OOC : No, they would be under direct control of the IGH. Just like the "Navy's" Air Groups.
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I assumed that part (theaters, obviously) but was wondering if there would be Air Forces -> Wings -> Group structure.
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Well, the Groups are made up of Wings and will be under direct control of the HQ. No structure or any other HQs. Just like the Task Groups and Navies. IGH -> Air Group/Task Group. Only the Ground Units under IGH have a chain-of-command.
Idiot. Naturally he is an IJA Field Marshall, as I'm sure all could guess given his blatant stupidity. He is also an artillery officer by training and experience and knows nothing at all about planes. Some would say this explains why the IJA is so dishonourably inept in this field, but this is a falsehood - the IJA are inept in every endeavour, bar political wrangling, regardless of the experience of the idiot officer in question.
Correct. The third option is - give all the aircraft to the Navy. The IJN has demonstrated they are more than capable of using airpower to it's full, devastating, effect and the IJA has demonstrated it is useless and cannot be trusted with anything, least of all aircraft. So what need is there for this new service?
I say "new service", this is clearly just an IJA plot. As even the most inattentive member of the Diet and Household must have noticed the Army cannot control it's warplanes with even the pretence of competency, this is a transparent attempt to avoid them all being given to the IJN. If this were truly a new independent service it would be led by someone who actually knew what an aircraft was or could spell the word "air" without setting fire to their office through comprehensive incompetence. The choice of Shunroku reveals the dark and traitorous hand of the IJA.
Mark my words, if we do not vote Option 3 Shunroku and his traitors will be after the CAGS next (which they will doubtless base in the Kuril Islands, forget to resupply, and then accidentally scrap in a bizarre tea ceremony based paperwork accident).
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I for one, welcome the IJAF to break the deadlock of war between IJA and IJN
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The same Navy that demands that new
The only way the air power of Empire will be used effectively is as a separate service since I am forced to agree with you about the Army's ability to handle an air arm.
As an interesting side note is that from appearances the American Navy is just as blind to the conseqences of that demonstration as ours.
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If by "demonstration" you refer to the sinking of the SMS Ostfriesland, I must kindly request that you cease blatantly misrepresenting the basic facts of history in such a manner. In particular let the record show that in spite of using oversized bombs (in violation of U.S Naval Air rules of engagement, for what our spies assure us is good reason) against an unmanned target vessel, the ship was not sunk by significant bombing damage even after five unhindered bombing runs were completed, but rather by slow flooding due to, yes, bomb damage to the underwater hull but such flooding could easily have been contained by a trained damage control crew on board any real ship. To say nothing of the lack of any tests under realistic military conditions against proper anti-air fire or fighter defenses. If anything, these results would seem to imply that sub-waterline damage is a more efficient route to sinking ships than topside bombing, which of course implies submarines and destroyers with their torpedoes would be our weapons of choice, not aircraft (and of course our glorious IJN maintains ample numbers of these to escort our powerful capital ships into battle).
The latter of these of course is why our glorious IJN requires carriers, which can escort our heavy firepower battleships to ensure fighter cover in the event of a possible enemy naval bombing attempt. However, the reality is that even if naval bombing is a feasible tactic clearly the technology and doctrine are nowhere near being a viable threat to a proper large fleet anywhere in the world, if indeed they ever can be. But of course, many in the Navy differ in opinion and we naturally have many top men working to determine and maximize the viability of naval air power, as this is simply proper due diligence. This diligence and expertise of course is why the Navy must not only retain control of existing air assets but take control of Army air assets and create a unified Imperial Japanese Naval Air Service to command and control all Imperial air assets.
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Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Twenty-First Week - 18.11.1937 To 24.11.1937
Utsunimiya's War
(HoI3 TFH - Interactive Japan AAR)
Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Twenty-First Week - 18.11.1937 To 24.11.1937
The Land War
(HoI3 TFH - Interactive Japan AAR)
Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Twenty-First Week - 18.11.1937 To 24.11.1937
The Land War
The Imperial Japanese Army started off the week still engaged in battles for three provinces. The Battle for Suide, the Battle for Yan'an, and the Battle of Rizhao.
The Battle of Zhucheng was not one of them as it ended during the early morning hours of the 18th of November. The Army won the battle while it lost 60 soldiers and the Nationalists lost 142 soldiers.
At this time it was noticed that the Garrison unit stationed at Beiping had failed to set up its radio center. This was corrected and, finally, the unit was linked to the Kwangtung Army Theater HQ.
