Update (November 1st 1948)
0000 November 1st 1948.
Imperial Palace. Tokyo, Japan.
"Good morning your Majesty, Gentlemen." Hideki started the monthly Cabinet meeting. "Our objectives for this year are almost complete but there are two that remain now that we have captured Leningrad. We need to reduce the Allies to below twenty Countries and to keep the United States Navy below fifteen Aircraft Carriers. The second of these is currently on schedule as there are fourteen Carriers according to Intelligence reports."
"Keep the other goal at twenty Countries as it will give us all something to aim towards, even if it is highly unlikely that we can achieve it after the expansion of the War." stated Hirohito.
"As you wish your Majesty. Industrial report first this month please."
"Good morning your Majesty, Gentlemen. Our Industry continues to grow as we expand with production unchanged from last month." Ginjiro began.
"Factory output has increased by ten in the last month as we continue to rebuild and capture Soviet complexes. This process will stop during November as I expect us to lose industrial centers in Europe with no counter balance coming from captured Soviet production, which is basically all under our control now. Transport Capacity has reached a new high with redeployments as well as increased unrest in captured territory. This should reduce during November as troops arrive and we possibly give up some territory to the Allies.
We are currently building two Battlecruisers, two Aircraft Carriers and one Garrison with it's Police brigade. There are no plans to add anything to this list.
Raw material stockpiles are in excellent condition with enough Energy, Metal and Rare Materials to last us for several years. Oil is higher than it has been for some time but is slowly decreasing and I would request some trades begin with Venezuela to offset the deficit."
"See to it please Minister Mamoru."
"Yes your Majesty."
"Thank you your Majesty. Our Supply stockpile is in good condition even with a daily decrease as we currently have a massive amount of our Industrial output being used for upgrades. This will switch to Supply production as the upgrades complete, a large number of which should be done in November. Our financial situation is also acceptable with enough reserves to support Minister Kuniaki's espionage efforts for some months. Manpower is stable with no change from last month even with increased hostilities in Europe.
Most of our reinforcements are for damaged Interceptor squadrons which have bore the brunt of the fighting in the west. As you can see we are using roughly two thirds of our total output for upgrades at this time. The Infantry should be finished in November but aircraft upgrades will probably take longer to complete. I would expect all of our current upgrades to complete before the end of the year. Nothing more for today." Ginjiro concluded.
"Intelligence please."
"Your Majesty, Gentlemen, good morning." Kuniaki began. "I have not managed to increase my agents overseas but will now make reports of the French instead of the Soviets."
"Overall French production is roughly half of our own and I will update their research monthly from now on. I do not have enough operatives to provide accurate reports for the time being.
"The French Army increased by an estimated one hundred Infantry divisions during October as it took control of the West German Army. Little else has changed for them as I do not believe they have either an Air or Naval building programme."
"There has been no change to British base industry, however, they have acquired a large source of Rare Materials that is allowing them to utilise their full Industrial Capacity. They completed no research projects.
The British Army has increased slightly in size in both Infantry and Armoured forces. Whatever losses they incur in Africa and the Middle East are easily being replaced by their Allies.
No changes to the Royal Air Force and a small increase to the Royal Navy's small ship numbers."
"United States production has increased by two factory complexes liberated in Poland. No new research has been completed.
Their Army has shown a large increase due to deployments in Europe. Twelve Infantry and fifteen Armoured divisions have been added to their ground forces in October. No change to their Airforce.
The United States Navy has added one Aircraft Carrier and three small ships in the last month bringing their Carrier total to fourteen."
"We completed two research projects in October. Advanced Electronic Computers and Advanced Synthetic Oil Plant. Our next project is not likely to be completed until late December at the earliest.
Other Intelligence reports indicate that the Soviet Union has less than five factories left and under ten divisions. West German ground forces are estimated to be roughly ten divisions but I only have one operative in that Country. The Canadian Armed Forces remain limited with the loss of two of their major sea assets in October which Minister Osami will cover. Done." Kuniaki concluded.
"Armed Forces please."
"Your Majesty, Gentlemen, good morning." Tanigawa began. "October was a good month overall but we are facing a severe challenge in Europe since ground hostilities began in earnest early in the month. Finland, East Germany and Poland are no more and have all been annexed. The Soviet Union is reduced to a very minor Nation with only three Strategic objectives under it's control. We should capture two of these in November but Tirana will take considerably longer.
Our Declarations of War against several Balkan Countries has added even more pressure to our western Front and a rough estimate of numbers against us would be somewhere close to two hundred divisions, a large part of which is more modern than our own forces even after upgrades. We have approximately a dozen divisions redeploying to the Front as well as another dozen marching there from the north of the Soviet Union. This will give us around forty divisions with which to hold and then counter attack the Allies. Supporting those divisions will be three full bomber groups, two of which are Close Air Support and one Tactical bombers.
Apart from the obvious ground difficulties we are also facing a large enemy airforce which has been inflicting damage on our own. So far the losses have been restricted to our Interceptors which are shooting down more enemy aircraft than they lose but are in need of a rest period."
"Have we done anything to increase our air superiority potential?" Hirohito asked.
"We have your Majesty. I have sent two more Interceptor wings to the Front which should provide adequate cover once they are re-organised." replied Jun.
"How long until you think we will be able to gain air superiority?"
"A month or two your Majesty. Our aircraft need rest and have a limited capability for roughly two weeks, at which point, they will begin to fly more missions as they recover. We have not seen either the United States or Royal Airforces in any great numbers yet and their appearance to could alter things."
"Not as I would wish but better than it could be. Please continue Minister Tanigawa."
"Thank you your Majesty. We will continue our current course of action in the west by withdrawing unless we are certain of victory. Let the Allies over extend themselves and then retaliate much as we did against the Soviets. The Winter should be our ally this year as it will slow the enemy advance and allow our aircraft to pick them off and provide us with time to strengthen our lines.
The Middle East is static for the time being with our lines established until the next phase of operations begins. The Pacific is also quiet although there are some small signs that the United States Navy is beginning to increase it's activity. The ground War in Europe should keep them busy enough to prevent any major landings anywhere else. The Indian Ocean is also quiet although we are suffering some delays on one island where the Americans are providing some resistance."
"You are taking steps to break them I hope?"
"Yes your Majesty. Minister Osami has dispatched Naval assets to secure the southern Indian Ocean."
"Very good. Please continue."
"That is all from me so I will hand you over to Minister Satoru for a more detailed briefing." concluded Tanigawa.
"Good morning your Majesty, Gentlemen. I will start with Asia today." Satoru began.
"There have been no territorial changes during October with only one advance being made by our forces. Yakutsk is the final Strategic objective in this region and should be captured in the next week or so. Japanese forces in the west of Asia have been reduced to single divisions with the remainder redeploying west or to India."
"India?" asked Hideki.
"Yes India. Ahmadabad to be more precise. Most of the Imperial Japanese Navy is in the port there including our Transport fleets." Satoru replied.
"Invasions are being planned then?"
"We are always planning invasions Prime Minister. We are an island Nation after all."
"Would you care to elaborate?"
"Not at this time Prime Minister." Satoru replied.
"Moving onto to the west we see quite a lot of territory gained and lost. We have captured Finland and the northern Soviet Union and some of Romania. We have lost most of Poland to the rapid advance of the Allies. The new Soviet capital is also highlighted in the top right. We have no intention of capturing it as it is conveniently located where any new forces cannot reach Tirana or anywhere else of much help to the Soviets.
You will notice that most of the territory gained by the Allies has switched to American control with some Czech and Romanian control established in the south."