A Maritime Self-Defense Force member bids farewell to his family before leaving for an antipiracy mission off Somalia at the MSDF base in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, on Saturday.

Two MSDF destroyers leave for antipiracy mission off Somalia

Saturday 14th March, 03:21 PM JST

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15 Comments

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."
presto345 at 06:02 PM JST - 14th March

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.
USARonin at 06:03 PM JST - 14th March

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.
some14some at 07:18 PM JST - 14th March

Fuel prices are not high let them sail for months. Other countries are already active there and Japan fleet wont make any difference.
kwatt at 08:25 PM JST - 14th March

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.
BurakuminDes at 12:08 AM JST - 15th March

Why do I suspect that this "mission" is going to all end in tears?
OssanAmerica at 12:23 AM JST - 15th March

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.
LIBERTAS at 01:24 AM JST - 15th March

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!
earthcreature at 03:07 AM JST - 15th March

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...
shouganaika at 03:17 AM JST - 15th March

I hope they dont collide into one another. I recommend the 2 Captains maintain constant radio contact to prevent such an occurence
USARonin at 04:49 AM JST - 15th March

EarthCreature, why would you wish the pirates well?
KnowBetter at 07:01 AM JST - 15th March

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?
OssanAmerica at 09:27 AM JST - 15th March

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 at 12:55 PM JST - 15th March

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.