Spearhead. The real number of aircraft carriers in Japan and their capabilities
Considering the build-up of military power by Japan, it is necessary to clearly understand two things. The first is that in military matters the Japanese are lying. And second, they know how to show things not as they really are. The military programs of Japan are an excellent illustration of both theses.
The format of a single article does not allow for a detailed analysis of what the Japanese really have and what they can get for themselves in a short (several months) timeframe if they remove political restrictions on military development. You also have to leave behind the framework of the material social prerequisites for what the Japanese do and what they hide.
Nevertheless, for the sake of interest, the difference between the reality of the Japanese military construction and the “dust” that Japan truly ingeniously lets into the eyes of allies and opponents can be seen on the example of the Japanese aircraft carrier program.
In the modern world it is almost impossible to hide meaningful facts. It is impossible in a society where everyone has a phone with a camera and the Internet, to hide the aircraft carrier or the transfer of the airborne division. Therefore, in order to mislead the adversary, the so-called cognitive distortion is initiated — a situation where the adversary sees reality, but his mind refuses to perceive it objectively. Examples in stories a lot. So, in June 1941 of the year, many Soviet commanders of units and formations did not just know that the war would begin literally the other day, but also knew the numbers of the German divisions opposing them, the names of their commanders, heard the uniquely identifiable noise from mechanized units being transferred to the border at night. , saw reconnaissance groups of Germans - and still the enemy managed to achieve surprise. In 2015, all the summer on the Internet were filled with photos of Russian UAVs and soldiers in Syria, then a video with the transfer of aircraft, but the open intervention of Russia in this war was a surprise to the world. Everyone saw everything ... but did not believe.
As a result of cognitive distortion supported by the Japanese, cliches are born: "Japanese self-defense forces are an appendage to the US Armed Forces, incapable of independent actions," "anti-submarine fleet," and the like. For these cliches, the tests of medium-range ballistic missiles (under the guise of ultra-light launch vehicles) are lost, as well as the already achieved technical superiority over the United States in light anti-ship missiles, the second largest anti-submarine aviation in the world, the surface fleet, in terms of the number of warships in the oceanic zone, is almost twice as large as all Russian fleets combined, preparation for the production of long-range cruise missiles and much more. The ability to build weapons-grade plutonium-producing reactor is also there, behind a veil of stereotypes. Although specialists here know how it really is, the topic is still sensitive, and “about nine months before the bomb” were sounded where it has been for a long time ...
Japan's aircraft carrier program is the clearest example of such cognitive distortion. The opinions that both ordinary people and even specialists have about it, as a rule, completely disagree with reality and reflect not its own, but that of its simulacrum, with which the Japanese are trying to cover up their preparations. The brightest example of what point of view on the fleet Japan is trying to push into the masses is the fresh article by Dmitry Verkhoturov "Japan already has an aircraft carrier". She certainly deserves to be acquainted with her - this is the very distorted version of reality that the Japanese have forced Dmitry Verkhoturov to believe in and, frankly, most of humanity.
And now let's look at what reality looks like.
Back in the late nineties, the “elites” of Japanese society became clear that the Japanese as a people fell into the most severe systemic crisis. And it was not about economics. The idea was that the development of the Japanese as a nation had stopped, that society as a whole had taken the path of degradation, at the end of which there was death. Infantilism, degeneration, demographic crisis, unwillingness to fight for a better life were just some of the particular symptoms. If for the Japanese youth of the past, quality education, work, and family were valuable, and earlier, in the days before World War II, military service was also, then by the end of the twentieth century, the fire had gone out, the forces of the nation had ended. Young people are mired in children's entertainment, the average age of the population is growing rapidly, the birth rate has fallen. This, in general, is still the case.
One of the consequences of all this was the emergence of a curious document - “Goals of Japan in the XXI Century”, from which it clearly followed - in order not to lose competitiveness in the future (and not only industrial), the Japanese need to raise the quality of their human potential. Improve people. People were considered by the authors of the report as that “crucial link”, by pulling which you can pull out the whole chain.
And then began the rapid militarization. It is hard to say what was the mechanism for making decisions by the Japanese, but let us give them their due - without militarization from people who have completely lost their desire to live, the fighting nation cannot be done. And without a fighting spirit there are no victories, no achievements, only defeats and not necessarily military ones. The military threat, like military romance, stimulates emotions, generates self-confidence, and, as a result, makes a person stronger and more active. What was and is necessary.
One of the aspects of the beginning militarization was the beginning of work on the revival of the carrier fleetbegun at the end of the nineties. Indeed, for an island state, military force is a fleet, but what kind of fleet is without aircraft carriers? Everything was natural.
