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IJN Commissions World's largest Helo Carrier
From Xinhua news, so season the commentary with plenty of MSG.Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) commissioned its largest helicopter-carrying destroyer with resemblance to a light aircraft carrier on Wednesday amid international concerns. The 197-meter long, 13,950-ton Hyuga, which can carry 11 helicopters on its flat deck, will be stationed in Yokosuka port, near Tokyo, and is expected to be sent on overseas missions such as disaster relief, according to the Defense Ministry. The Hyuga has 340 crew, including 17 women officers and sailors on board, the first time since the Self-Defense Forces' was established in 1954. Self-Defense Force commissioned the warship on Wednesday, marking the largest "helicopter carrier" with a length of 197 meters in service officially. Under Japan's post-war pacifist constitution, it renounced using or threatening force in international disputes. However, the Japanese Self-Defence Forces (SDF) is one of the best funded armies in the world. Translation error: "army" in Chinese is "jun", which means "military". Navy is "ocean army", for instance. The carrier raises concern in the region. But the government insisted the destroyer will not carry fighter plane and is different from an aircraft carrier, and that the constitution grants the SDF the right to possess a minimum level of armed force for self-defence. Photo gallery here, click next next next for hot IJN action pics. Posted by: gromky 2009-03-18 |
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