Chapter Four : A New Destroyer Flotilla - 15.2.1936 To 20.2.1936
Utsunimiya's War
(HoI3 TFH - Interactive Japan AAR)
Chapter Four : A New Destroyer Flotilla - 15.2.1936 To 20.2.1936
(HoI3 TFH - Interactive Japan AAR)
Chapter Four : A New Destroyer Flotilla - 15.2.1936 To 20.2.1936
With the announcement of the Mixed Industry Laws many within the military, including General Shō-ichi Utsunimiya, became very happy. Mostly because of just how useful the new Laws would be. The policies now would allow more factories to be retooled to produce rifles, munitions, and equipment. This almost meant basic military supplies would also be increased and, therefore, more of the fuel and supplies the Divisions needed would get to them.
The problems of logistics and supplies was not a modern problem. It went back as far as Alexander the Greet whose supply trains made up of mules had to carry enough food for the horse cavalry and men they were supplying AND enough for themselves. In the modern Army, with trucks and mules working together, the transporters had to not just supply the troops but also themselves. Trucks would burn some of the fuel they were carrying. Just as mules would eat some of the grain they were transporting. And of course the drivers and mule handlers had to be fed.
This meant the farther an Army went into hostile territory, the longer the supply line became, the more supplies had to be transported just to fed the very people (and animals) transporting the supplies. This is why the Army capturing the ports as they moved south would be so important. It was required to make sure they received the fuel, munitions, and food they needed to do the job.
Around the same time the Laws were going into effect the last of the destroyers for 24 Kuchikukantai were coming out of the dry docks in Tokyo.
Made up of ten Fubuki-Class Destroyers they were assigned to the 1st Task Force. They joined the screening force which, up to that point, had been nothing but Light Cruisers. The Fubuki-Class would be, by historians, described as the first modern destroyers. They would set the standard NOT just for all future Japanese destroyers but all future destroyers of the world’s Navies. (1)
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General Shō-ichi Utsunimiya’s own office was almost just as big as the Field Marshal’s and just as cluttered with Naval articles. Paintings of storms at sea, models of lighthouses, and bookshelves full of books on maritime history filled the room. But it didn’t bother him that much. Yes, he was an Army officer. But he just never felt that anti-Navy hostilely that many within the Army seemed to feel.
His desk had been just as big as the Field Marshal’s and, usually, there were only two chairs in front of it with a small table between. But today he had added two more chairs. For, sitting before him today were the four men under his command. Each one of them in their dress uniforms, hats in their laps, looking serious and calm.
Going from his left to his right General Shō-ichi Utsunimiya examined each man carefully.
The commander to his far left was Major General Tada of the 2. Hohei Shidan. He was known, like Utsunimiya, for being somewhat skilled at logistics. He had three Infantry Regiments in his Division. (2)
The next commander was of the 5. Hohei Shidan. The Major General Ushijima was also known for his knowledge of logistics. He was also part of the “Old Guard” which was likely why he had been favored with four Infantry Regiments under his command.
The next commander was Major General Nishihara. The man had more skill than the other commanders and was in charge of the Konoe Shidan. He was known as a trickster and was said to be very learned when it came to offensive tactics. His Division was made up of three Imperial Guard Regiments and a Guard Artillery Regiment. Utsunimiya reminded himself to use the Imperial Guards when he needed soldiers who were hard hitting and tough. (3)
The last commander was Major General Toyoshima. He, like Major General Nishihara, had slightly more skill than the other two commanders but no specialization. The 4. Hohei Shidan only had three Infantry Regiments in it. Yet his skill might allow them to fight a tad harder, a tad longer, then other units.
Shō-ichi Utsunimiya had already gone through the formal greetings and the introductions between the four men. He now cleared throat and pulled out a small map of the objective where Operation “Underbelly”, the new name for Naval Plan Two, would be carried out.
On seeing a map of Shanghai all Major Generals sat straight up in their chairs and looked very interested.
“We, as you know, have been formed into the Special Corps,” stated Utsunimiya with the calmest voice he could muster. “And our first mission will be during the second war with China. We are to land in Shanghai and move to cut off the four Provinces here. Including the Province of Hangzhou which also has a port.”
The four men nodded their heads but said nothing. They understood the importance of such a port and didn’t really need the following information. But they received it anyway.
“The airbases would allow our Tactical Bombers,” Utsunimiya continued, “to bomb the Capital of the Republic. We assume that the Nationalist aircraft will be up north. The operation, of course, will be timed to start TWO weeks after the war starts. We hope that the Chinese Navy will be gone or crippled by then. Any questions?”
The first two commanders shook their heads but Major General Toyoshima nodded and, once Utsunimiya nodded back, asked, “Will there be any reserves in case it is decided four divisions are not enough?”
“None have been selected yet,” answered Utsunimiya. “It is felt that the Special Corps is enough to handle anything the Chinese leave behind. Shanghai IS an important port. But we hope within two weeks that the Chinese would have been forced to send most of their units to the north to either replace lost divisions or reinforce weakened ones.”
Major General Nishihara nodded and added with confidence, “Once we have a foothold we should be able to sweep them out of the provinces easily.”
Utsunimiya nodded in agreement. He wasn’t surprised Nishihara felt that way. It was likely the Major General would feel confident invading Christian Hell if asked to do so. They don’t pick timid commanders to take charge of Imperial Guard units.
“We should review equipment requirements, training, and get into the finer details so we are ready,” remarked Utsunimiya. “It might seem like a way off. But we all know there isn’t ever enough time for an operation like this.”
The four other officers nodded. And soon they were discussing rations, how much ammo a soldier should carry, and even going over the streets of Shanghai on the map. There was a LOT to do and not much time to do it in.
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As the plan for “Underbelly” was slowly worked over by General Shō-ichi Utsunimiya and his officers the military were training the new recruits to climb ropes and ride horses. It was predicted that the first two Cavalry Divisions and the first two Mountain Divisions would be available sometimes in May of that year.
There was also some debate about what to do with the southern half of the Sakhalin Island and the settlement of Toyohara. That part of the island had been given to the Japanese in the Treaty of Portsmouth and, at the moment, it was completely open to invasion if the Russians decided to do so. The center of the debate was whose job was it to take responsibility for that territory.
As it had been part of Russia‘s territory, and therefore not part of the home islands, the Imperial General Headquarters said it was the Kwantung Army‘s problem.
The Kwantung Army, of course, said that Toyohara was on an island and, therefore, an issue for the Imperial Japanese Navy and the IGH to deal with.
And so the infighting between the Army and Navy continued.
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1. Fubuki - Blizzard or Snowstorm. “Fuku” mean blow and “Yuki” mean snows.
2. Hohei Shidan - Infantry Division
3. Konoe Shidan - Imperial Guard Division
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