Mirai Kessen - An Alternate Japanese Empire
Hello everyone and welcome! This is my third AAR here, I cannot promise I will keep this (And Das Kaiserreich!) updated on a consistent basis since RL can and will interfere at some point or another, even if I can't get a regular update out for them, I do plan on carrying these ones out to their conclusion, triumph or tragedy (And after that, likely a Reboot/Redux of the Dragon, either on a Harder difficulty or in a Mod)
Version: TFH 4.02
Difficulty: Hard
Start Date: July 1st 1940 ('36 CG)
Style: A mix of narrative, alternate-history and gameplay, with an admitted bias on covering the navy in particular, but I'll be sure to give the army it's share of the glory, with some cynical/sardonic wit and dark humor sprinkled from time to time for my own amusement
Now I know there has been a flood of Japanese AAR's as of late, but I think this one is unique, in that I have done the following for this Custom Game:
Techs Removed/Downgraded:
-BB Engine/Hull 1 point (And by extension, SH BB's, the old Kantai Kessen doctrine is scrapped earlier on in this Alternate Timeline)
-Resource techs 1 point (This, compounded with Hard difficulty and a massively-expanded IC base, will make it easier to run out of resources!)
-Landing Craft (1940 tech, won't be needing them before then)
-And due to both CG limitations and forgetfulness on my part, I had to start over for researching CAS and their doctrines (The latter of which are no-brainer for Japan, really)
What was Researched in their place:
- Up-to-date Light Armor & Armor (Except 36' engines for the latter)
- BC techs 1 point (Super Type A Cruisers will be built in place of the Yamato's)
- CA Armor 1 point (And will keep researching this one in advance, at least until 1944 level, I may not even build any, but I always like having a fast capital ship to complement my carriers)
- CL techs 1 point.
- Transport Planes, to be used to transport supplies and in Paradrop's over enemy territory (No heavy bombers unfortunately, they would have too little effect for their cost, especially against the nearly-infinite industrial power of the US)
What was scrapped in Deployment Mode:
- ALL level 1 ships, BB to SS, scrapped (The Kantai no Mirai will only be slowed down by such relics)
- 5 levels of airbase and 3 of naval base at Osaka, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Akita, Nagoya and Susaki (Let's be plain for a second, if I find myself in a position to where I needed all those level 10 bases on the Home Islands, Then I have already lost... even so, I'll keep fighting if I have any fight left in me!)
What was built in their place:
- 24 IC, with 12 more completed before Marco Polo (Obviously, Japan will STILL never be able to compete with America factory-for-factory, but it still greatly improves Japan's strategic position and allows me to construct far more heavy war materiel than OTL Japan ever could have, even if it seized all of China and resource convoys to the south weren't so heavily interdicted by American Subs)
- 6 Armor, each one deployed to the binary cavalry divisions (For purposes of IC/Fuel, I will skip motorised and upgrade my cavalry to mechanized whenever I get to researching that..)
- 1 Tac, so as to make 3 groups of 2 Tacs each (Slight case of OCD here..)
- Leftover points were spent on convoys.
Before I get any further, here are some House Rules (If you feel I'm missing anything/want to add something, feel free, haven't gone beyond the initial start date yet, and I'll be at peace for at least several more months anyhow:
House Rules:
1. No Gamey invasions, like dropping Marines/Paratroopers on Singapore the second I DoW the Allies.
2. Will make an honest effort not to abuse the naval combat mechanics (Or Ping-Ponging if you will) but not to the point where I'll just let their carriers slip away if they're already half dead and have no planes left to fight with.
3. US and UK will be attacked at the same time (And with FDR primed to win in November, I can't divide-and-conquer them like I did in my China AAR)
4. I reserve the right to tag-switch and make the US produce replacement vessels in the very likely event that the production AI makes me facepalm, I will let you know if I do this, otherwise I will refrain from unneccessary tagging.
5. Reserved
Episode Zero: Overview (Part 1) (Pre-War - 7.1.40)
The glorious Empire of Japan, it can only get more glorious from here, or can it?
