Two MSDF destroyers leave for antipiracy mission off Somalia

Next headline: Two MSDF Destroyers Hijacked By Pirates

Actually, I was thinking that the next headline might be,"Japanese destroyer hits Somali fishing boat, Captain asleep below decks, new recruit manning the conn."

The 'funny' guys are always first with their meaningless comments. I think it's a good thing for Japan to create room in their constitution to be able to take part in these operations which are not without danger.

Any encounter with pirates implies the use of lethal force in "self defense".

Japan dump Article 9, though. Some especially foreign folks'll want cite that to be a royale pain in the perennial keister.

Fuel prices are not high let them sail for months. Other countries are already active there and Japan fleet wont make any difference.

The two MSDF destroyers go there off Somalia to protect commercial vessels/ships. That is their mission. They will shoot/destroy any pirates boats if necessary or pirates try attack commercial vessels/ships. MSDF are going for Japan anyway. I do not think that any soldiers would die there.

Why do I suspect that this "mission" is going to all end in tears?

The MSDF ships getting hijacked by the pirates line has been totally milked already. Anyway at the very least the MSDF might get some good live fire training.

presto345, I wasn't being funny. The MSDF is incompetent in the extreme. I wouldn't give them either a canoe or a 9mm handgun. I N E P T = M S D F. Gawd help Japan if they're depending on these buffoons!

sharky1 at 05:48 PM JST - 14th March Next headline: Two MSDF Destroyers Hijacked By Pirates

LIBERTAS at 05:53 PM JST - 14th March Actually, I was thinking that the next headline might be,"Japanese destroyer hits Somali fishing boat, Captain asleep below decks, new recruit manning the conn."

First two post are epic!! hahahah Well I just hope no one dies, or no one gets hurt, at least on the Japanese front, but I should wish everyone well, not just the "good" guys...

I hope they dont collide into one another. I recommend the 2 Captains maintain constant radio contact to prevent such an occurence

EarthCreature, why would you wish the pirates well?

Two MSDF destroyers leave for antipiracy mission off Somalia

Hmmm, at first I thought this should have read "off China" to curtail all that illegal DVD copying going on. Then I read further and thought oh so now Japan will just sit off the coast of Somalia waiting to be fired upon so they can defend themselves. How will that help others?

I wasn't being funny. The MSDF is incompetent in the extreme. I >wouldn't give them either a canoe or a 9mm handgun. I N E P T = M S D F. >Gawd help Japan if they're depending on these buffoons!

I don't think you were being funny eiyjer. I think you're being inaccurate. Stop to think whether the US Navy would bother conducting joint excercises and training with any organization as inept as you describe it.

presto345, I wasn't being funny. The MSDF is incompetent in the extreme. I wouldn't give them either a canoe or a 9mm handgun. I N E P T = M S D F. Gawd help Japan if they're depending on these buffoons!

First hand experience? Know more than most people do? Anyway, this is a good opportunity to get some practice and learn something.