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Japan commissions second helicopter carrier

Japan commissions a new Izumo-class helicopter carrier for its Maritime Self-Defense Force.

By Richard Tomkins
The Izumo, a first-of-class helicopter carrier, was commissioned into service earlier this week in Japan for the country's Maritime Self-Defense Force. Photo: Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The Izumo, a first-of-class helicopter carrier, was commissioned into service earlier this week in Japan for the country's Maritime Self-Defense Force. Photo: Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force.

March 23 (UPI) -- Japan has commissioned a second helicopter carrier into service for its Maritime Self-Defense Force.

The Kaga, an Izumo-class ship, is about 813.6 feet long, displaces 27,000 tons when fully loaded and has a maximum speed of 30 knots.

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The carrier features five helipads and can carry more than 14 helicopters. It can also land and launch Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

Japan's Asahi Shimbun reported that the Kaga was commissioned in Yokohama on Wednesday and will be based in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture.

With the commissioning of the Kaga, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has four helicopter-carrying ships, two of which are 647-foot-long destroyers.

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