to our good friend Mr. Phalanx. 

Sure, they can dream all they want and we can laugh at Iran's oversimplified naval strategies. For all we know this was their answer to Argo - the movie about a fake movie. Maybe this is a movie about a fake navy? Who knows? Maybe they got an Iranian Chuck Norris to star in this silly production. They would have to be out of their minds if think they could actually destroy one of our carriers. So unless Iran's puny naval forces want to play games with the US Navy, they best learn to swim because they are going to get wet down in Davy Jones Locker. Nice try Iran but no cous-cous!