Great AAR!
But please no German-Japanese war. Eternal friendship between those nations!
But please no German-Japanese war. Eternal friendship between those nations!
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primorsk is not much, only to garrison pacific coast.
I would never made it in time to Urals, to prevent Germans from taking factories and mines in western siberia, so german decision to push now for bitter peace was fine with me.
that.
...and fully annexed USSR would mean more powerful Germany - the Empire would prefer entire Siberia in Co-Prosperity Sphere, as is proper.
besides, this war really 'just' about to cripple USSR. primary goal was achieved.
empire of japan, as now proved, is more than capable ally. allies doesn't need to love each other, as long as they respect each other, everything is just a-okay.
the empire will accept nothing less but full victory. always.
Americans still will have massive industrial advantage and a lot of manpower to deal with. They can lost a lot and still may be winning, while my every loss can be fatal.
Part of the reason why I wouldn't push Germans now to finish the USSR. It's not in Japanese best interests to let Germans take all the industry, oil, coal and steel in Western Siberia in the process - IJA's mountaineers wouldn't be same fast as Panzergrenadiers.
Can the Emperor and Yamato people really trust the word of Greater German Reich? Would peaceful co-existence truly last long?
The Germans are temporary allies against Godless Bolshevism at best. And yet, their worship of their false god of the Volk is just as bad as godlessness. The will of the Emperor simply cannot coexist with these people.
well, Stalin really dropped the ball there, didn't he. Still, if Molotov can quell revolts against the CCCP, he has a pretty decent chance of being able to put up a halfway decent fight when Japan/Germany come to finish the job. otherwise, Central Asia/Siberia is going to end up a cold-war influence battleground between Germany and Japan. (or whoever wins this thing in the end)
also, I was wondering about the performance of your ally with the largest military. Did the NRA perform it's job of blocking the Soviet advance into Sinking well? it seemed like they were getting slowly pushed back. &&are they in decent enough shape to be deployed against the British in India/Burma? or will they be resigned to border control and beach garrison?
good luck against the United States and Britain. the people of Asia are counting on you. TENNO HEIKA BANZAI!
also, I was wondering about the performance of your ally with the largest military. Did the NRA perform it's job of blocking the Soviet advance into Sinking well? it seemed like they were getting slowly pushed back. &&are they in decent enough shape to be deployed against the British in India/Burma? or will they be resigned to border control and beach garrison?
good luck against the United States and Britain. the people of Asia are counting on you. TENNO HEIKA BANZAI!
This AAR is great! I am eagerly awaiting the confrontation with the USA that is forthcoming
Great AAR! But I have a question, did Primorsk get all of its core provinces from USSR?
they can be used against Germans. it's more a threat to their Reichskomissariats and oil sources than to China or Japanese Far East.
Wang Jingwei's regime produces mostly Light Infantry in not much great numbers - and China-nanjing have very limited manpower and no mobilization event. But without any help, they still managed to stop/slow Red Army pouring to Xinjiang.
all of them, with added few extra provinces around Baikal.
In war, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns. - sun tzu
...did I just watch a Japan sank attacking the Nazis in a surprise attack? And how did the Nazis get Madagascar?
- 1
"I shall cover the eight directions and make them my abode." - First Emperor of Japan
Western world was utterly shocked by Soviet defeat and 'Bitter Peace' signed by the new Soviet leader, infamous Vyacheslav Molotov. With Red Army's reserves destroyed in Siberia by the Imperial forces, however, it was his only option. With German attention turned towards Middle East and with Japanese preparing for war with United States, rump But it was British Empire which now found itself in truly impossible position. Persia changed into one great slaughterhouse by the fact, that United Kingdom couldn't allowed Germans to take more oil sources or invade Raj - in same time, knowing that entire British military can't stop Army Group Caucasus.
Changes were certainly in the air, as world war transformed into something now - something, which will last longer and will cost many more lives.