Around this time the military and government officials were warned that there was 20 days left of FUEL in the nation's stockpiles. Something would have to be done. (See Misc. Events)
Shortly before lunch on the 18th the Army invaded the Province of Juye with a infantry division and a mountain division. The defending Nationalist infantry division was outnumbered almost four-to-one. Even being dug in behind a river would like not save it.
At the Battle of Yan'an, in the morning of the 19th, the 6. Mountain Division became reserves. It was hoped that they would end up joining the battle and bringing Japan victory. (1)
It was noticed a few hours before midnight on the 19th that it looked like the Nationalists might try to retake the Province of Zhengzhou. Therefore the province was placed on 'China Operations' objective list again. The Army needed to protect the hole in its line.
Sadly, the Autumn storms were spreading north, along the coast of China. The rains was now turning the dirt roads and pathways used by the Japanese soldiers into mud. The Army units on the eastern end of the line would now have to face the same problems with movement as the enemy units. Add this to the lack of supplies many units were suffering and General Shō-ichi Utsunimiya was starting to have doubts that the Army would be winning the conflict before the end of the year.
The Battle of Rizhao had a turn for the worst. Two enemy units, fleeing from the Province of Zhucheng which had been occupied by the 28. Infantry Division, joined in as reserves. If they joined the battle itself there was a danger they could turn the tide of the engagement and bring the Chinese victory.
On the 22nd Utsunimiya received requests from both the Kwantung HQ and his own superior in the Imperial General HQ. Basically the Army in Asia wanted twenty Light Tank Brigades and three Tactical Bomber Wings. And his boss wanted one Mountain Brigade, one Wing of Interceptors, and twenty Tank Brigades.
"Where would we get all the fuel for all those tanks?" the General grumbled to himself before filing the requests away in his record system. Both HQs always assumed the enemy outnumbered them and they were always begging for more men and equipment.
On that same morning the Army launched an attack on the Province of Weifang. Over seventeen thousand infantry were attacking just under six thousand Nationalist soldiers.
As this battle started the Battle of Juye ended a Army victory. The Japanese lost 285 soldiers while the Nationalists lost 452 soldiers.
By nightfall the Battle of Weifang had come to an end. The victory for Japan cost it 25 soldiers while the Nationalists lost 83 soldiers.
On the 24th, early in the morning, Utsunimiya was woken by one of his staff. It seems the Battle of Rizhao had ended in defeat. 498 Japanese soldiers had been killed while the Nationalists had lost 414 men. It seems the two units who had fled into Rizhao HAD joined the battle and helped the original defenders beat back the Japanese attackers.
During the afternoon he received better news. The Battle of Suide was a victory. The Army lost 958 men while the Communists lost 1,464 soldiers. The Province was occupied a few hours later.
Then, for some reason, the Army launched an attack on the Province of Jingbian. Over eleven thousand cavalry against over thirty-eight thousand militia, mountaineers, infantry, and lots of HQ staff. Three units worth of HQ staff.
By the end of the seven days the Imperial Japanese Army claimed four victories and tried to downplay the one defeat as just bad luck. They had lost, due to Land Combat that week, 1,826 men. None had been lost to enemy Ground Attacks. The Nationalists had lost, due to Land Combat, 1,091 men and the Red Chinese had lost 1,464 men.
The Air War
The Strategic Bombing and the Logistical Bombing continued. The Air Bomber Groups were unstoppable. There were eighteen Logistical Bombing runs and eighteen Strategic Bombing runs during the time period.
By the 24th of November Intelligent Agents within the enemy Capital reported that the Communists' fuel reserves were down to under 50 percent. It seems some of the bombs were not just hitting their targets but the Reds could no longer replace the loses. Maybe they had run out of crude oil or just no longer had the capabilities to produce the fuel?
On top of that information the bomber crews reported that the enemy formations below them were pure chaos. It seems that the Communists had NO organization at all. They had become mobs armed with rifles as clubs while living off any rodents they could find and tree bark stew. The Reds were starving in a Hell of black smoke, roaring fires, and a landscape of ash.
The Navy War
The Navy War, once again, was mostly another air war. Very little had changed since the last time period. The Carrier planes were bombing Nationalist positions while the Navy's Bomber Groups continued to hit the provinces of Hefei and Namjing.
