Japan unveils its largest military ship

Japan Tuesday unveiled its largest warship since World War II which is expected to be deployed with the Maritime Self-Defence Forces (MSDF) in March 2015, media reports said.

The Izumo - 248 metres in length and 38 metres in width - was launched at a ceremony at Japan's Marine United Corp. plant in Kanagawa prefecture, Xinhua reported.

Among those present were Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and Secretary General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party Shigeru Ishiba.

Five choppers can land simultaneously on the 19,500-tonne vessel, media reports quoted MSDF officers as saying.

The 120-billion-yen (US$1.2 billion) warship is about 50 meters longer than the MSDF's current two largest operational destroyers Hyuga and Ise. Another warship of Izumo's size is also being built, Japan's Kyodo News said.

The Izumo will also be used for offshore helicopter maintenance operations and replenishing other warships, the report said.