Japan, also known as The Empire of the Rising Sun, Nippon and several other names & monikers, had successfully industrialized in the wake of the Meiji Reformation, her defeat of Russia in the Battle of Tsushima secured her status as a world power, with her participation in the First World War on the side of the victorious Allies increasing her international prestige to new heights. Even so, the humiliations of the Western powers would not seize, and with great reluctance, Japan signed the Washington Naval Treaty in 1922, reducing it's fleet to a maximum of 60% the size of the Anglo-Saxon powers, this is the point of divergence.
However, it was later realized that the treaty would be to Japan's advantage since the industrial bases of her potential enemies would greatly outproduce them should a naval arms race or war break out, with that in mind the military spent most of the remaining decade developing new theories, tactics & weapons, during this period two major developments took place: One was the development of tanks, heavily armed and armored, yet mobile war machines which were used to great effect at the end of the Great War; the other was the realization that the Kantai Kessen doctrine would likely fail against the the sheer materiel power of America, and so it was decided to not only cease development of a new class of super-dreadnought which would dwarf everything that came before her, but to make the aircraft carrier the main capital ship of the future. Thus it was decided to gradually start scrapping the Fuso and Ise-classes, however the Nagato and Mutsu were spared the fate of their predecessors since they were newer and more capable (Or just to keep the West from getting too bold) the steel of the old ships being used to fuel the construction of new, modern factories.
Rare color photograph of aircraft carrier Soryu on patrol in the East China Sea
At the end of the decade, Wall Street crashed; Japan managed to initially weather the depression, but after about year her economy was rapidly spiraling downward, the liberation of Manchukuo from the poverty and oppression of the Kuomintang and their Communist 'rivals' did little to relieve the situation, even before that, Japan signed the London Naval Treaty, and secretly started to scrap the older ships in the fleet, from the old armored cruisers Izumo and Asama, light cruisers of the Tenryu-class and the old Minekaze-class destroyers, more steel being produced not only for factories but for the production of several hundred Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tanks; at the time among the most advanced in the world.
Japanese armies, spearheaded by Chi-Ha's, advance towards Nanking
Rising tensions between Japan and China led to the outbreak of full-scale war in late July 1937, what would later be known as the Second-Sino Japanese War was the testing ground for the new idea's, new tool's and a new generation of fighting men; in spite of China eventually yielding the Northern Coast and Guandong, along with the capitulation of the Guangxi warlord's after only 4 month's of fighting, the Japanese had learned a great, many lessons during the relatively brief conflict, lessons which would later be vindicated on September 1st, 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, with Britain and France declaring war within the hour, even though Poland was defeated and partitioned by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union under the secret terms and clauses of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
With France standing on the verge of defeat, the famous Eiffel Tower being reduced to a smoldering and twisted shadow of itself, the time to strike the West draws near; especially as the Mirai no Kantai, by now completely disregarding International Naval Treaties and taking advantage of a increased industrial base, stands to become the most powerful navy in the world by the end of 1941; a versatile and dynamic force spearheaded by carriers and supported by cruisers, destroyers and submarines.
Not shown: Yura
The Imperial Army has largely been neglected during the recent military buildup; with a limited number of Anti-tank guns which would be unable to stand up to the newest tanks fielded by the other powers, the Chi-Ha's are also starting to show their age. A significant advancement was made, however, with the development of airborne infantry, 4 divisions ready with 2 additional being trained, 2 more armored divisions were ordered to be trained and equipped, even this would amount to little more than an exploitation force if armor, cavalry and armored car technologies weren't brought up to par. Long-range escort fighters were also being developed in order to better cover our coastal areas from enemy air forces; land or carrier-based. There are those in the army who still believe in the Hokushin-ron strategy of attacking Siberia and Outer Mongolia when the Communazi Pact evaporates and is replaced by a storm of violence and hatred on a magnitude few dare to imagine even possible.
