Technically, the Japanese Navy is a "self-defense force"
However, with its large fleet of warships, Japan is rated as one of the best navies in Asia
Japan has three Osumi-class tank landing ships
The ships resemble small aircraft carriers
were designed to rapidly move Ground Self-Defense Force tanks between the main islands of Japan, reinforcing any of them against invasion
The Osumi class was designed with a standard displacement of 8,900 tons, and 13,000 tons at full load
It has a length of 178 m, a beam of 25.8 m, and a draft of 17.0 m
The program originated in a proposal for a small carrier for defensive and mine countermeasures purposes
but this was deemed politically unacceptable, and the project was reworked as an amphibious ship
The Ōsumi class increases its carrying capacity with a flat-top open air upper vehicle parking deck
it has an elevated island superstructure offset to starboard
giving the appearance of a small aircraft carrier though the helicopter flight deck only comprises the stern of the ship
Small deck elevators accessing the enclosed lower parking deck are for vehicles rather than helicopters
the lower vehicle deck has access to the well deck
There is no enclosed aircraft hangar and any helicopters are tied down topside
The Ōsumis gives the JMSDF a modest lift capability, especially in defense of the outer islands
The Ōsumi class enables the transport of ground troops to strategic locations, and the rescue of civilians in case of large scale natural disaster
The hull features armored and opening deck
The rear of hull houses an armored landing deck for two large CH-47 helicopters
The well dock in the rear of the ship houses the two Landing Craft Air Cushion hovercraft
This capability is especially useful in light of Japan’s new dynamic defense strategy
which calls for amphibious forces capable of taking back islands seized by a hypothetical enemy
Forward, there is a 100 m deck below the main deck, but the single elevator accessing these spaces is too small for anything but a small helicopter
A vertical or short take-off and landing aircraft or a larger helicopter will simply not fit on the elevator
These spaces below the forward main deck are used primarily for vehicle storage so those fighting and armored vehicles can access the well deck
At least two members of the class, Ōsumi and Kunisaki, participated in search and rescue and other disaster relief operations in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami
In January 2014, The Japanese Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed reports that
it will perform a major refit Ōsumi-class tank landing ships to embark MV-22 Ospreys
and Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAV7s) to improve their amphibious capabilities