So is this really a destroyer?

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 11:13:05 -0400

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumo-class_helicopter_destroyer

As a Destoyerman I would say not but it is impressive and with the balance of power in the South China Sea and the US cutting back on defense spending/number of Carrier we will need Japan to have a strong defense force to counter the growing Chinese threat.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Mar 26 at 2015 11:35 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 11:35:24 -0400

Looks more like an LHA.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 26 at 2015 11:55 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 11:55:47 -0400

Our standards are different than the rest of the world. What we call something is not necessarily what the rest of the world would call it.

As an example, our LHD's are effectively "Carriers" to the rest of the world, while our Carriers are "Super Carriers" which puts us in the position of having more "Carriers" and "Super Carriers" combined than the rest of the world total (or close to).

That said, this doesn't look like a "Destroyer" in the technical sense, and is more akin to a LHA or LHD.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Mar 26 at 2015 12:25 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 12:25:12 -0400

No, it's a carrier in all but name. This is a work around of Japan's Constitution.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Mar 26 at 2015 12:39 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 12:39:30 -0400

The article that I read said nothing about it being a destroyer. It also said that it is not designed for fixed wing aircraft. What this appears to be (from my 'land-lubber' eyes) is a helicopter landing pad. What would be interesting would be to see what is BELOW the top deck.....can it be easily and quickly re-configured for fixed wing later? If all the components are there but not operational, it could be quickly made to be. Sub hunting, search and rescue, and a floating command....interesting..... I did not see a significant fire power on deck (big guns), so would be interested to see what it is configured for.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Mar 26 at 2015 1:12 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 13:12:31 -0400

It looks like an LHA.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Mar 26 at 2015 2:35 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 14:35:49 -0400

The Japanese are brilliant engineers. This might also transform into Godzilla...lol.

Response by SFC Charles S. made Mar 26 at 2015 2:52 PM

SFC Charles S. — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 14:52:50 -0400

I'm not navy and I would gladly admit I know nothing about ship classifications, however, I've watched enough Military Channel and History Channel to know that it most assuredly is NOT a Destroyer. Flat Top... Landing Spot for aircraft... Lack of Guns/Missiles... "Air Craft Carrier"

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Mar 26 at 2015 3:10 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 15:10:14 -0400

no, looks like a "small Person" carrier!

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2015 3:36 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 15:36:22 -0400

Its an LHA or some other type of amphib, but this type of ship is useful in events like the tsunami or any typhoons for relief missions. It could maybe land a few Marine F35s or Harriers or other VTOL fixed wing aircraft, but it is still pretty small. It doesn't look like it has much of a gallery deck either.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2015 4:42 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 16:42:48 -0400

It almost looks like an LHD.

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Mar 26 at 2015 5:44 PM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 17:44:57 -0400

As an Enterprise sailor this is no carrier but it's a long way from a destroyer also. The saddest part is under this President we have retired the Enterprise two years early and have weakened the most powerful Navy in the world and now look to Japan to protect us from China

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Mar 26 at 2015 8:26 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 20:26:29 -0400

Looks like an LHA to me, clearly not a DD, with only CIWS for guns...

It's probably time to allow Japan to change her Constitution and actually have a really military, so we don't need to be their military.

So many things go on between our troops and Japanese citizens, and they really hate us being there...

On the other hand, is China going to attack us? Or are they going to attack Japan, S. Korea, etc...

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Mar 27 at 2015 4:30 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 16:30:17 -0400

Looks more like an LHD, but hey it's Japan, and they have all kinds of wyrd shit coming out of there.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Mar 27 at 2015 4:34 PM

SGT Richard H. — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 16:34:27 -0400

I think the term "Helicopter Destroyer" is a wiki-ism....unless maybe they plan to destroy a few Helicopters as they try to land on it.

http://news.usni.org/2015/03/25/japan-commissions-largest-ship-since-world-war-ii

Japan Commissions Largest Warship Since World War II - USNI News

A 24,000-ton helicopter carrier has formally entered the fleet of Japan’s Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) on Wednesday making the ship the largest warship Japan has fielded since the close of World War II. The commissioning ceremony JS Izumo (DDH-183) — the first of two for the JMSDF — was held in Yokohama and attended …

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2015 4:39 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 04:39:52 -0400

DDH-183 is stretches the limit as a destroyer. It still has a bow mounted sonar however it's only offensive ASW weapon is it's helos. It also only has point defense AAW weapons. It has no amphibious capabilities (they do have amphibs though http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ōsumi-class_tank_landing_ship)

I'm on a DDG in Yokosuka, Japan (this ship's homeport). I have been underway with DDH-181/182 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyūga-class_helicopter_destroyer). They're a smaller version of 183 (50 meters shorter), except they have VLS. When conducting joint operations with 181 or 182 with the GW strike group they were used as destroyers in the screen.

Saw her pull in the other day It's a fine looking ship.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Mar 28 at 2015 10:44 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 10:44:42 -0400

I was reading about this ship. It is funny because despite its size and flight deck, the primary stated purpose of this shipment is ASW. When I saw that, the next thing I looked at was is sensor suites. It does have a bow SONAR. It makes me wonder if it is for decoration or if they actually plan to conduct ASW operations with it. Regardless,I personally think they are beautiful compared to our U.S. LHDs.

Response by SPC Donald Tribble made Mar 29 at 2015 4:36 PM

SPC Donald Tribble — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 16:36:35 -0400

Now I will admit right off the bat that I am Army not Navy, but that looks like an Aircraft Carrier to me. Then again I can't tell you how many Navy Chiefs I saluted because they had shuny sh*t on their collars.

Response by PO1 Tony Holland made Jun 4 at 2015 12:46 PM

PO1 Tony Holland — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 12:46:20 -0400

Think of "destroyer" as verb, not a ship type

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Jun 14 at 2015 4:10 PM

MAJ Ron Peery — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 16:10:39 -0400

Ummm. No, not if you are a purist. But then, our destroyers are larger and have more firepower than WW2 heavy cruisers, so I guess we have to be flexible. And it IS a good looking ship.