However, here it was necessary to somehow circumvent the factor of the American "gentlemen". The Gaidzins, who defeated the Yamato country and occupied its entire territory at one time, called themselves “allies,” but they were more masters than allies. The Americans perfectly remembered how many problems they had with technologically inferior to them Japan. It is difficult to say how they would appreciate the full-scale renaissance of the Japanese military machine, and the Japanese did not take risks. There are areas of armaments in which the Americans not only do not interfere with their allies, but openly help and stimulate them. One of these types of weapons are light escort aircraft carriers.
In 70, US naval operations commander Admiral Elmo Zumwalt suggested re-creating the concept of an escort aircraft carrier at a new technical level. It was the famous project Sea Control Ship - a ship of sea control. His tasks were simple - to guard convoys with military cargo and troops from Soviet submarines in the Atlantic with the help of deck anti-submarine helicopters, and if the Tu-95 RC, or a hypothetical long-range bomber (it appeared later), will appear on the horizon, then the deck "Harriers" should have dealt with him. The congress did not give Zumvaltu money for this undertaking, but the elaborated project went to Spain, which built on its base its “Prince of Asturias”. Before that, back in 1967, the Americans handed over to Spain the light aircraft carrier Cabot of the Second World War, which served the Spaniards until the 1989 of the year. By the eighties, the British had built a series of light aircraft carriers, and the Italians were similar to the Garibaldi SCS, so who could work in the Atlantic without SCS.
At the beginning of the 2000-s mass shipments weapons to China from Russia was already a fact, China’s reinforcement was already quite visible and the construction of a light anti-submarine ship, declared as a helicopter-destroyer - a helicopter-carrying destroyer, did not arouse any concern among the “owners”. And about the fact that it did not cause any fears of potential enemies, the Japanese took care of very peculiar.
The 2006DDH “Hyuga” (“Hiyuga”) lead ship was laid in 16. And in 2009, he was brought into service in the Naval Self-Defense Forces.
The Japanese said the air group in the helicopter 4. This caused a lot of confusion on the part of observers - the ship with a full displacement of 18000 tons, through-deck, two helicopter lifts and only four helicopters in the form of the main weapon looked strange. The Japanese, however, shrugged their shoulders and said something like the following: “We are a peaceful country, and refused to resolve issues by force. Therefore, it is not surprising that we have only four helicopters on such a ship. For peacetime tasks, there is no need anymore, and in case Japan is attacked, we can add a certain number of helicopters. Maybe twelve and maybe fourteen - depending on which helicopters. Yes, and you need to understand that we have a squadron for troops there, and they require internal volumes. In general, do not worry. This is a small ship, it cannot threaten anyone, although indeed, it will be able to carry more helicopters if necessary. ” Approximately this point of view literally spread from the Japanese specialized press further, according to English-speaking directories and then everywhere. Yes, and the ship had no springboard, and Japan did not have and did not intend to buy vertical takeoff and landing airplanes.
A year later, the Japanese showed a picture of their future larger ship - the class "Izumo" ("Izumo"). And immediately they started a rumor that this particular project might be able to carry airplanes, and “Huyug” is so, a training session. Will insure the ships with their anti-submarine helicopters. This distracted attention from Hiyugi and his sistership Ise.
Approximately the public and evaluates this ship so far. The Japanese have achieved that this point of view on their “destroyer” has become dominant, they even make all the photos of this ship from such a angle that its dimensions are rather difficult to estimate. Although they are even on Wikipedia, but who will watch them there ...
But we will try to estimate the sizes and we will look at reference materials. See the picture.
And the veil falls down! "Hiyuga" - quite a big and full-fledged aircraft carrier ship. In this image, it is perceived exactly the same as the British “war hero” in the Falklands - “Invincible-class”. The same type of ships that provided the Britons with the possibility of a transcontinental war on another, relative to their home territory, side of the planet. And, really, “Hiyuga” is just a bit smaller than “Invincible”. But in the last considerable air group can be based.
For comparison, in the previous image added Thai "Chakri Narubet" - the last reincarnation of SCS. Here it is - a small, eight aircraft all carries. "Hiyuga" significantly more.
So, it turns out, these ships were built as full-fledged aircraft carriers? Nearly. In order to start the F-35B with the Hiyugi, they need to cover the deck with a heat-resistant coating, as the Americans had to do at the “Wasp” class UDC, and mount the springboard, as the British did. After that, the F-35B will calmly and without problems start from this ship, and board it. Ideally, a gas pusher is still needed at the starting position, then the aircraft parking behind the starting position will not interfere with taking off. But how many such aircraft can the ship carry?
