I would like to remind our dear army general that he is in no position to dictate something clearly a branch of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
It is only that I do not trust the IJN not to loose at least a couple of our pacific assets at some point, should we come to blows with the Allied powers of Europe, and then have to come crying to the Army to provide the troops to retake them which may be deeply embroiled elsewhere!
I would rather I insist
now that you develop a proper, and by this I mean large, Assault Marine Corps capable of not only take undefended ports, but also strike simultaneously at guarded islands, or key urban centres in the South China seas. Thus I may have more hope that you will not fail in your endeavours.
Anyhow, Admiral DoomBunny agrees with me that a strong marine corps is needed, and if you don't think I should have influence here, then listen to your own naval commanders!...
/banta
The given outlay gives us 4 spearhead groups for these purposes, given that level of investment, we can be sure that we shall never be lacking should we loose key territories, or need to assault multiple locations at the same time with superior force. It gives an operational edge.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Final Plan of the Imperial Japanese Army
[FINAL DRAFT PENDING FULL APPROVAL]
Status:
Gensui Yamamoto [SS] – Approved*
General Veteran Lurker [SS] - Pending Approval
General Surt [SN] – Approved*
General Comm Cody [SN] – Approved
*Minor alterations see below
I.
Our general major strategy should be to seek 'Major Power' status (100+ IC) then onto ‘Great Power’ status over the next few years via actions in China*.
[EDIT: the correct term, same as in initial principles previously discussed]
II.
1.a Support, the Warlord cliques in western China (Yunnan gives us good proximity influence, hence why we need to work on Long Yun, this will make a military alliance possibility with Guangxi, “maybe” or “likely” possible within the next year or a bit, rather than if we only one on Guangxi)
1.b Seek to, and repeatedly envoy Guangxi/Yunnan to sign a military alliance as they become threatened by the Kuomintang, and come to the axis corner.
1.b CLAUSE:
With work, such alliance will become inevitable, however if in the short term our efforts to independently ally with the Chinese Warlord cliques fail, then we shall have to delay our Chinese ambitions, until we have Germany willing to counter-sign and support an invitation into the fold.
2.a Focus, on creating a
Casus belli for war in China, by creating a homeland ‘cause for action’ (lower neutrality in Japan, raise threat in the PRC and Republic of China)
2.b Focus on policy not to cause undue threat against the ‘Greater Chinese peoples’, (we must not undertake actions or support events that generate threat in Guangxi or Yunnan, only in the PRC and Kumintang), and the Colonial powers of Britain, France and the United States.
3.a Prepare a military strategy for war in China within the next 3 years
4. Align with the axis powers
As General Surt kindly provided;
Swaping missions as appropriate to crack down on counter-esponage against our agendas. Offering Guangxi a couple of chances for an independent military alliance near the end of 1936, when their willingness to accept changes to “maybe”.
III.
1. Build or reorganise strategic assets such that all Pacific island ports (including Naha, Taiwan and the Japanese home islands) have a 3xGAR division present.
2.* Insure that we have the following assets by at least 1940.
-- Build 2, 4x Marine divisions (for Saipan and Malolap when we have the ability to do so)
-- Build 2, 3x Marine divisions (for Truk, and Kwajalein.)
These assets do not need to be recruited now, but certainly in the near future.
[EDIT: Does not necessarally need to be conducted 1936 or in the exact same form; further discussion needed, but an agreed upon general necessity]
IV.
On research and budgeting. Should we be on agreement with I. it is my suggestion that we cancel the current cruiser production, as well as one of the CAG wings, continue the production of the current Destroyer and Carrier. When the first CAG wing is finished, we start the next wing (and then possibly another for reserves?), thus CAG construction in serial.
We seek 5 industry, for greater power.
2 ports, an airbase, for practice, change to 3 factories when finished.
As General Surt kindly provided;
Swap upgrades and consumer goods to keep dissent >3.00 I believe that on average we shall need ~ >2.00 IC to do this...as units get upgraded, then we can drop the 12IC on upgrades to ~10IC*
That we change Armoured Car Armour research, to Officer Training, as not only does it provide a global offensive combat buff, but also improves our officer recruitment methods. Of course, the more efficient our training methods are, the less manhours need be spent on this process (or rather, we gain far more officers, for far less the earlier we seek to improve this aspect of the military.
Refill with other techs from the same group if finished before 1. half year.
V.*
Reorganise the Government as follows;
Foreign Minister: Hayashi Senjuro (General Staffer)
Armament Minister: Ogawa Gotaro (Resource Industrialist)
Security Minister: Kawarada Kakichi (Man of the People)
Intelligence Minister: Ogawa Gotaro (Dismal Enigma +10% esp.)
Chief of the Army: Inanba Satoru (Guns & Butter Doctrine)
Chief of the Navy & Airforce: Myself, Yamamto Isoroku
**.
As a Power Projection and Naval Aviation Doctrine supporter I should have the support of the IJN in my appointments. I should like to ask my esteemed Admirals to independent ratify my appointment to the ministry in their submissions to our Supreme Emperor.
After all given my level of involvement placing another in my stead would only seek to confuse and create another level of bureaucracy that is unneeded in our Emperors perfect Empire.
[EDIT: Not really discussed previously]
** I'm making a bit of fun here. It appears appropriate given the aligations levied against me too...
EDITED: I shall henceforth refer to DoomBunny as Okadooma Yamabunnyta (Yamabunnyta for short)
