alessio patalano – department of war studies the dawn of japan ’ s expeditionary capability...

Alessio Patalano – Department of War Studies

The Dawn of Japan’s The Dawn of Japan’s Expeditionary CapabilityExpeditionary Capability

Temple University Japan Campus, Temple University Japan Campus, TUJTUJTokyoTokyo23 May 23 May 20082008


JDS Hyuuga, 23 August 2007JDS Hyuuga, 23 August 2007

• 13,500-ton, 3 helos (SH-60K)13,500-ton, 3 helos (SH-60K)• 30 knots, 490 personnel30 knots, 490 personnel


IJN Hyuuga, August 1943IJN Hyuuga, August 1943

• 39,870-ton, 8 14-inch guns, 22 aircraft39,870-ton, 8 14-inch guns, 22 aircraft• 25 knots, 1,463 personnel25 knots, 1,463 personnel


JDS Tokiwa, JDS KunisakiJDS Tokiwa, JDS Kunisaki

• DefinitionsDefinitions• Cold War DefenceCold War Defence• Present FlexibilityPresent Flexibility• ConclusionsConclusions

StructureStructure


Maritime Power Maritime Power ProjectionProjection

• Means to Exploit Command of the SeaMeans to Exploit Command of the Sea• Influence Events on LandInfluence Events on Land

• Strategic Flexibility/Manoeuvre Strategic Flexibility/Manoeuvre • When, where and in what measureWhen, where and in what measure

• Taking the Fight to the EnemyTaking the Fight to the Enemy• Offensive NatureOffensive Nature

• Amphibious Ops, Attacks against SLOCS, Amphibious Ops, Attacks against SLOCS, Strategic Missile AttackStrategic Missile Attack


Expeditionary WarfareExpeditionary Warfare

• Operational CampaignsOperational Campaigns• Lifting CapabilityLifting Capability

• Tactical and Logistical Support to Land and Air Tactical and Logistical Support to Land and Air ForcesForces

• Colonial Campaigns – Localised Colonial Campaigns – Localised InstabilityInstability

• Campaigns of Choice (peace-support)Campaigns of Choice (peace-support)


Cold War Naval PowerCold War Naval Power

• 2 Phases: 1954-1976, 1976-19952 Phases: 1954-1976, 1976-1995• 11stst Phase: Quantitative Build-up Phase: Quantitative Build-up

• Coastal & SLOCs Defence, Support Land Coastal & SLOCs Defence, Support Land OperationsOperations

• ASW: CVH (1959) – DDH (1973) – FlotillaASW: CVH (1959) – DDH (1973) – Flotilla• Amphibious: LST Atsumi and Miura (1972-Amphibious: LST Atsumi and Miura (1972-

1977)1977)


Cold War Naval PowerCold War Naval Power• 22ndnd Phase: Qualitative Build-up Phase: Qualitative Build-up

• SLOCs Defence, Support Land OperationsSLOCs Defence, Support Land Operations• ASW: Longer Reach, Fleet Air Defence – FlotillaASW: Longer Reach, Fleet Air Defence – Flotilla

– Kongo DDG (1988), Murasame DD (1991), Towada Kongo DDG (1988), Murasame DD (1991), Towada AOE (1984, 1987)AOE (1984, 1987)

• Amphibious: LCU Yura (1981)Amphibious: LCU Yura (1981)

• Research Studies:Research Studies:• 16,000-ton light CVH (8 to 14 HSS-2 helicopters) 16,000-ton light CVH (8 to 14 HSS-2 helicopters) • 7,000-8,000-ton LST (Italian San Giorgio class) 7,000-8,000-ton LST (Italian San Giorgio class)


Contemporary Naval Contemporary Naval PowerPower

• End of Cold War/First Gulf War (1990-91)End of Cold War/First Gulf War (1990-91)• National Defence – Multilateral CooperationNational Defence – Multilateral Cooperation• NDPO 1995: 50 Vessels, 170 aircraftNDPO 1995: 50 Vessels, 170 aircraft

• Streamlined, Effective, Flexible (agile and accurate)Streamlined, Effective, Flexible (agile and accurate)• LST Osumi (1998), AOE Mashu (2004)LST Osumi (1998), AOE Mashu (2004)

• Balanced Force (ASW – Expeditionary)Balanced Force (ASW – Expeditionary)


26/04/1991: 6 JMSDF Minesweepersto Persian Gulf

26/01/2004: 600 JGSDF Troops to Iraq

Less than 13 years:17 International Operations

(9 during the period 2001-2004)



• Systemic Transformation (9/11)Systemic Transformation (9/11)• Regional Tensions (NKorea, China)Regional Tensions (NKorea, China)• NDPG 2004NDPG 2004

• Multi-functional Flexible Defence ForceMulti-functional Flexible Defence Force• Effective Defence: ‘Where and How’Effective Defence: ‘Where and How’

• ‘‘Hataraku Jidai’ (Seijuku no Jidai)Hataraku Jidai’ (Seijuku no Jidai)• Flexibility (Juunansei)Flexibility (Juunansei)



• 47 Major Combatants, 16 Submarines47 Major Combatants, 16 Submarines• 150 aircraft (44,400 personnel)150 aircraft (44,400 personnel)

• 4 Flotillas x 8 Vessels – ASW4 Flotillas x 8 Vessels – ASW• DDH (x1), DD (x3), DD (x2), DDG (x2)DDH (x1), DD (x3), DD (x2), DDG (x2)

• 8 Divisions x 4 Vessels – 8 Divisions x 4 Vessels – ASW/ExpeditionaryASW/Expeditionary

• DDH (x1), DDG (x1), DD (x2)DDH (x1), DDG (x1), DD (x2)• DDG (x1), DD (x3) DDG (x1), DD (x3)


Power Projection or Expeditionary Power Projection or Expeditionary Capability?Capability?National DefenceNational DefenceInternational CommitmentsInternational Commitments

ConclusionsConclusions


The awakening to the problems of world’s The awakening to the problems of world’s stability played a significant role in the navy’s stability played a significant role in the navy’s

decision to procure platforms to operate at decision to procure platforms to operate at greater distances. The greater distances. The ŌsumiŌsumi class is the iconic class is the iconic

symbol of the JMSDF’s capacity to empower symbol of the JMSDF’s capacity to empower Tokyo’s policy-makers and strategic planners Tokyo’s policy-makers and strategic planners

with the strategic flexibility to commit to with the strategic flexibility to commit to expeditionary mission. Whether and to what expeditionary mission. Whether and to what extent Japan’s governments will decide to extent Japan’s governments will decide to

engage in these sort of mission is a different engage in these sort of mission is a different story, one that will require more time to write.story, one that will require more time to write.

ConclusionsConclusions

alessio patalano – department of war studies the dawn of japan ’ s expeditionary capability...

Documents