So the 16DDH is now officaly the JDS Hyuga, DDH-181*.  This name is an interesting choice, being niether a name associated with just surface forces or aviation but both.  The new Hyuga takes her name from the Ise class battleship that was converted into a hybrid Carrier-Battleship combination.  The name is appropiate for a destroyer due to its battleship origins but is also subtle signal that Japan is stepping back into the arena of naval aviation in a serious way.  Offically the Japanese media is stating that she displaces 13,500 tons and can carry only seven helos and operate just four at a time.  While this is unsurprising given the technical ignorance of most media in defence matters the truth is that she will displaced about 21,000 tons loaded for action and be capable of carrying around 22-24 aircraft, possibly as many as 28 or 30* depending upon the mix of types and sizes.  The big question is how her neighbors will react, only time will tell, until then may the Japanese Defense Ship Hyuga always find fair winds and following seas.

As seen from her Port side.

And a stern view for good measure.

*Allthough it would seem that the Hull number 145 would be assigned to her this is how the US would number her, the Japanese break from US tradition by Naming DDs, DDGs, DDKs** and DDHs from the same numerical squence.  Hence DDH-181, having been ordered after the DDGs 179 and 180.

*This would likely be in the role of an aviation transport to support an amphibious landing, hauling utillity and attack helos for the Japanese Army I mean Japanese Ground Self Defence Force.

**DDK=Destroyer, Antisubmarine Warfare, this designator originated with the US Nay in the middle fifties and the Japanese still have three DDKs built in the seventies in service that are due to be replaced by a new class of multipurpose DDs.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 12:27 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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