Hot heads in both Army and Navy suggested first strike against American forces as soon as possible, but more of them were convinced by the Emperor, that last six years they worked and fought hard to have resources and strategic position to consider more options than reckless attack. Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto or Gen. Kanji Ishiwara, opposing the war with United States, thoroughly supported Emperor's reasoning, that Japan must not strike first and maintain peace to the last moment.
It was during this time, when old Toseiha militarists like Prime Minister Tojo himself truly realized the amount of power the Emperor now possessed - supporting certain factions in both Army and Navy and slow weakening of other factions for years, the Emperor now was in control of every part of military, exactly as written in the Constitution.
So between Winter 1941 and Summer 1942, Japan was, again, in era of relative peace. Both civilian and military projects continued to bear fruit, soldiers and sailors could spent their time with families, help in factories and during harvests. Younger ones were preparing in military academies and training centers for another, for Empire's enemies unfortunate conflict, for which the population was prepared more than ever.
And not only Emperor's subjects were supposed to be prepared: Japanese-controlled organisations boosted their efforts to spread discontent in colonial territories by agitators, saboteurs, posters and financial or material support for local anti-colonial movements.
IJN's support for such secret operations was crucial.
It was enough time for the Navy to modernize all older ships built mostly in 1920s, many of them in Taisho era, especially battleships.
During these strange times of peace, Japan even sent food and medical supplies to hostile power again, while same regime waged war against multiple rebel Asian states - so because attention of the Emperor was turned somewhere else, their righteous battle was deemed lost from the start.
In spite of 'Victory in the East', boasted by Germans in their newspapers, Axis global positions were far from secured. Wehrmacht needed additional sources of oil in the Middle East and finally deal with British strongholds in and over Mediterranean, particularly Suez.
But when Axis forced reached Indus River, Japanese military consulted situation with the Emperor again - Americans didn't stop with their aggressive diplomacy, more likely seeking an excuse for the own first strike and Germans certainly couldn't be let to occupy India.
So, Imperial Japanese Army planned for such case to invade Burma and continue to British Raj as far as Calcutta, where they will be joined by divisions landing on Indian coasts, establishing proper demarcation line with German forces coming from the Persia.
In the Pacific, situation was a little more complicated: only British and ANZAC forces were attacked by limited land forces, allowing more units to be spread across the Co-Prosperity Sphere as reserves, when time will come - likely in case of Dutch losing nerves or Americans firing first shot.
After taking new ports and air bases, no matter if USA will declare war, full scale invasion and unconditional surrender of Australia and New Zealand was prepared as well.
After years, American public noticed that something looks wrong to them - and their President did little to calm them, although he was elected under clear promises of neutrality in the conflict. Now, every US newspaper and magazine was full of far-fetched, ridiculous plans, how supposedly Germans, Italians and Japanese plan to subjugate Americans. Moreover, photos and stories of millions upon millions of suffering British people and captured soldiers were used to convince more people how 'barbaric' enemy they have.
In case of Japanese, ideological conflict was second to racist attacks, which only strengthened with every threat and move ignored by the Emperor, while diplomats and member of the military expressed only disgust or loudly warned them from starting something too much to handle even for mighty United States.
This of course, in turn, led soon to greater general anti-japanese aversion: people of Japanese ancestry found themselves without jobs or their shops burned.
And right after war with Empire was declared, most of them (120, 000) were sent to concentration camps. Several concerns over the loyalty of ethnic Japanese seemed to stem only from racism rather than any evidence of any illegal activity. Lt. Gen. DeWitt, who administered the internment program, repeatedly told newspapers that "A Jap's a Jap".
Internees were housed in tar paper-covered barracks of simple frame construction without plumbing or cooking facilities of any kind. The spartan facilities met international laws, but left much to be desired. Throughout many camps, twenty-five people were forced to live in space built to contain four.
Same or worse treatment of people of Japanese origin happened in British Empire: The Japanese Canadians who resided within the camps were placed in stables and barnyards, where they lived without privacy in an unsanitary environment. General conditions were poor enough that the Red Cross transferred fundamental food shipments from civilians affected by the war to the internees.
