Part VII
A Small task force embarked from India to capture the British fleets supply depot in Aden. As the Divisions landed and pushed into Aden itself, the Royal Navy had to leave port, only to be engaged by the IJN, hiding behind the horizon. In a series of battles, the Royal Navy lost several battleships and cruisers, the British ships managed to inflict some damage to one of the Japanese carriers, the Unryu. Grand Admiral Nagano decided to not chase after the Royal Navy, better be safe than sorry, so he withdrew to Rangoon to begin repairs.
After the victory in India versus the allies, and the German onslaught into Africa, the Japanese leadership saw no benefits to begin an campaign in Africa. Instead the forces should be reorganized and reformed into new armies. Most of the Japanese divisions was sent by train through China to Korea. New infantry divisions had been trained and also sent to Korea, forming a new army there.
In Tokyo
Emperor Hirohito had summoned the chief of staff and the chief of army to his Palace.
The victory in the pacific and the successful conquest of India have clearly created new opportunities. Our divisions in Korea, are they up for a new task?
I'm sure you highness. Both ministers said.
Good. In the last months, the Soviet Union have been sending demands, that we should surrender our claim on Toyohara and cease it to them. I have no no intention of doing so, in secret, we will instead plan an invasion of the Russian far east.
But what will the Germans say about this? Are they informed, an aggression from us towards the Soviet Union will most likely cause the Soviets to invade the German puppet states in western Russia as we are allies, and with the German armies in Africa, who knows how far they will advance. The chief of the Army said.
The Emperor looked at him. Are we not already to dependent on the Germans? All of our new research projects are sponsored by them, as an example. No, let us do this without telling them, I'm confident they will manage the Russians. We are allies for now, but sooner or later we wont be and we don't want them to grow even stronger than they already are. This move might hurt them a little or it might hurt them a lot, but an scenario when the Russians can defeat them? No, definitely not. Prepare the troops General, this matter is decided. Hirohito said and walked out of the room. Both generals saluted and went back to their operational headquarters to begin planning the invasion.
In June 1943, the plan was ready, Field Marshal Terauchi was in command, the most senior general in the IJA. According to army intelligence, the Soviet union had more troops. Reports said that they had at least 103 infantry divisions and 7 armored divisions. Japan had 75 divisions ready for the invasion, but no armored ones, although one was in training, but it would not be ready until the autumn.
The IJA would first attack Vladivostok and force the Red Navy out into the sea where it would be sunk, allowing for safe passage for convoys in the area. Troops in north-west China would begin their advance towards the Mongolian capital and force them out of the war. Meanwhile the main force would advance north from Manchuria and then west, seizing the few airbases in Siberia before pushing west on a broad front towards Oms, which was the main target, and setting up a defensive line North – South, cutting the Soviet Union in half. Siberia is a large area and the offensive would go slow, it was possible that the Germans would reach Omsk first, if that's the case, so be it. A lot of the Russian industries and resources is still in Siberia.