Japan Commissions It’s Biggest Warship Since World War II

The Japanese navy's new aircraft carrier, named the Izumo, cruises towards Yokosuka Base, in Kanagawa, Japan

Bloomberg: Japan’s Biggest Warship Since World War II Enters Service

(Bloomberg) -- Japan’s armed forces took control of their biggest warship since World War II, underscoring Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s drive to strengthen the nation’s military.

The Izumo, a 19,500-ton helicopter carrier, will improve the Self-Defense Forces’ capacity to deal with submarines, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters after inspecting the ship at the Japan Marine United Corp. shipyard in the port city of Yokohama, near Tokyo. The 248-meter (814-foot) vessel can carry 470 personnel and as many as nine helicopters.

Since taking office in 2012, Abe has reversed a decade-long decline in defense spending, lifted a ban on arms exports and reinterpreted the pacifist constitution to allow Japan to defend other countries. The defense push is adding to tensions with China over a territorial dispute that threatens the trade relationship between Asia’s two largest economies.

WNU Editor: The Daily Mail has some impressive pictures .... The sun rises again: Japan shows off the awesome might of its re-emerging naval power with new colossal helicopter carrier - its biggest warship since WWII (Daily Mail).

More News On Japan Commissioning It’s Biggest Warship Since World War II

Japanese navy gets biggest flat-top since WWII-era aircraft carriers -- Reuters
Japan commissions biggest warship since World War II -- UPI
Japan Puts Largest Warship Since WWII Into Service -- WSJ
Japanese Navy Gets Biggest Warship Since WWII Era Aircraft Carriers -- Sputnik
MSDF commissions its biggest helicopter carrier yet -- Japan Times
Japan commissions Izumo 'helicopter carrier' as largest ship in MSDF fleet -- Asahi Shimbun
Japan's largest helicopter destroyer enters service -- China Daily
Japan's biggest flat-top ship since WWII enters service -- CCTV
Japan’s ‘de-facto aircraft carrier’ goes into service -- Global Times
Japan's Navy Unveils 'Aircraft Carrier in Disguise' -- Akhilesh Pillalamarri, National Interest