Japanese navy helicopters crash during training exercise in Pacific

Published: 21 April 2024 at 00:22

Politics

Two Japanese navy helicopters carrying eight crewmembers crashed during a night-time training exercise off the coast of Tokyo. One crew member was rescued, seven were missing. The cause of the crash is unknown. Japan deployed warships and aircraft for search and rescue. The helicopters were on anti-submarine training and no foreign aircraft or warships were involved. This incident follows previous crashes involving Japanese military aircraft. The Japanese navy has been increasing military buildup in response to threats from China's assertive military activities in the region.

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Two Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force Helicopters Believed to Have Crashed in the Pacific Ocean

Two Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force helicopters, each carrying four crewmembers, are believed to have crashed during night-time training near Torishima island in the Pacific Ocean. One crewmember has been recovered, but the condition is unknown. Search and rescue operations are ongoing with eight warships and five aircraft deployed. The helicopters, SH-60K reconnaissance choppers, were on anti-submarine training missions when they lost contact. The cause of the crash is currently unknown. This incident comes after previous military aircraft crashes in Japan.

South Korean-Flagged Tanker Capsizes off Japan's West Coast

A South Korean-flagged tanker named Keoyoung Sun capsized off Yamaguchi prefecture in Japan after the crew radioed for help due to stormy weather. The Japanese coast guard launched a rescue operation and found eight sailors, while three remain missing. The vessel, described as an oil/chemical tanker, was at anchor at the time with no information on its cargo. The crew consisted of two Koreans, eight Indonesians, and one Chinese citizen. The ship capsized near Mutsure Island, with rough weather conditions prevailing in the area.

Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II (Wikipedia)

During World War II, at the beginning of the Pacific War in December 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) was the third most powerful navy in the world, and the naval air service was one of the most potent air forces in the world. During the first six months of the war, the IJN enjoyed spectacular success inflicting heavy defeats on Allied forces, being undefeated in every battle. The attack on Pearl Harbor crippled the battleships of the US Pacific Fleet, while Allied navies were devastated during Japan's conquest of Southeast Asia. Japanese Navy aircraft operating from land bases were also responsible for the sinkings of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse which was the first time that capital ships were sunk by aerial attack while underway. In April 1942, the Indian Ocean raid drove the Royal Navy from South East Asia. After these successes, the Japanese now concentrated on the elimination and neutralization of strategic points from where the Allies could launch counteroffensives against Japan's conquests. However, at Coral Sea the Japanese were forced to abandon their attempts to isolate Australia while the defeat at Midway saw them forced on the defensive. The campaign in the Solomon Islands, in which the Japanese lost the war of attrition, was the most decisive; they had failed to commit enough forces in sufficient time.During 1943 the Allies were able to reorganize their forces and American industrial strength began to turn the tide of the war. The United States ultimately managed to gain the upper hand through a vastly greater industrial output and a modernization of its air and naval forces. In 1943, the Japanese also turned their attention to the defensive perimeters of their previous conquests. Forces on Japanese held islands in Micronesia were to absorb and wear down an expected American counteroffensive. However, American industrial power became apparent and the military forces that faced the Japanese in 1943 were so overwhelming in firepower and equipment, that from the end of 1943 to 1944 Japan's defensive perimeter failed to hold. Defeat at the Philippine Sea was a disaster for Japanese naval air power with American pilots terming it, the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot, while the battle of Leyte Gulf led to the destruction of a large part of the surface fleet. Consequently, the Japanese lost control of the Western Pacific and access to the oil fields of Southeast Asia. During the last phase of the war, the Japanese resorted to a series of desperate measures, including a variety of suicidal attacks which were popularly called kamikaze. By May 1945, most of the Imperial Japanese Navy had been sunk and the remnants had taken refuge in Japan's harbors. By July 1945, all but one of the IJN's capital ships had been sunk in raids by the United States Navy. By the end of the war, the IJN had lost 334 warships and 300,386 officers and men.

US Ambassador Urges Japan to Step Up Defense Efforts Amid Chinese Tensions

US Ambassador Rahm Emanuel urged Tokyo to increase its role in producing and supplying weapons to boost collective security amidst conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Japan, under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's leadership, is ramping up its military capabilities by acquiring new weapons and easing arms export rules amidst threats from China, North Korea, and Russia. The US, Japan, and South Korea are conducting joint military drills in the disputed East China Sea, focusing on co-licensing, co-producing, and co-developing defense technologies.