Three elements of the Japanese Strategy.
Water: Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) protects the Emperor and His Empire. Naval superiority is the key to protect Japan; it's the fleet that that transports troops and supplies, it's the fleet that shields the islands of Japan from enemy invasion forces, it's the fleet that provides protection for convoys and vital resources needed for national industry to function properly. Terrain is difficult at best, riddled with hills, mountains and jungles, and infrastructure across Asia and Pacific isles is severely underdeveloped, making ports important supply nods for Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). Navy can offer support to ground units stationed near the coastline which will be imperative if any invasion force is to land successfully on the shores of China or Shanxi. Carriers are the future of the naval warfare and of Japan as they'll be able to join combat when needed - in the air, on the ground or at the sea. Important is to improve range of all sea vessels in the future in case of combat on the high seas as well as increasing reach of IJN in any kind of operation. The enemy fleets and other colonial forces will have to station in ports, they will require supplies to act effectively, making enemy convoys obvious targets for submarines. As the ships will sustain damage the Civil Defence is to be enacted to incorporate people into Japan's war effort by assisting in reparation of the IJN.
Air: Due to the size of the Empire (estimated over 2,500 square kilometers in straight line), arduous terrain and not uniformed land masses (as Japan is consisted of both isles as parts of the continent of Asia) Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAR) is second force that will play a great role in the war. Because supply is hard to transport in the traditional way air transport needs to be researched in order to provide supply drops where they'd be needed. In case of encirclement it's often the only way to keep troops fighting and it allows to drop paratroopers behind enemy lines, should the situation present itself. Torpedo bombers, carrying air-water missiles, (and interceptors) will support the IJN in defending the Japanese holdings laying overseas and attempt to destroy or damage any hostile vessel trying to sail on Imperial waters. Mobility of the IJAAR should allow to concentrate superior air forces where and when needed at a moment's notice. Bombers are to cooperate with ground units on the offensive and destroy infrastructure on the defensive to slow down the enemy and reduce their lines of supply.
Earth: IJN and IJAAR will require fuel in order to function, and a lot of it. This means that the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) will be consisting largely of infantry, with some mountain and marine divisions to relieve - if possible - regular troops not suited to fight in non-standard operations like mountain or amphibious warfare. Oil refinement must be improved to minimize lost of precious resource. Light and medium armor will be researched and produced in limited quantity and deployed in the area where it can be used to its fullest extent. Military police and garrison units are to be recruited to maintain order in the conquered territories and important areas like cities, airfields or ports. Their main goal is to hold potential enemy attack at bay for long enough for the other military wings to be able to respond with adequate force. Due to scare supplies divisions will most likely consists of two-three brigades per division unit. Not only will it reduce supply needs of front units but will allow to rotate divisions and compose larger front. In order to improve supply production and supply throughput research has been started.
Operational Scenarios has been laid down by the Imperial High Command to cover any possibility:
After successful invasion on Manchukuo in 1931 on the Great Empire of Manchuria a Japanese-aligned puppet government has been established and served as staging ground for further invasion of China. Manchuria is a poor country, with no infrastructure other than narrow, muddy pathways cut through the deep jungle, hills and mountains. The Kwantung Army has been recalled from Manchukuo's wide borders to shorten the lines of supply. Korea has two large ports and better logistic network to supply a large number of troops. However, Manchuria won't be left alone against possible attack. The Liao and Songhua Rivers provide excellent natural defenses, this - coupled the fact that terrain near the rivers is riddled with mountains and hills - make this position a strong one. Garrison troops are boosted with regular infantry to make sure that Harbin - the capitol of Manchuria and important airfield in the region, Xinjing - will remain in the hands of JIA. Supply for the USSR will have to come through Trans-Siberian Railway or nearby port of Vladivostok, which is well defended. This is making the attack from the east very convenient and more likely to happen. These ports (Vladivostok and any other north of Sapporo) will guarded by the IJN, adjacent waters are to be patrolled by u-boots and smaller fleets make sure that no convoys will manage to get past the blockade. If the enemy will decide to assault regardless bombers will be tasked with attacking high-value targets of opportunity and further ruin possible supply routes, slowing the advance of ground troops in the process. Should the Harbin and the Great Empire of Manchura fall into the Soviets hands the second line of defense will be formed behind the Yalu and the Tuman Rivers at the north-korean border, in the area composed of mountains and uplands, with the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan surrounding the Korean Peninsula the IJN will be able to provide assist close to the coast.
Original plan to use Manchukuo as a base of operation to push further into China will be carried out. Operation Lighting, as it is called, anticipate three-phased attack on neighbouring Shanxi, the puppet state of China. In the first phase the IJA will attempt to lure Shanxi troops as deep into Manchuria as possible before launching major counter-offensive. If the enemy won't move too deep or even remain on its initial position then Shanxi Army will execute the second phase and engage the enemy while the Mongol Group will protect the rear of the whole army group, with orders to defend the river from any attack that might come from the north. The last phase is to drop parachute troopers behind the enemy lines, attacking targets of strategic importance (capitol, resources, etc). If the Republic of China will interfere capturing Beiping on the way to Taiyuan is considered, if not too well defended.
In case of Operation Lighting not being executed fast enough and expected China intervention the Japan Imperial High Command has agreed to prepare for Operation Shield. The plan is to provide distraction and shield invasion of Shanxi by attacking the coast of China, largely exposed for the IJN. All ports - or beaches near them - will be invaded by marines, spearheading the attack. After the ports are captured regular infantry and mountain divisions will proceed, first securing the coast, linking all ports together, then attacking inland. Airfields, capitol of the Republic of China - Nanjing, enemy supply lines and surrounding the enemy forces are strategically important goals once the landing and securing the coastline is finished. Until the invasion is complete the Chinese ports are all under blockade, to prevent trade with the outside world, hit economy and ensure faster surrender of the foe. The Operation Lighting and Shield are both coordinated by Yamashita, the commander of the Japan Imperial Forces in the region.
Defense of the Japan islands in the event of war with the naval powers (Great Britain, United States of America) is impossible. Only viable strategy is to combine delay strategy and deep strategy - as long as ports on the Pacific Ocean stay in Japan hands the enemy can't reach Japan proper. Garrisons are to hold for as long as possible for the IJA, IJN and IJAAR to act. Attacking the enemy supply convoys is important as resources must be shipped from homeland and during transport convoy fleets are ripe targets, as well as intercepting and destroying enemy invasion fleets by the IJN. To fight the enemy the strategy of short jumps is to be enacted - hitting and capturing port after port to shorten the range of the enemy fleets. If the foreign navy can't reach Japan, or if their options are severely limited, then the IJN and IJAAR can concentrate their efforts in certain directions on the Pacific Ocean. Not only will the captured ports deprive the enemy of strategical possibilities and will strengthen the defense of the Empire's homeland, but they'll make an excellent staging points for the IJN to strike from.
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Cybvep said:
BTW don't you think that Japan AARs have suddenly become very popular?
Japan is very interesting country from many reasons and (unlike the Great Britain) her deeds are often fairly unknown for the Europeans. It's also the only major Axis power (historically speaking) in the Far East. Also I guess that's the impression because there are some active Japan AARs ongoing, but I guess there are other countries that are base for AARs more often, only they aren't as displayed on the front page as Japan ones.
Important: I didn't made much progress and I decided change game to alpha HPP under For the Motherland which I found very interesting to play with. Expect to change Operational Plans of Lighting and Shield a bit when I will be able to evaluate what needs to be changed due to some border changes in HPP (it is not much thought, so it shouldn't be too problematic). The rest of the ARR and overall plans will proceed as normal.