Some internees spoke out against their conditions, often complaining to the British Columbia Security Commission directly whenever possible. In one incident, fifteen men who had been separated from their families and put to work protested by refusing to work for four days straight.
Despite attempts at negotiation, the men were eventually informed that they would be sent to the Immigration Building jail in Vancouver for their refusal to work.
Their mistreatment soon caused many of the men to begin hoping that Japan would win the war and force United States and Canada to compensate them.
When word reached the Japanese government, proclamation was made to give all people of Asian origin who wish to relocate after war, new homes and they will be all indeed compensated by later Allied war reparations - in fact, some Chinese, Koreans or Vietnamese found themselves in more hostile than friendly country.
The Emperor, during same time, publicly declared to give 'all the Japanese wherever they are' imperial citizenship by special decree, be it Issei, Nisei or Sansei (1st, 2nd and 3rd generation) Japanese settled in foreign lands.
Not only propaganda efforts wins the war, however. Imperial industry, transportation and trade worked endlessly to keep military production in high numbers possible.
Same could be said about research. Ever since the Emperor decided to show the military a proper way how to get what Japan needs, both military engineers and scientists in universities or facilities operated by zaibatsu corporations soon understood, that while His Majesty performed his ceremonial, military, and political duties to the best of his ability, His real passion was always scholarship.
Battle-hardened Mountaineers were the first IJA's units engaging an enemy and Burma's borders were crossed very same day - border guards surrendered in few hours.
Royal Navy in East Asia was in such a bad shape, that landings were often supported only by destroyers and still often sunk outdated British vessels, without any danger to Marines.
'Comedy on the Sea' as commented by Admiral Ozawa, meant free reign for Imperial Japanese Navy in every area.
When Japanese forces entered Burma, 'Burma Independence Army' was formed, followed by 'Indian National Army' weeks later, when Subhas Chandra Bose declared India's independence and thousands of former Raj's soldiers joined the INA. Planned extent of Co-Prosperity Sphere slowly materialized before eyes of the world.
Another blow to British, perhaps worse one, was quick fall of the Hong Kong. Japanese Marines proved themselves once more, when they lost actually less men against prepared, fortified enemy in urban area.
Growing population, only minor manpower losses compared to other world powers and more countries bound to Japanese industry in Co-Prosperity Sphere and more of them following soon, left imperial economy booming.
When Berlin, Paris, London or Rome were dark in night, Japanese cities could overwhelm every visitor by their lights from homes, offices, factories and restaurants.
To secure such remarkable progress in times of war, Japanese merchant fleet was decided to be enlarged, with more escort ships leaving the shipyards.
Yamamoto's carriers 'visited' Australian waters in first days of the conflict, causing quite a panic in Canberra.
When British ships were not found by battleships, carriers, cruisers or destroyers, they were found by IJN's naval bombers. Survivors were promptly sent to Siberia or Northern China, with no chance of escape.
Fall of Singapore was the last nail in the coffin of British power in East Asia.
With newly conquered territories under firm imperial control, new naval projects were started and modernisation of the Army could continue uninterrupted this time.
Day later, Americans found their excuse, similar to one used in Great War. 'Declaration of War by United States to Axis Powers' was far from unanimous, but a fact regardless.
When it happened, Adm. Ozawa used prepared strike force: three smaller naval units, previously creating a false impression of patrol units, supported by submarines and seaplanes, approached the base at night. The attack was launched before daybreak since IJN has perfected nighttime operations, using pathfinders with dropping flares.
Most of Pearl Harbor's infrastructure, such as the power station, fuel depot, shipyards, submarine pens, armories, and the military headquarters sustained damage during the attack.
War with the Americans offered few actual option for Empire of Japan to win: early peace treaty was out of a question, invasion of United States was a very distant possibility, so 'containment' which Americans sought previously,
Western world was utterly shocked by Soviet defeat and 'Bitter Peace' signed by the new Soviet leader, infamous Vyacheslav Molotov. With Red Army's reserves destroyed in Siberia by the Imperial forces, however, it was his only option. With German attention turned towards Middle East and with Japanese preparing for war with United States, rump But it was British Empire which now found itself in truly impossible position. Persia changed into one great slaughterhouse by the fact, that United Kingdom couldn't allowed Germans to take more oil sources or invade Raj - in same time, knowing that entire British military can't stop Army Group Caucasus.
Changes were certainly in the air, as world war transformed into something now - something, which will last longer and will cost many more lives.
Hot heads in both Army and Navy suggested first strike against American forces as soon as possible, but more of them were convinced by the Emperor, that last six years they worked and fought hard to have resources and strategic position to consider more options than reckless attack. Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto or Gen. Kanji Ishiwara, opposing the war with United States, thoroughly supported Emperor's reasoning, that Japan must not strike first and maintain peace to the last moment.
It was during this time, when old Toseiha militarists like Prime Minister Tojo himself truly realized the amount of power the Emperor now possessed - supporting certain factions in both Army and Navy and slow weakening of other factions for years, the Emperor now was in control of every part of military, exactly as written in the Constitution.
So between Winter 1941 and Summer 1942, Japan was, again, in era of relative peace. Both civilian and military projects continued to bear fruit, soldiers and sailors could spent their time with families, help in factories and during harvests. Younger ones were preparing in military academies and training centers for another, for Empire's enemies unfortunate conflict, for which the population was prepared more than ever.
And not only Emperor's subjects were supposed to be prepared: Japanese-controlled organisations boosted their efforts to spread discontent in colonial territories by agitators, saboteurs, posters and financial or material support for local anti-colonial movements.
IJN's support for such secret operations was crucial.
It was enough time for the Navy to modernize all older ships built mostly in 1920s, many of them in Taisho era, especially battleships.
During these strange times of peace, Japan even sent food and medical supplies to hostile power again, while same regime waged war against multiple rebel Asian states - so because attention of the Emperor was turned somewhere else, their righteous battle was deemed lost from the start.
In spite of 'Victory in the East', boasted by Germans in their newspapers, Axis global positions were far from secured. Wehrmacht needed additional sources of oil in the Middle East and finally deal with British strongholds in and over Mediterranean, particularly Suez.
But when Axis forced reached Indus River, Japanese military consulted situation with the Emperor again - Americans didn't stop with their aggressive diplomacy, more likely seeking an excuse for the own first strike and Germans certainly couldn't be let to occupy India.
So, Imperial Japanese Army planned for such case to invade Burma and continue to British Raj as far as Calcutta, where they will be joined by divisions landing on Indian coasts, establishing proper demarcation line with German forces coming from the Persia.
In the Pacific, situation was a little more complicated: only British and ANZAC forces were attacked by limited land forces, allowing more units to be spread across the Co-Prosperity Sphere as reserves, when time will come - likely in case of Dutch losing nerves or Americans firing first shot.
After taking new ports and air bases, no matter if USA will declare war, full scale invasion and unconditional surrender of Australia and New Zealand was prepared as well.
After years, American public noticed that something looks wrong to them - and their President did little to calm them, although he was elected under clear promises of neutrality in the conflict. Now, every US newspaper and magazine was full of far-fetched, ridiculous plans, how supposedly Germans, Italians and Japanese plan to subjugate Americans. Moreover, photos and stories of millions upon millions of suffering British people and captured soldiers were used to convince more people how 'barbaric' enemy they have.
In case of Japanese, ideological conflict was second to racist attacks, which only strengthened with every threat and move ignored by the Emperor, while diplomats and member of the military expressed only disgust or loudly warned them from starting something too much to handle even for mighty United States.
This of course, in turn, led soon to greater general anti-japanese aversion: people of Japanese ancestry found themselves without jobs or their shops burned.
And right after war with Empire was declared, most of them (120, 000) were sent to concentration camps. Several concerns over the loyalty of ethnic Japanese seemed to stem only from racism rather than any evidence of any illegal activity. Lt. Gen. DeWitt, who administered the internment program, repeatedly told newspapers that "A Jap's a Jap".