To do this, pay attention to his hangar. According to Western sources, the dimensions of the Hiyugi hangar are approximately 350x60x22 (feet 0,3048 meters) in feet. This is almost the same as on the Wasp. Of these, about 60% of the area is available for storing aircraft outside the lifts, that is, an area about 66x18 meters in size (exact dimensions are unknown). The F-35B wings do not fold, their span is slightly less than 11 meters. The length of the aircraft - 15,6 meters. In the rectangle 22X18 meters you can put 2 of such aircraft in a checkerboard pattern, “nose to wing”. At the same time, there will be enough space around for walking and carrying tools and equipment, including cumbersome ones. More dense layouts are possible. Total, outside the lifts, you can put a minimum of 6 F-35. However, in the west (and technologically Japan - "West"), so-called is practiced. deck parking. With her on the ship takes more aircraft than is placed in the hangar, and some of the aircraft is always on deck. On the deck of the Hiyugi, you can “register” up to four F-35B, and another two or three helicopters with folded blades will remain (in front of the island). Or on the F-35B and a helicopter.
Thus, after installing the springboard and the gas pusher (which is never a problem for the Japanese shipbuilding industry) and the rebuilding of the deck covering (the destructive force of the F-35B exhaust was a surprise for everyone at one time), Hiyuga can carry fighters and 10 to 11-2 -3 helicopter. It is a fully-fledged escort, and even with 16 th rocket cells, GUS, torpedo tubes and phalanx anti-aircraft installations. One such ship will be able to cover the trans-ocean crossing of a rather big convoy, depending on the composition of the air group (proportions between PLO helicopters and fighters), and can intercept enemy patrol airplanes, fight with air reconnaissance, drown with air strikes from single ships or their small groups. For KPUG from Chinese corvettes project 056, this ship will be just a scourge of God. Its firepower is enough to support a small landing operation, say, a battalion scale. A pair of such ships is already integral half of the Russian air group in Syria in terms of air power.
“Hiyuga” entered into service in 2009 year, sisership “Ise” in 2011. It was during these years that Japan actually acquired a carrier fleet. Just did not tell anyone about it. After all, it is not long - to put the springboards and rewrite the deck. Yes, and the vial is easy to do. The question was only in the purchase of aircraft in essence, but where were they in a hurry in 2011?
It's funny, but the first who could not “keep their mouths shut”, were toy manufacturers. In the picture below, the joint image of Hiyugi with the F-35B and the British Harrier at the right scale was made for advertising purposes. Toy, but appreciate the scale, as they say.
Nevertheless, these were “test balloons” - it is inconvenient and difficult to wage a serious war with such ships, we need more.
A year after the delivery of the Ise, the Japanese laid the lead ship of the new class Izumo. This time the ship was much bigger. The lead aircraft carrier was handed over to the customer at 2015, and its Kaga sistership went under the flag with the rising sun in 2017. According to Jane's (now shabby from everywhere), the ship could carry up to 28 aircraft of various types. But the Japanese again declared that there would be nine of them, and that they would only be helicopters. And again, the same song: “we are a peaceful country ...”, photos on 3 / 4 on which it is difficult to assess the size of the ship.
But you can't hide the truth.
The ship is already really big, and it is possible that the Japanese lied about the displacement. Purely a helicopter deck for such a giant is ridiculous.
And this year, quite recently, the Japanese finally admitted that, yes, they would be transformed into an aircraft carrier. Up to ten, the F-35B will allegedly be able to carry the ship ... but we have already heard about four helicopters on the Huyge, right?
Enjoying a hangar on Izumo. In feet about 550X80X22. This is twice as large as that of the Wasp. In this case, the aft lift is made on board and does not occupy the place where the aircraft is stored. Having measured the hangar as well as on “Huiyug”, we conclude that at least 14 F-35B can be placed in its hangar, and again without crowding. And if you fill them there with a wing to the wing, then perhaps more. A quick glance at the deck speaks about another 6-ti or 8-mi aircraft and 4-6-ti helicopters. This is approximately the same as for “Wasp” and this is logical, since ships are almost the same in size, only “Wasp” on the deck will have to store more equipment.
Thus, even a superficial analysis shows that Japan is preparing right now to get a pair of aircraft carriers, each of which will have twenty fighters and a certain number of helicopters, and has two more potential aircraft carriers of auxiliary classes in reserve.
It is worth noting that forty fighters with a short takeoff / vertical landing, announced by Japan to purchase, are just two air groups for the Izumo pair, while the Japanese are not talking about Hiyugi. They are a peaceful country. After a while, when everyone gets used to Izumo ...