Army and Air state of readiness, July 1st 1940
Next: Table of Contents
Hello everyone and welcome! This is my third AAR here, I cannot promise I will keep this (And Das Kaiserreich!) updated on a consistent basis since RL can and will interfere at some point or another, even if I can't get a regular update out for them, I do plan on carrying these ones out to their conclusion, triumph or tragedy (And after that, likely a Reboot/Redux of the Dragon, either on a Harder difficulty or in a Mod)
Version: TFH 4.02
Difficulty: Hard
Start Date: July 1st 1940 ('36 CG)
Style: A mix of narrative, alternate-history and gameplay, with an admitted bias on covering the navy in particular, but I'll be sure to give the army it's share of the glory, with some cynical/sardonic wit and dark humor sprinkled from time to time for my own amusement
Now I know there has been a flood of Japanese AAR's as of late, but I think this one is unique, in that I have done the following for this Custom Game:
Techs Removed/Downgraded:
-BB Engine/Hull 1 point (And by extension, SH BB's, the old Kantai Kessen doctrine is scrapped earlier on in this Alternate Timeline)
-Resource techs 1 point (This, compounded with Hard difficulty and a massively-expanded IC base, will make it easier to run out of resources!)
-Landing Craft (1940 tech, won't be needing them before then)
-And due to both CG limitations and forgetfulness on my part, I had to start over for researching CAS and their doctrines (The latter of which are no-brainer for Japan, really)
What was Researched in their place:
- Up-to-date Light Armor & Armor (Except 36' engines for the latter)
- BC techs 1 point (Super Type A Cruisers will be built in place of the Yamato's)
- CA Armor 1 point (And will keep researching this one in advance, at least until 1944 level, I may not even build any, but I always like having a fast capital ship to complement my carriers)
- CL techs 1 point.
- Transport Planes, to be used to transport supplies and in Paradrop's over enemy territory (No heavy bombers unfortunately, they would have too little effect for their cost, especially against the nearly-infinite industrial power of the US)
What was scrapped in Deployment Mode:
- ALL level 1 ships, BB to SS, scrapped (The Kantai no Mirai will only be slowed down by such relics)
- 5 levels of airbase and 3 of naval base at Osaka, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Akita, Nagoya and Susaki (Let's be plain for a second, if I find myself in a position to where I needed all those level 10 bases on the Home Islands, Then I have already lost... even so, I'll keep fighting if I have any fight left in me!)
What was built in their place:
- 24 IC, with 12 more completed before Marco Polo (Obviously, Japan will STILL never be able to compete with America factory-for-factory, but it still greatly improves Japan's strategic position and allows me to construct far more heavy war materiel than OTL Japan ever could have, even if it seized all of China and resource convoys to the south weren't so heavily interdicted by American Subs)
- 6 Armor, each one deployed to the binary cavalry divisions (For purposes of IC/Fuel, I will skip motorised and upgrade my cavalry to mechanized whenever I get to researching that..)
- 1 Tac, so as to make 3 groups of 2 Tacs each (Slight case of OCD here..)
- Leftover points were spent on convoys.
Before I get any further, here are some House Rules (If you feel I'm missing anything/want to add something, feel free, haven't gone beyond the initial start date yet, and I'll be at peace for at least several more months anyhow:
House Rules:
1. No Gamey invasions, like dropping Marines/Paratroopers on Singapore the second I DoW the Allies.
2. Will make an honest effort not to abuse the naval combat mechanics (Or Ping-Ponging if you will) but not to the point where I'll just let their carriers slip away if they're already half dead and have no planes left to fight with.
3. US and UK will be attacked at the same time (And with FDR primed to win in November, I can't divide-and-conquer them like I did in my China AAR)
4. I reserve the right to tag-switch and make the US produce replacement vessels in the very likely event that the production AI makes me facepalm, I will let you know if I do this, otherwise I will refrain from unneccessary tagging.
5. Reserved
Episode Zero: Overview (Part 1) (Pre-War - 7.1.40)
The glorious Empire of Japan, it can only get more glorious from here, or can it?
