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Japan Unveils Largest Warship Since WW2
schwit1 writes with an excerpt from an AP story on some interesting technology afloat: "Japan on Tuesday unveiled its biggest warship since World War II, a huge flat-top destroyer that has raised eyebrows in China and elsewhere because it bears a strong resemblance to a conventional aircraft carrier. Some experts believe the new Japanese ship could potentially be used in the future to launch fighter jets or other aircraft that have the ability to take off vertically. The ship, which has a flight deck that is nearly 250 meters (820 feet) long, is designed to carry up to 14 helicopters.Though the ship — dubbed 'Izumo' — has been in the works since 2009, its unveiling comes as Japan and China are locked in a dispute over several small islands located between southern Japan and Taiwan. For months, ships from both countries have been conducting patrols around the isles, called the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyutai in China."
What about their zeal to make everything smaller and more efficient? I'd have expected them to produce the smallest aircraft carrier with a few hundred fully automated drones that can conduct pinpoint strikes and play some soothing melodies while they clean themselves.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
You know what? It's also well past the time for them to have a flying space carrier with a huge mounted laser gun in the front too (which was what I was expecting with this new ship). Or maybe even a transforming space carrier with a massive super weapon on its shoulders. Very disappointed.
A lot of people who fly fixed wing planes really don't consider helicopters as 'aircraft'.
"Helicopters do not fly. The ground repels them because they are so ugly."
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
They can't really help how large their ships get, they are just mutated. See the next story on leaks at Fukushima!
Forget about defending against the Chinese - wait until giant lizards and moths start attacking, they'll need all the firepower they can get!
This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
I think the time to be concerned is, if Japan starts mass producing new kamikaze planes.....
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
When the Japanese name a plane Cherry blossom, it's not going to be the sort of plane that needs landing gear.
By the same token, when medieval Spain named a ship Most Holy Virgin or something similar, you could be sure it packed at least two hundred guns...