U.S. military helicopters to deploy to Japan's earthquake-hit area

Hat's off to the USFJ. This is what allies do in times of need. Charlie Mike!

Must have taken time under Japan's bureaucracy to get the permissions to move supplies and personnel, but better late than never. :clap:

(Wishing that they would supply the Japan Self Defense Forces too with more suitable winter boots, gloves and other equipment.)

Never hear a peep about the military doing any good deeds down here! Destroys the "image" the media likes to portray of the scary US military!

I didn't know that their helicopters can fly at such a low speed. Impressive, two weeks from the hangar at base to Noto. That cries for a Guiness record entry.

Good luck and Godspeed on the relief mission.

The US Militaries' Operation Tomodachi was massively appreciated back in 2011 and was a great example of how the US Military helps Japan in these - sadly - frequent disasters.

I'm sure Rahm's on his way for a photoshoot. Spend a night or two in Yamanaka Onsen before heading back.

Aside from the politics, wishing safe operations for both Japanese and USA pilots on important relief work.

Bravo Zulu!

what a fast response...2plus wks?

give me a break...

Kishida and MOD should have deployed their helicopter carriers (Hyuga and Izumo class) a long time ago. They could have been ferrying supplies and rescuing the stranded villagers from off-shore bases.

Just don't use the evil Osprey V-22s please. They can carry more people and cargo, are much cheaper to operate, and get there faster. Glad to see the US Military given the opportunity to help folks in Ishikawa Prefecture out.

@Pseudonymouse The offer to help was made on January 2nd. It took Japan a long time to request help. I'm sure the US would provide any level of help requested but the host nation has to request it. I think there is a mentality that asking for help is a sign of weakness. Of course that's twisted logic. Not asking for help IS a sign of weakness.

Negligence on Japan's part to wait so long.

As great as it is that USFJ can be of assistance, 2 Blackhawks 16 days after the fact? Sorry, but what took so long? Took that long to get approval from Tokyo?

my info may be out of date, but aren’t the Ospreys all grounded after that last crash?

I am sorry but this is a shambles, two weeks, really? Two hours is more like it, why doesn't Japan have a warehouse full of compact generator's, a pile of electrical cables, tracked diggers like bob cats, and small diggers and lifting equipment, medical equipment, heaters, rescue apparatus, it's not as if it doesn't get used, it could be loaded onto Chinook helicopter with a short space of time,

@Brian Wheway The US offer to help was extended on January 2nd.

@richard, I fully understand that there was,is international help ready and willing to volunteer, and send help and aid, my gripe is not with them but the Japanese government,

Richard BurganJan. 16 08:45 pm JST

Just don't use the evil Osprey V-22s please.

Helicopters aren't evil.

The US Militaries' Operation Tomodachi was massively appreciated back in 2011 and was a great example of how the US Military helps Japan in these - sadly - frequent disasters.

Most came from Okinawa, but no media coverage whatsoever here. Like I said, destroys the image of the "big bad Army man"

Kishida and MOD should have deployed their helicopter carriers (Hyuga and Izumo class) a long time ago. They could have been ferrying supplies and rescuing the stranded villagers from off-shore bases.

Kage just got out of the yards after her conversion to VSTOL aircraft carrier. New bow and a lot of other changes to support F-35B operations. She is undergoing post overhaul shakedown and then back to the yards to fix any problems discovered. Izumo is receiving an upgrade to JPALS to facilitate her own use of F-35Bs pending her turn in the yards to get the new bow shape. One of these two is scheduled to do her F-35B work ups off Virginia this spring.

Hyuga is in drydock at her home base of Maizuru. If you have access to Maxar imagery you can see her in drydock. I haven't found her sister ship yet.

In any event the JSDF has around 20 aircraft involved in earthquake relief and the Japan Coast Guard has additional assets supporting relief efforts.

Pseudonymouse

Well it's about time the US military helped out

And they could provide more than two helicopters

I understand they offered help immediately. The delay was on the Japanese side.

Americans must help the Japanese for life