Utsunimiya’s War
(HoI3 TFH - Interactive Japan AAR)
Chapter One Hundred-Thirty-Seven : In With The New - 1.1.1940 To 31.1.1940
The Economic Front
The economy started out doing well and, during much of the month, nothing went wrong with it by the 31st of January. By the end of the month the only problems were the Treasury was losing money and the stockpile of Rare Materials was in the ‘Red’. But everything else, including the Fuel and Supplies stockpiles, were growing.
In fact Japan made deals with the Soviet Union and the US to import Metal. Deals were also made to import Rare Materials from The Netherlands and from Italy. But an Trade Agreement from France was declined.
It was felt dealing with the doomed nation might upset the Germans. Just in CASE Japan was going to join the ‘Axis’ powers in the future.
Siam, Mexico, and Italy all canceled Agreements with Japan. In the case of Italy it was a different Trade Deal then the one agreed that month. But, once again, by the end of January, this did nothing to slow down Japan’s economy.
By the 30th of January the airbases in the Province of Guilin had been expanded and their equipment updated again.
In January it was the military who had all the fun.
On the 1st January the 6th CAG, stationed in Hiroshima, was renamed the Shokaku CAG (after the new Carrier that was about to be launched).
Then it was ordered go the airbases in Nagasaki to wait for the IJN Shokaku.
On the 3rd the IJN Shokaku was officially launched from a dry dock in Nagasaki. The Soryu-Class Carrier joined the 5th Task Group and became its Flagship. It took on the Shokaku CAG shortly afterwards.
Then on the 6th the Chief of Staff announced that the Anti-Partisan Operations in China would be reorganized with two Hendan HQs. The six cavalry divisions would be split into two groups. One group under each Hendan.
The Hendan HQs were given full freedom to direct the units under them. The first thing the two HQs did was redeploy themselves. But, to everyone’s relief, they left their cavalry units alone.(1)
On the 8th of January it was decided that the Island of Saishu didn’t need Submarines docked there.
So the 21. Kaigun was ordered down to occupied Marcu. It arrived there by the morning of the 11th. This would bring it closer to the European colonies.
On the 14th of January the 1. Sensha Shidan received their Brigade of “Italian” Tank Destroyers. The crowd of Japanese soldiers who greeted the new Brigade were confused by the new weapons. A Italian gun was placed on what looked like a British lorry. It looked heavy, slow, and completely unprotected.
When Major General Akashita, who was in charge of the 1., saw the Autocannone 65s he was less than impressed and his letter to the IGH was very clear in his lack of trust in the weapon.
‘While I am sure this THING may work effectively in Europe or Northern Africa,’ he wrote, ‘I am not too sure this THING will be as effective in Asia. Europe has a proper infrastructure and Africa has dry deserts. When we are deployed to mainland Asia we will have something called the rainy season when all the roads turn to mud. And I can’t picture this THING keeping up with my light Tanks and Armoured Cars. I CAN picture it stinking into the mud while taking valuable fuel and my trained men with it.’(2)
When the 2. Sensha Shidan received their Brigade Tank Destroyers a few days later their commanding officer, Major General Tokuna, also wrote a letter to IGH. It can not be printed here due to the language used.
Still it was felt that the Sensha Shidens would be somewhat useful against Asian nations and even useful against the European military units in Asia.
By the 18th of January the units of IJAA were in position and topping off their Fuel and Supplies.
On the 21st the 1st Police Division in Nanjing started to train their staff and men with the new and improved security policies and procedures.
Then, on the 29th, there was an uprising in the Province of Dongfang. A province as far south as you can get in Chinese territory without walking into the sea. A province covered in jungle.
The Hendan HQ of the Anti-Partisan Operations reacted swiftly. The 3., 4., 8.,and 1. Chinese Kihesi Shidans were all sent down south to attack the Nationalist Rebels. Only two of the Anti-Partisan units stayed put. It was a somewhat overwhelming force for one Rebel unit but still almost reasonable. Even the two Hendan HQs had come to a halt and were staying still.
At the same time the IJAA ordered the 3. Zerosen no Hikodan down to the airbases in Macau as the first leg of their journey to get within range of the revolt.
That same day the first Marine Division, Sasebo Rikusentai, finally finished their training and assembled in the Province of Sasebo. Major General Ichiki, a officer known for his Commando training, was made the commander of the four Brigades. The IJN finally had their first TRUE Marine unit.
A few hours later the 3. Zerosen no Hikodan landed at the airbases at Macau. After a few hours to top off their tanks they were ordered to the airbases in the Province of Haikou. It arrived there a couple hours later.
The Fighter Wings were ordered to start Ground Attacks in the Rebels by the time the sun was rising. They were told to do so only during the day and NOT carry out this attacks around the clock. To save fuel.
They launched eight Ground Attacks and only killed 56 Chinese Rebels by the 31st of January. The problems were that the pilots, while having experience on attacking ground units, were having issues finding and hitting the rebels in the thick undergrowth and trees of the Asian rain forest.
By noon on the 31st the Fighter Wings, low on Fuel, Supplies, and organization was told to halt their attacks. The pilots needed to rest and the ground crew needed replace worn out equipment.
But the jungle wasn’t helping the rebels much either. By the 30th they had come to a halt. Moving through the jungle was almost impossible for the untrained, and badly equipped, peasants. Also, they were running out of supplies quickly as there was nowhere to get more. In other words, by the 31st of January, the rebels had become a complete mob.
Most of the populace of Japan was totally focused on the events in China. They all sensed that the last warlords were about to be taken down and China united under the Japanese Empire. And therefore news from outside of Asia wasn’t really something the newspapers, radios, and movie news reels were dealing with.
They knew which side of their bread was buttered on. (3)
For example, when Germany asked Japan to join the ‘Axis’ on the 9th and the 28th of January, the newspapers barely covered it. Nor did they bother to even cover the refusal.
By the 31st news from France was mixed and rarely on the front page of the papers. Paris was still holding out against the German divisions massed around it.
But in the south Germany and Italy were pushing west. It was likely by late February or early March they would reach the sea and cut France off from Spain. Then they could threaten the ports on the Atlantic side. Paris might continue to stand but what good would that do if France was cut off from the rest of its territories and trading partners?
Africa, and the rest of the war, was the same. Not much had changed there.
On the 23rd Intelligence ordered their agents in Xibei San Ma to stop working on making the nation look like a threat and switch to disrupting its national unity.
The Head of Intelligence, by the 31st, reported that the Netherlands had captured two Japanese agents, Portugal had captured five Japanese agents, Canada had captured five Japanese agents, Xibei San Ma had captured seven Japanese agents, the US had captured four Japanese agents, and Brazil had captured six Japanese agents.
Japanese Security arrested a spy from Xibei San Ma, a spy from Iraq, and a spy from the Philippines.
General Sho-ichi Utsunimiya was also told by some of his friends in Intelligence that there was a debate going on. Seems the Americans were VERY close to joining the ‘Allies’. Dangerously close. To the point where there was fears the US would join even before that year’s upcoming Presidential Election.
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Author’s Notes:
1. OOC : Two Hendan HQs (Army Corps’s AIs) are now each in charge of three cavalry divisions each. And seem to function - even when the Chinese Revolt showed up. Kind of function. At least they seem less annoying than the other AIs. And that’s good enough for me.
2. The units in China were, in fact, dealing with muddy roads at the time. Winter in Asia can be very, very, wet.
3. Where the heck did that saying come from anyway?