So the Japanese have potentially four aircraft carriers, including two light ones and a pair, relatively speaking “medium”. The latter will appear in their present guise very soon.
However, we must understand that two or four Japanese aircraft carrier, it is only the tip of a spear of Japanese air power. The lance itself on the islands, and the deck aircraft is not reduced. Currently, the Self Defense Forces Air Force has more than seventy deeply modernized Phantom F-4 fighter-bombers, each of which is capable of carrying a pair of ASM-1 or ASM-2 Japanese anti-ship missiles, the first of which is approximately the same as the Russian X-35 or American anti-ship missiles "Harpoon", and the second is similar to the first except for the guidance system, instead of the HL of the RL-range, infrared guidance is used. Recently, the Japanese demonstrated a new generation of rockets in the same dimensions and with the same range - experienced supersonic "three-winged" XASM-3. In the near future they should begin to arrive in combat units.
There are also sixty-two newer Mitsubishi F-2 multi-purpose fighters, which are a further development of the American F-16. These aircraft are capable of carrying up to four anti-ship missiles, a pair of outboard fuel tanks simultaneously with air-to-air missiles for self-defense.
When waging an offensive war over the sea, air groups from aircraft carriers are able to conduct air reconnaissance over a large water area, detect enemy ship strike groups (in the case of China - aircraft carrier groups), destroy ships deployed in the radar patrol, and provide continuous target designation for coastal aircraft, which will hit on target with their hundreds of anti-ship missiles. And the deckers will record the result of the strike and finish off the surviving bombs if necessary. For the mosquito fleet, a couple of dozen F-35Bs would simply be a terrible threat, the Iranian operation Pearl in 1980 showed well what a terrible danger to the small fleet is even a small number of aircraft. Amphibious ships, supply transports, individual warships, outdated warships, unmanned airborne troops on the coast, stationary objects - all this for the aviation group of a couple dozen fifth-generation fighters - light targets, even without looking at the flaws of the F-35B as a combat aircraft .
In addition, you can not underestimate the ability of this machine to hover missiles, and interception of air targets (for example, attacking the Japanese CCG strike aircraft, hung with missiles and unable to maneuver). And for strikes on surface targets, coastal planes, which are suggested by the air group, are quite suitable. In the course of their attacks, the packers may well conduct a false attack, drawing off aviation or the attention of the enemy, and strengthen their attack from a different course, and carry out an escort and take on the enemy interceptors. They are also able to “cover up” their missile salvo from URO ships or close the sky over the water area for anti-submarine aviation of the enemy, providing comfortable conditions for the actions of their submarines.
And, of course, its anti-submarine aviation will work quite calmly over the areas of deck fighter action. Closer to the shore, the base fighters would escort it, but at a great distance this is inconvenient, refueling is needed in the air, and there are few tankers in Japan, and more important work will be enough for them. And then decks, very helpful.
In fact, even with a pair of reconstructed Izumo, Japan is already capable of conducting an operation comparable to the British Falkland War. What is lacking is only supply ships, and one or two more landing ships are necessary. Or, to land troops on the "Khiugi" and deploy combat helicopters to support it - there is a place there. And that's all, you just need to retrofit both "Izumo" as promised.
And we still fantasize about the fact that "they can not do anything without the Americans."
That is how reality is different from Japanese mirages. Militarism in Japan, by the way, is slowly growing. So, manga (do not laugh) gained serious popularity about the battles of the Japanese carrier strike group against the Chinese. They even make a film on it. And the central “hero” is the DDH-192, a fictional Izumo-class aircraft carrier, re-equipped to base the F-35B.
However, the real aircraft carrier "Izumo" may look something else.
Of course, such militarism still causes laughter. True, the Japanese have already participated in military operations abroad, and Abe recently took a very large-scale military parade ... but the Japanese are doing all this very slowly, without attracting attention. After all, they need others to not see all these changes, but continue to see that old reality, which will soon begin its "departure." So that no one is worried. "We are a peaceful country ..."
They do everything quietly. Not attracting attention, diverting others' views in the direction they want, and skillfully using cognitive techniques to influence people's consciousness. Are you taking into account four Japanese aircraft carriers? And they are. And so in everything. And the Americans are no longer opposed to the country of the rising sun revived the samurai spirit. After all, ahead of the fight with China. And in her such an ally would be very appropriate.
But our analysts can still fantasize about the future battles of the Japanese with the Chinese over the Senkaku Islands. After all, the maximum tension between Japan and China, is precisely the question of the islands. And the Japanese are clearly preparing for confrontation with them.