Japan, also known as The Empire of the Rising Sun, Nippon and several other names & monikers, had successfully industrialized in the wake of the Meiji Reformation, her defeat of Russia in the Battle of Tsushima secured her status as a world power, with her participation in the First World War on the side of the victorious Allies increasing her international prestige to new heights. Even so, the humiliations of the Western powers would not seize, and with great reluctance, Japan signed the Washington Naval Treaty in 1922, reducing it's fleet to a maximum of 60% the size of the Anglo-Saxon powers, this is the point of divergence.
However, it was later realized that the treaty would be to Japan's advantage since the industrial bases of her potential enemies would greatly outproduce them should a naval arms race or war break out, with that in mind the military spent most of the remaining decade developing new theories, tactics & weapons, during this period two major developments took place: One was the development of tanks, heavily armed and armored, yet mobile war machines which were used to great effect at the end of the Great War; the other was the realization that the Kantai Kessen doctrine would likely fail against the the sheer materiel power of America, and so it was decided to not only cease development of a new class of super-dreadnought which would dwarf everything that came before her, but to make the aircraft carrier the main capital ship of the future. Thus it was decided to gradually start scrapping the Fuso and Ise-classes, however the Nagato and Mutsu were spared the fate of their predecessors since they were newer and more capable (Or just to keep the West from getting too bold) the steel of the old ships being used to fuel the construction of new, modern factories.
Rare color photograph of aircraft carrier Soryu on patrol in the East China Sea
At the end of the decade, Wall Street crashed; Japan managed to initially weather the depression, but after about year her economy was rapidly spiraling downward, the liberation of Manchukuo from the poverty and oppression of the Kuomintang and their Communist 'rivals' did little to relieve the situation, even before that, Japan signed the London Naval Treaty, and secretly started to scrap the older ships in the fleet, from the old armored cruisers Izumo and Asama, light cruisers of the Tenryu-class and the old Minekaze-class destroyers, more steel being produced not only for factories but for the production of several hundred Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tanks; at the time among the most advanced in the world.
Japanese armies, spearheaded by Chi-Ha's, advance towards Nanking
Rising tensions between Japan and China led to the outbreak of full-scale war in late July 1937, what would later be known as the Second-Sino Japanese War was the testing ground for the new idea's, new tool's and a new generation of fighting men; in spite of China eventually yielding the Northern Coast and Guandong, along with the capitulation of the Guangxi warlord's after only 4 month's of fighting, the Japanese had learned a great, many lessons during the relatively brief conflict, lessons which would later be vindicated on September 1st, 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, with Britain and France declaring war within the hour, even though Poland was defeated and partitioned by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union under the secret terms and clauses of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
With France standing on the verge of defeat, the famous Eiffel Tower being reduced to a smoldering and twisted shadow of itself, the time to strike the West draws near; especially as the Mirai no Kantai, by now completely disregarding International Naval Treaties and taking advantage of a increased industrial base, stands to become the most powerful navy in the world by the end of 1941; a versatile and dynamic force spearheaded by carriers and supported by cruisers, destroyers and submarines.
Not shown: Yura
The Imperial Army has largely been neglected during the recent military buildup; with a limited number of Anti-tank guns which would be unable to stand up to the newest tanks fielded by the other powers, the Chi-Ha's are also starting to show their age. A significant advancement was made, however, with the development of airborne infantry, 4 divisions ready with 2 additional being trained, 2 more armored divisions were ordered to be trained and equipped, even this would amount to little more than an exploitation force if armor, cavalry and armored car technologies weren't brought up to par. Long-range escort fighters were also being developed in order to better cover our coastal areas from enemy air forces; land or carrier-based. There are those in the army who still believe in the Hokushin-ron strategy of attacking Siberia and Outer Mongolia when the Communazi Pact evaporates and is replaced by a storm of violence and hatred on a magnitude few dare to imagine even possible.
Army and Air state of readiness, July 1st 1940
Next: Table of Contents
Last edited:
