Japan’s neighbors have never been comfortable with the island nation’s quasi-Navy, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). JMSDF is legally a civilian service, operating under the famous Article 9 of the Japan’s constitution requiring that “land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained”. But, JMSDF’s de jure status has done little to calm the fears of several nations in the region who have nervously watched every move by the small organization (officially JMSDF consists of only 46,000 personnel) since the JMSDF’s creation in the 1950s.
Recently, the legal limits on JMSDF have prompted some Japanese defense observers to argue for a turn to soft power. Now it looks like Japan might be doing exactly that. This month the United States sent one of its two hospital ships, USNS Mercy, on Operation Pacific Partnership 2010. This soft power cruise is just the latest instance of a new and growing mission for the Navy: health diplomacy. These humanitarian assistance operations started after the positive response to the Navy’s disaster relief mission after the Asian tsunami and gained an powerful advocate in current NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Admiral James Stavridis when he was Commander of SOUTHCOM.
US health diplomacy cruises have always included personnel from ally countries. However, this year Japan has gone a step further, deploying a 13,000 ton Osumi flat-top warship to join the USNS Mercy during ports in Vietnam and Cambodia to support Pacific Partnership. The 584-foot ship, JMSDF LST 4003 Kunisaki, most closely comparable with the US Navy’s Wasp-class amphibious assault ship. Kunisaki’s flat top allows for four helicopters (although some have claimed it was designed as a pocket carrier). Below, a well deck contains space for two hovercraft. Kunisaki’s deployment is, as far as I can tell, the one of the largest deployments of Japanese naval power to a foreign port since JMSDF’s creation. JMSDF port visits are uncommon in mainland Asia. In June 2008 a Japanese destroyer made the first port call in China by a Japanese warship since World War II.
Is Kunisaki’s port call the start of Japan’s soft power rising?
Update: More on this from Kyle Mizokami.
Christopher R. Albon is a political science Ph.D. specializing in armed conflict, public health, human security, and health diplomacy.
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If it is it is the perfect ship for the job, a well deck for small boat operations, a large flight deck, and ample space to set up a field hospital inside the ships hangar as well as to carry hundreds of tons worth of supplies.
Hey Philbob,
The question I have is just how big is the hanger deck? From what I read, I get the impression it is small.
I meant in comparison to the USNS Mercy or even most nations LSD’s. I could not find volume data but this should be sufficent,
The design boasts an immense upper deck, with an overall length of 160m, breadth of 25.8m and houses a vehicle loading space on the front and a helicopter landing deck on the rear. The front of her hull supports a 100m long vehicle deck. In combination with the upper deck, the loading of between ten and twenty tanks and about forty large scale vehicles is possible.
In the rear of the hull, there is a 60m long space for two LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushions) placed end to end. The first transport hovercraft of the JSDF, the LCAC rides on a cushion of air over water or land at a height of 1.2m at a maximum speed of 40kt (74km/h). (Global Security LST Osumi page)
I also am not sure how much of it is internal usable space but if im reading it correctly at least 100m long and 20 m wide roughly
The JDS Kunisaki brings some distinct improvements to a medical diplomacy mission BUT not the high level of medical capability that exists onboard a T-AH.
Certainly the Mercy lacks a full helo facility like the Kunisaki. Cetainly the T-AH achilles heel has always been their lack of significant utility boats. The Kunisaki trumps Mercy hands down.
The one capability which the T-AHs were never designed to do and which are SOP now is MEDCAPS missions ashore. The Kunisaki could really nail those and of course has the internal capacity for medical supplies, SEABEE gear etc which are part and parcel of MEDCAPS.
BUT both are large ships which can’t get into small ports and both will need more logistic support (wherever a T-AG goes an MSC NFAF ship follows).
From a perceprtion standpoint a white hospital ship may be more readily accepted in foreign countries waters than a grey hulled amphib warship?
It will be very interesting to see IF the USN learns from the JMSDF and vice versa.
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