Internees were housed in tar paper-covered barracks of simple frame construction without plumbing or cooking facilities of any kind. The spartan facilities met international laws, but left much to be desired. Throughout many camps, twenty-five people were forced to live in space built to contain four.
Same or worse treatment of people of Japanese origin happened in British Empire: The Japanese Canadians who resided within the camps were placed in stables and barnyards, where they lived without privacy in an unsanitary environment. General conditions were poor enough that the Red Cross transferred fundamental food shipments from civilians affected by the war to the internees.
Some internees spoke out against their conditions, often complaining to the British Columbia Security Commission directly whenever possible. In one incident, fifteen men who had been separated from their families and put to work protested by refusing to work for four days straight.
Despite attempts at negotiation, the men were eventually informed that they would be sent to the Immigration Building jail in Vancouver for their refusal to work.
Their mistreatment soon caused many of the men to begin hoping that Japan would win the war and force United States and Canada to compensate them.
When word reached the Japanese government, proclamation was made to give all people of Asian origin who wish to relocate after war, new homes and they will be all indeed compensated by later Allied war reparations - in fact, some Chinese, Koreans or Vietnamese found themselves in more hostile than friendly country.
The Emperor, during same time, publicly declared to give 'all the Japanese wherever they are' imperial citizenship by special decree, be it Issei, Nisei or Sansei (1st, 2nd and 3rd generation) Japanese settled in foreign lands.
Not only propaganda efforts wins the war, however. Imperial industry, transportation and trade worked endlessly to keep military production in high numbers possible.
Same could be said about research. Ever since the Emperor decided to show the military a proper way how to get what Japan needs, both military engineers and scientists in universities or facilities operated by zaibatsu corporations soon understood, that while His Majesty performed his ceremonial, military, and political duties to the best of his ability, His real passion was always scholarship.
Battle-hardened Mountaineers were the first IJA's units engaging an enemy and Burma's borders were crossed very same day - border guards surrendered in few hours.
Royal Navy in East Asia was in such a bad shape, that landings were often supported only by destroyers and still often sunk outdated British vessels, without any danger to Marines.
'Comedy on the Sea' as commented by Admiral Ozawa, meant free reign for Imperial Japanese Navy in every area.
When Japanese forces entered Burma, 'Burma Independence Army' was formed, followed by 'Indian National Army' weeks later, when Subhas Chandra Bose declared India's independence and thousands of former Raj's soldiers joined the INA. Planned extent of Co-Prosperity Sphere slowly materialized before eyes of the world.
Another blow to British, perhaps worse one, was quick fall of the Hong Kong. Japanese Marines proved themselves once more, when they lost actually less men against prepared, fortified enemy in urban area.
Growing population, only minor manpower losses compared to other world powers and more countries bound to Japanese industry in Co-Prosperity Sphere and more of them following soon, left imperial economy booming.
When Berlin, Paris, London or Rome were dark in night, Japanese cities could overwhelm every visitor by their lights from homes, offices, factories and restaurants.
To secure such remarkable progress in times of war, Japanese merchant fleet was decided to be enlarged, with more escort ships leaving the shipyards.
Yamamoto's carriers 'visited' Australian waters in first days of the conflict, causing quite a panic in Canberra.
When British ships were not found by battleships, carriers, cruisers or destroyers, they were found by IJN's naval bombers. Survivors were promptly sent to Siberia or Northern China, with no chance of escape.
Fall of Singapore was the last nail in the coffin of British power in East Asia.
With newly conquered territories under firm imperial control, new naval projects were started and modernisation of the Army could continue uninterrupted this time.
Day later, Americans found their excuse, similar to one used in Great War. 'Declaration of War by United States to Axis Powers' was far from unanimous, but a fact regardless.
When it happened, Adm. Ozawa used prepared strike force: three smaller naval units, previously creating a false impression of patrol units, supported by submarines and seaplanes, approached the base at night. The attack was launched before daybreak since IJN has perfected nighttime operations, using pathfinders with dropping flares.
Most of Pearl Harbor's infrastructure, such as the power station, fuel depot, shipyards, submarine pens, armories, and the military headquarters sustained damage during the attack.
War with the Americans offered few actual option for Empire of Japan to win: early peace treaty was out of a question, invasion of United States was a very distant possibility, so 'containment' which Americans sought previously,
- 2
So how much territory in Siberia does Japan control? Your first priority should be India; it would not do for the noble Imdian people to simply replace a British master with a German master.
As you can see, only Eastern Siberia, all the way from Irkutsk to Vladivostok and entire Pacific coast.
It seems that Germans actually don't care much about India, it's very slow advance byy few divisions. Most of their military now tries to destroy all Commonwealth armies in Persia and Iraq. quitesuccesfully. it's a massacre now.
In addition, the Emperor surely will protect them from any red disease spreading anytime, anywhere, at any cost - something Britain or US can't really guarantee.
Imperial military will remain vigilant and prepared against such threats at all times.
"...where just 80 years ago an unknown people lived on their isolated island, satisfied with themselves and with no need or desire to leave the bounds of their islands. A powerful center of power has developed where only 80 years ago the conquerors and economic pioneers of Europe and America believed there was a colony that could easily be taken over. That is the amazing and unique miracle of Japan’s meteoric rise. The world today looks in amazement. Amazed, astonished, and also terrified..."
- from "The Secret of Japanese Power", Albrecht Fürst von Urach, 1942
To win the war with United States, it was essential to conquer every strategic position in Pacific Ocean. To make it possible, supply lines must be strengthened and there must be enough transport ships to replace losses and allow to use reinforcements wherever it will be necessary.
Instead of prewar plans to force USN for 'Decisive Battle' over Pacific, 'Open Seas' strategy was implemented in full to destroy Allied ships one by one, destroying their own convoys of troops and supplies without much risk for own battlefleet or transports.
To be sure that imperial military have enough men to maintain the losses, the Emperor signed special mobilization order - which wasn't really necessary, only a formality, since both Army and Navy had more than enough volunteers while imperial economy used increasingly more free workforce and resources than it could use, growing with every single captured territory, confiscated resource and surrender of enemy unit.
Empire of Japan now had 5.000.000 men in combat or as well-trained reservists. And thousands of more conscripts and volunteers were coming.
Only island in Dutch East Indies with actual military presence was Java, the center of Dutch colonial power. Other islands were captured without a fight, including valuable ports and airports. Remaining ships of Royal Navy in the area were hunted down, with no sight of Americans - they tried to figure out their own strategic puzzles.
Guam fell after just one day of intensive naval bombardment and overwhelming attack made by Imperial Guards and IJN's Marines.
Wake surrendered to imperial forces even sooner.
In such times, desperate Americans tried to use their Filipino puppet state's forces, only to see their ships hunted just as same as Royal Navy's, only weakening the Manila's defenses.
In the south, weakness of Allied forces was just more obvious. Java, defended only by Dutch colonial units, had no chance, no matter how many small ships British used to help them.
IJA's mountaineers encountered only a few troubles in their march to Rangoon, planned to be used as a main port and HQ for the next phase: liberation of India.
After capture of Jakarta and with no response from any significant Allied force, Dutch surrendered their entire colonial state.
When Americans finally moved to do anything, Japanese Marines were already landing on Rabaul...
...and Port Moresby, directly endangering Australia. IJN's carriers firmly controlled the area, not allowing any hostile presence to stop Marines in their task to isolate Australia.
And Phillippines? Poorly equipped and supplied Filipinos were attacked from land and sea by the Imperial Guards and Marines. British RAF tried to evacuate British and American civilians and officers, but they only lost many of their planes, captured by the advancing Japanese Marines. What remained of Allied presence on the islands, retreated to Bataan.
In four days, though, Filipino soldiers surrendered and last position on the Bataan was captured two days later, after which surviving members of Filipino administration surrendered, seeing no other option.
Battle of Bismarck Sea, although with minor outcome (2 IJN's destroyers damaged), was the first signicant encounter with Allied forces in the Pacific. Adm. Yamaguchi's destroyer group quickly retreated, after realizing they are outnumbered and outgunned and reported it to Marshal-Admiral Yamamoto's new HQ in Rabaul, who recalled there one carrier group to hunt Australians.
Not only seas, but skies in vicinity of Australian coast were controlled by IJN and naval bombers had no trouble with single enemy interceptor, freely searching and bombing everything hostile they found afloat.
Secured seas allowed the IJN to continue with offensive and started an invasion of New Hebrides, where Americans tried to scramble enough resources to start their own campaign in the Pacific and maintain communication lines with Australia. Imperial Japanese Navy couldn't allow that, naturally.
Continuing American defeats greatly challenged Roosevelt's decision for 'Germany First' strategy, implying that Greater German Reich is much greater threat from multiple reasons: but while United Kingdom now faced horrid losses and British Army in the Middle East started to disintegrate, with England more and more starving, with US invasion of North Africa already prepared, this decision meant divert only few resources against Empire of Japan - not adequate ones, it seemed.
Japanese power projection over the Southern Pacific was actually great enough to ignore Solomon Islands in Allied hands altogether, which resulted in early capture of both New Hebrides and New Caledonia...and invasion of Australia.
Rangoon, captured at the start of October, meant that IJA's divisions may focus on more important target: India. Nagano's battleships soon sailed for Burma's capital, to support later naval landings.
Thousands of British Raj's soldiers surrendered or defected. Many of them soon joined the Bose's Indian National Army, under intensive agitation of Indian dissidents living in Japan. Best example was pan-asianist and later Indian leader, Rashbihari Boshu, hunted by the British for failed assassination of Viceroy in 1912 and Ghadar rebellion during Great War, a conspiracy for all-indian uprising. He was a Japanese citizen since 1923, married a Japanese, living as a journalist and writer and was instrumental in persuading the Japanese authorities to stand by the Indian nationalists and to officially support the Indian independence struggle abroad.
From Raj's borders to New Caledonia, imperial military in Autumn 1942 had no troubles at all to supply all the forces necessary to beat the Allies. For now.
First great naval victory was, ironically, not work of the Yamamoto's carriers, now actively supporting multiple landings, but naval bombers stationed on Port Moresby and Rabaul, destroying USN's attempt for incursion into imperial sea lines, probably to help Australians trapped in New Guinea's jungles. Cost was high. Not only the USS Texas was sunk, but destroyers as well, same day or in following weeks, forcing badly damaged cruisers to return into Pearl Harbor's docks for a long time.
After sinking of USS Texas, as a sign of weak but nevertheless growing USN's presence, it was decided to put an end for Allied presence on the island, with countless destroyers and transports sunk afterwards, including the seaplane tender HMAS Albatross.
One week later, amassed imperial forces landed on Australian coast, where they faced only one division of British Royal Marines, retreating after fierce attacks from Imperial Guards and Marines, again from land and sea, quickly securing the Darwin and it's airport.
Before month ended, newly established headquarters of the United States Navy and Army in the South Pacific faced the imperial troops attacking from the sea just as same, repeatedly, until they will surrender.
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@Vlad_Dracul1989
Where are the USN's carrier groups?! It's terrifying having to fight the Pacific War knowing that those monsters are out and about. Less so with naval bombers, but still harrowing to fight nonetheless.
Where are the USN's carrier groups?! It's terrifying having to fight the Pacific War knowing that those monsters are out and about. Less so with naval bombers, but still harrowing to fight nonetheless.
AST has an escort carrier 
The first TRP CVE models are seaplane tenders and the HMAS Albatross is one of this ships. Even China had a seaplane tender.
The first TRP CVE models are seaplane tenders and the HMAS Albatross is one of this ships. Even China had a seaplane tender.