Unless you take into account a couple of important facts. First: the Japanese lie in military matters. And second: they know how to show things not as they really are.
The format of a single article does not allow for a detailed analysis of what the Japanese really have and what they can get for themselves in a short (several months) timeframe if they remove political restrictions on military development. You also have to leave behind the framework of the material social prerequisites for what the Japanese do and what they hide.
Nevertheless, for the sake of interest, the difference between the reality of the Japanese military construction and the “dust” that Japan truly ingeniously lets into the eyes of allies and opponents can be seen on the example of the Japanese aircraft carrier program.
In the modern world it is almost impossible to hide meaningful facts. It is impossible in a society where everyone has a phone with a camera and the Internet, to hide the aircraft carrier or the transfer of the airborne division. Therefore, in order to mislead the adversary, the so-called cognitive distortion is initiated — a situation where the adversary sees reality, but his mind refuses to perceive it objectively. Examples in stories a lot. So, in June 1941 of the year, many Soviet commanders of units and formations did not just know that the war would begin literally the other day, but also knew the numbers of the German divisions opposing them, the names of their commanders, heard the uniquely identifiable noise from mechanized units being transferred to the border at night. , saw reconnaissance groups of Germans - and still the enemy managed to achieve surprise. In 2015, all the summer on the Internet were filled with photos of Russian UAVs and soldiers in Syria, then a video with the transfer of aircraft, but the open intervention of Russia in this war was a surprise to the world. Everyone saw everything ... but did not believe.
As a result of cognitive distortion supported by the Japanese, cliches are born: "Japanese self-defense forces are an appendage to the US Armed Forces, incapable of independent actions," "anti-submarine fleet," and the like. For these cliches, the tests of medium-range ballistic missiles (under the guise of ultra-light launch vehicles) are lost, as well as the already achieved technical superiority over the United States in light anti-ship missiles, the second largest anti-submarine aviation in the world, the surface fleet, in terms of the number of warships in the oceanic zone, is almost twice as large as all Russian fleets combined, preparation for the production of long-range cruise missiles and much more. The ability to build weapons-grade plutonium-producing reactor is also there, behind a veil of stereotypes. Although specialists here know how it really is, the topic is still sensitive, and “about nine months before the bomb” were sounded where it has been for a long time ...
Japan's aircraft carrier program is the clearest example of such cognitive distortion. The opinions that both ordinary people and even specialists have about it, as a rule, completely disagree with reality and reflect not its own, but that of its simulacrum, with which the Japanese are trying to cover up their preparations. The brightest example of what point of view on the fleet Japan is trying to push into the masses is the fresh article by Dmitry Verkhoturov "Japan already has an aircraft carrier". She certainly deserves to be acquainted with her - this is the very distorted version of reality that the Japanese have forced Dmitry Verkhoturov to believe in and, frankly, most of humanity.
And now let's look at what reality looks like.
Back in the late nineties, the “elites” of Japanese society became clear that the Japanese as a people fell into the most severe systemic crisis. And it was not about economics. The idea was that the development of the Japanese as a nation had stopped, that society as a whole had taken the path of degradation, at the end of which there was death. Infantilism, degeneration, demographic crisis, unwillingness to fight for a better life were just some of the particular symptoms. If for the Japanese youth of the past, quality education, work, and family were valuable, and earlier, in the days before World War II, military service was also, then by the end of the twentieth century, the fire had gone out, the forces of the nation had ended. Young people are mired in children's entertainment, the average age of the population is growing rapidly, the birth rate has fallen. This, in general, is still the case.
One of the consequences of all this was the emergence of a curious document - “Goals of Japan in the XXI Century”, from which it clearly followed - in order not to lose competitiveness in the future (and not only industrial), the Japanese need to raise the quality of their human potential. Improve people. People were considered by the authors of the report as that “crucial link”, by pulling which you can pull out the whole chain.
And then began the rapid militarization. It is hard to say what was the mechanism for making decisions by the Japanese, but let us give them their due - without militarization from people who have completely lost their desire to live, the fighting nation cannot be done. And without a fighting spirit there are no victories, no achievements, only defeats and not necessarily military ones. The military threat, like military romance, stimulates emotions, generates self-confidence, and, as a result, makes a person stronger and more active. What was and is necessary.
One of the aspects of the beginning militarization was the beginning of work on the revival of the carrier fleetbegun at the end of the nineties. Indeed, for an island state, military force is a fleet, but what kind of fleet is without aircraft carriers? Everything was natural.
