Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1532587
Japan's post-war constitution prohibits the possession of offensive weapons, including conventional aircraft car- riers. As early as the Cold War, Japanese policymakers began creatively circumventing Article 9 of the nation's supreme document. The result was the construction of four helicopter destroyers for the Maritime Self-Defense Force: the Haruna and Shirane classes. These ships fe- atured extensive aviation infrastructure, allowing them to carry three multirole shipboard helicopters. Their primary role was to serve as flagships and command vessels for four flotillas of destroyers and frigates responsible for se- curing maritime communication routes against potential adversaries. At the beginning of the 21st century, Japan initiated work on their successors. The first pair consisted of the Hyūga- class vessels, commissioned between 2009 and 2011. Unlike their predecessors, their design resembled classic carriers, rather than traditional destroyers, featuring an is- land superstructure and a continuous flight deck. Due to their dimensions, they can accommodate up to 18 mul- tirole helicopters, primarily SH-60 Seahawks (used for an- ti-submarine warfare) and MCH-101s (for transport and mine countermeasure operations). As part of its modernization, the ship received a protective coating on the deck to withstand aircraft exhaust gases. AVIATION