However, here it was necessary to somehow circumvent the factor of the American "gentlemen". The Gaidzins, who defeated the Yamato country and occupied its entire territory at one time, called themselves “allies,” but they were more masters than allies. The Americans perfectly remembered how many problems they had with technologically inferior to them Japan. It is difficult to say how they would appreciate the full-scale renaissance of the Japanese military machine, and the Japanese did not take risks. There are areas of armaments in which the Americans not only do not interfere with their allies, but openly help and stimulate them. One of these types of weapons are light escort aircraft carriers.
In 70, US naval operations commander Admiral Elmo Zumwalt suggested re-creating the concept of an escort aircraft carrier at a new technical level. It was the famous project Sea Control Ship - a ship of sea control. His tasks were simple - to guard convoys with military cargo and troops from Soviet submarines in the Atlantic with the help of deck anti-submarine helicopters, and if the Tu-95 RC, or a hypothetical long-range bomber (it appeared later), will appear on the horizon, then the deck "Harriers" should have dealt with him. The congress did not give Zumvaltu money for this undertaking, but the elaborated project went to Spain, which built on its base its “Prince of Asturias”. Before that, back in 1967, the Americans handed over to Spain the light aircraft carrier Cabot of the Second World War, which served the Spaniards until the 1989 of the year. By the eighties, the British had built a series of light aircraft carriers, and the Italians were similar to the Garibaldi SCS, so who could work in the Atlantic without SCS.
At the beginning of the 2000-s mass shipments weapons to China from Russia was already a fact, China’s reinforcement was already quite visible and the construction of a light anti-submarine ship, declared as a helicopter-destroyer - a helicopter-carrying destroyer, did not arouse any concern among the “owners”. And about the fact that it did not cause any fears of potential enemies, the Japanese took care of very peculiar.
The 2006DDH “Hyuga” (“Hiyuga”) lead ship was laid in 16. And in 2009, he was brought into service in the Naval Self-Defense Forces.
The Japanese said the air group in the helicopter 4. This caused a lot of confusion on the part of observers - the ship with a full displacement of 18000 tons, through-deck, two helicopter lifts and only four helicopters in the form of the main weapon looked strange. The Japanese, however, shrugged their shoulders and said something like the following: “We are a peaceful country, and refused to resolve issues by force. Therefore, it is not surprising that we have only four helicopters on such a ship. For peacetime tasks, there is no need anymore, and in case Japan is attacked, we can add a certain number of helicopters. Maybe twelve and maybe fourteen - depending on which helicopters. Yes, and you need to understand that we have a squadron for troops there, and they require internal volumes. In general, do not worry. This is a small ship, it cannot threaten anyone, although indeed, it will be able to carry more helicopters if necessary. ” Approximately this point of view literally spread from the Japanese specialized press further, according to English-speaking directories and then everywhere. Yes, and the ship had no springboard, and Japan did not have and did not intend to buy vertical takeoff and landing airplanes.
A year later, the Japanese showed a picture of their future larger ship - the class "Izumo" ("Izumo"). And immediately they started a rumor that this particular project might be able to carry airplanes, and “Huyug” is so, a training session. Will insure the ships with their anti-submarine helicopters. This distracted attention from Hiyugi and his sistership Ise.
Approximately the public and evaluates this ship so far. The Japanese have achieved that this point of view on their “destroyer” has become dominant, they even make all the photos of this ship from such a angle that its dimensions are rather difficult to estimate. Although they are even on Wikipedia, but who will watch them there ...
But we will try to estimate the sizes and we will look at reference materials. See the picture.
And the veil falls down! "Hiyuga" - quite a big and full-fledged aircraft carrier ship. In this image, it is perceived exactly the same as the British “war hero” in the Falklands - “Invincible-class”. The same type of ships that provided the Britons with the possibility of a transcontinental war on another, relative to their home territory, side of the planet. And, really, “Hiyuga” is just a bit smaller than “Invincible”. But in the last considerable air group can be based.
For comparison, in the previous image added Thai "Chakri Narubet" - the last reincarnation of SCS. Here it is - a small, eight aircraft all carries. "Hiyuga" significantly more.
So, it turns out, these ships were built as full-fledged aircraft carriers? Nearly. In order to start the F-35B with the Hiyugi, they need to cover the deck with a heat-resistant coating, as the Americans had to do at the “Wasp” class UDC, and mount the springboard, as the British did. After that, the F-35B will calmly and without problems start from this ship, and board it. Ideally, a gas pusher is still needed at the starting position, then the aircraft parking behind the starting position will not interfere with taking off. But how many such aircraft can the ship carry?
To do this, pay attention to his hangar. According to Western sources, the dimensions of the Hiyugi hangar are approximately 350x60x22 (feet 0,3048 meters) in feet. This is almost the same as on the Wasp. Of these, about 60% of the area is available for storing aircraft outside the lifts, that is, an area about 66x18 meters in size (exact dimensions are unknown). The F-35B wings do not fold, their span is slightly less than 11 meters. The length of the aircraft - 15,6 meters. In the rectangle 22X18 meters you can put 2 of such aircraft in a checkerboard pattern, “nose to wing”. At the same time, there will be enough space around for walking and carrying tools and equipment, including cumbersome ones. More dense layouts are possible. Total, outside the lifts, you can put a minimum of 6 F-35. However, in the west (and technologically Japan - "West"), so-called is practiced. deck parking. With her on the ship takes more aircraft than is placed in the hangar, and some of the aircraft is always on deck. On the deck of the Hiyugi, you can “register” up to four F-35B, and another two or three helicopters with folded blades will remain (in front of the island). Or on the F-35B and a helicopter.
Thus, after installing the springboard and the gas pusher (which is never a problem for the Japanese shipbuilding industry) and the rebuilding of the deck covering (the destructive force of the F-35B exhaust was a surprise for everyone at one time), Hiyuga can carry fighters and 10 to 11-2 -3 helicopter. It is a fully-fledged escort, and even with 16 th rocket cells, GUS, torpedo tubes and phalanx anti-aircraft installations. One such ship will be able to cover the trans-ocean crossing of a rather big convoy, depending on the composition of the air group (proportions between PLO helicopters and fighters), and can intercept enemy patrol airplanes, fight with air reconnaissance, drown with air strikes from single ships or their small groups. For KPUG from Chinese corvettes project 056, this ship will be just a scourge of God. Its firepower is enough to support a small landing operation, say, a battalion scale. A pair of such ships is already integral half of the Russian air group in Syria in terms of air power.
“Hiyuga” entered into service in 2009 year, sisership “Ise” in 2011. It was during these years that Japan actually acquired a carrier fleet. Just did not tell anyone about it. After all, it is not long - to put the springboards and rewrite the deck. Yes, and the vial is easy to do. The question was only in the purchase of aircraft in essence, but where were they in a hurry in 2011?
It's funny, but the first who could not “keep their mouths shut”, were toy manufacturers. In the picture below, the joint image of Hiyugi with the F-35B and the British Harrier at the right scale was made for advertising purposes. Toy, but appreciate the scale, as they say.
Nevertheless, these were “test balloons” - it is inconvenient and difficult to wage a serious war with such ships, we need more.
A year after the delivery of the Ise, the Japanese laid the lead ship of the new class Izumo. This time the ship was much bigger. The lead aircraft carrier was handed over to the customer at 2015, and its Kaga sistership went under the flag with the rising sun in 2017. According to Jane's (now shabby from everywhere), the ship could carry up to 28 aircraft of various types. But the Japanese again declared that there would be nine of them, and that they would only be helicopters. And again, the same song: “we are a peaceful country ...”, photos on 3 / 4 on which it is difficult to assess the size of the ship.
But you can't hide the truth.
The ship is already really big, and it is possible that the Japanese lied about the displacement. Purely a helicopter deck for such a giant is ridiculous.
And this year, quite recently, the Japanese finally admitted that, yes, they would be transformed into an aircraft carrier. Up to ten, the F-35B will allegedly be able to carry the ship ... but we have already heard about four helicopters on the Huyge, right?
Enjoying a hangar on Izumo. In feet about 550X80X22. This is twice as large as that of the Wasp. In this case, the aft lift is made on board and does not occupy the place where the aircraft is stored. Having measured the hangar as well as on “Huiyug”, we conclude that at least 14 F-35B can be placed in its hangar, and again without crowding. And if you fill them there with a wing to the wing, then perhaps more. A quick glance at the deck speaks about another 6-ti or 8-mi aircraft and 4-6-ti helicopters. This is approximately the same as for “Wasp” and this is logical, since ships are almost the same in size, only “Wasp” on the deck will have to store more equipment.
Thus, even a superficial analysis shows that Japan is preparing right now to get a pair of aircraft carriers, each of which will have twenty fighters and a certain number of helicopters, and has two more potential aircraft carriers of auxiliary classes in reserve.
It is worth noting that forty fighters with a short takeoff / vertical landing, announced by Japan to purchase, are just two air groups for the Izumo pair, while the Japanese are not talking about Hiyugi. They are a peaceful country. After a while, when everyone gets used to Izumo ...
So the Japanese have potentially four aircraft carriers, including two light ones and a pair, relatively speaking “medium”. The latter will appear in their present guise very soon.
However, we must understand that two or four Japanese aircraft carrier, it is only the tip of a spear of Japanese air power. The lance itself on the islands, and the deck aircraft is not reduced. Currently, the Self Defense Forces Air Force has more than seventy deeply modernized Phantom F-4 fighter-bombers, each of which is capable of carrying a pair of ASM-1 or ASM-2 Japanese anti-ship missiles, the first of which is approximately the same as the Russian X-35 or American anti-ship missiles "Harpoon", and the second is similar to the first except for the guidance system, instead of the HL of the RL-range, infrared guidance is used. Recently, the Japanese demonstrated a new generation of rockets in the same dimensions and with the same range - experienced supersonic "three-winged" XASM-3. In the near future they should begin to arrive in combat units.
There are also sixty-two newer Mitsubishi F-2 multi-purpose fighters, which are a further development of the American F-16. These aircraft are capable of carrying up to four anti-ship missiles, a pair of outboard fuel tanks simultaneously with air-to-air missiles for self-defense.
When waging an offensive war over the sea, air groups from aircraft carriers are able to conduct air reconnaissance over a large water area, detect enemy ship strike groups (in the case of China - aircraft carrier groups), destroy ships deployed in the radar patrol, and provide continuous target designation for coastal aircraft, which will hit on target with their hundreds of anti-ship missiles. And the deckers will record the result of the strike and finish off the surviving bombs if necessary. For the mosquito fleet, a couple of dozen F-35Bs would simply be a terrible threat, the Iranian operation Pearl in 1980 showed well what a terrible danger to the small fleet is even a small number of aircraft. Amphibious ships, supply transports, individual warships, outdated warships, unmanned airborne troops on the coast, stationary objects - all this for the aviation group of a couple dozen fifth-generation fighters - light targets, even without looking at the flaws of the F-35B as a combat aircraft .
In addition, you can not underestimate the ability of this machine to hover missiles, and interception of air targets (for example, attacking the Japanese CCG strike aircraft, hung with missiles and unable to maneuver). And for strikes on surface targets, coastal planes, which are suggested by the air group, are quite suitable. In the course of their attacks, the packers may well conduct a false attack, drawing off aviation or the attention of the enemy, and strengthen their attack from a different course, and carry out an escort and take on the enemy interceptors. They are also able to “cover up” their missile salvo from URO ships or close the sky over the water area for anti-submarine aviation of the enemy, providing comfortable conditions for the actions of their submarines.
And, of course, its anti-submarine aviation will work quite calmly over the areas of deck fighter action. Closer to the shore, the base fighters would escort it, but at a great distance this is inconvenient, refueling is needed in the air, and there are few tankers in Japan, and more important work will be enough for them. And then decks, very helpful.
In fact, even with a pair of reconstructed Izumo, Japan is already capable of conducting an operation comparable to the British Falkland War. What is lacking is only supply ships, and one or two more landing ships are necessary. Or, to land troops on the "Khiugi" and deploy combat helicopters to support it - there is a place there. And that's all, you just need to retrofit both "Izumo" as promised.
And we still fantasize about the fact that "they can not do anything without the Americans."
That is how reality is different from Japanese mirages. Militarism in Japan, by the way, is slowly growing. So, manga (do not laugh) gained serious popularity about the battles of the Japanese carrier strike group against the Chinese. They even make a film on it. And the central “hero” is the DDH-192, a fictional Izumo-class aircraft carrier, re-equipped to base the F-35B.
However, the real aircraft carrier "Izumo" may look something else.
Of course, such militarism still causes laughter. True, the Japanese have already participated in military operations abroad, and Abe recently took a very large-scale military parade ... but the Japanese are doing all this very slowly, without attracting attention. After all, they need others to not see all these changes, but continue to see that old reality, which will soon begin its "departure." So that no one is worried. "We are a peaceful country ..."
They do everything quietly. Not attracting attention, diverting others' views in the direction they want, and skillfully using cognitive techniques to influence people's consciousness. Are you taking into account four Japanese aircraft carriers? And they are. And so in everything. And the Americans are no longer opposed to the country of the rising sun revived the samurai spirit. After all, ahead of the fight with China. And in her such an ally would be very appropriate.
But our analysts can still fantasize about the future battles of the Japanese with the Chinese over the Senkaku Islands. After all, the maximum tension between Japan and China, is precisely the question of the islands. And the Japanese are clearly preparing for confrontation with them.
Unless you take into account a couple of important facts. First: the Japanese lie in military matters. And second: they know how to show things not as they really are.
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