The Province of Minhou was bombed twenty-eight times which killed 1,039 Nationalist militia.
The Province of Yong'an was bombed twenty-eight times which killed 782 Nationalist militia.
The Province of Shenxian was bombed twenty-eight times which killed 829 Nationalist infantry.
The Province of Zhangping was bombed twenty-two times which killed 463 Nationalist militia.
The Province of Hefei was Strategically Bombed eighteen times while Nanjing was Logistically Bombed twenty-four times.
On the afternoon of 18th the 3rd Navy finally arrived in the Port of Sasebo (after delivering the Garrisons to Shanghai).
On the 19th the Chinese Fighters pounced on the 5th CAG while it was on patrol. And was totally beaten back in what could only be called a "Victory" in any sense of the word.
By the 20th the 10th CAG, once again in Jinan, was, once again, lacking in fuel and supplies. But instead of being sent back to the home islands this time the Navy sent it to Shanghai where there was plenty of supplies and fuel for the one Wing.
Once it had settled in the Wing was ordered to gain superiority over the region west of the port. It would help the 5th CAG keep the Chinese Air Force out of the air.
By the end of this time period the Navy claimed one victory against the Nationalist Air Force and also had killed thousands of enemy soldiers. And had done even more damage to the Nationalist industry.
Misc. Events
With Japan hemorrhaging fuel the Foreign Minister and the Minister of Armaments started cancelling Trade Agreements left and right. Deals with Italy, the Soviet Union, and USA were halted to stop the outward flow of oil and fuel. One NEW deal was created to import crude oil from the USA.
By the 22nd Fuel Stockpiles, and the other stockpiles, had stated to grow again. But it was the Treasury that was in danger of running out of cash now. So even more Trade Agreements were cancelled. Such as a metal export deal with Chile. By the end of the week everything had become stable though the Treasury was still in the "Red".
The Head of Intelligence reported that Guangxi Clique had captured three Japanese agents, Nationalist China had captured two Japanese agents, Brazil had captured one Japanese agent, Canada had captured one Japanese agent, and the US had captured two Japanese agents.
It was also reported that a spy from the US had been neutralized, two spies from Nationalist China had been neutralized, two spies from Xibei San Ma had been neutralized, a spy from Tannu Tuva had been neutralized, and a spy from Communist China had been neutralized,
It was also decided that there was no need to put agents in Red China to carry out Convert Operations. They were told to withdraw. At the same time it was decided more agents in the US for Convert Operation was not a bad idea. If they could carry out a Coup before 1940 to put a more Pro-Japanese government in power it might help greatly.
General Shō-ichi Utsunimiya glanced at the maps of China and examined the battle lines. Red China looked like it could be defeated within a week. If the Intelligence from the Army observers and the Army bomber crews were correct. And it looked like the Nationalists' had a few weeks left. If the storms didn't end up helping them by slowing down the Imperial Japanese Army's advance.
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Author's Notes:
1. They didn't. Their Reinforcement Chance was 1.30 percent.
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At this rate the economics seem to be causing more headaches than the Chinese troops.
Well, that and the IJ[A/N - delete as appropriate]
Well, that and the IJ[A/N - delete as appropriate]
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I think we should try and get the Treasury on our side by pointing out how much the nation is spending on "intelligence operations" that are only getting people killed while achieving absolutely nothing. I doubt they care about the agents, but the waste of money should bother them if we are so badly "in the red" just trying to keep industry supplied.
Or we insist that the next agents we send to Brazil to are senior IJA officers. Once they meet the fate of all our agents (an utterly pointless death) we can get the operation cancelled, the resources diverted to more useful projects and abolishment of the IJA will be one step closer. What's not to like?
Or we insist that the next agents we send to Brazil to are senior IJA officers. Once they meet the fate of all our agents (an utterly pointless death) we can get the operation cancelled, the resources diverted to more useful projects and abolishment of the IJA will be one step closer. What's not to like?
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More like the Americans will turn enough of our agents to stage a pro-American coup here.
Truer words were never spoken. Although perhaps spend a bit on counterintelligence.
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I've suspected for a while that the trade agreements were being decided by ex-IJA personnel, but this really confirms it. Which buffoon ever thought it was a good idea to export crude and Fuel? Especially as we were purchasing none.
Getting the Treasury on our side is imperative in many ways, in particular for the funding of a much-needed Battleship programme.
To the question of the creation of a third Service, an 'Air Force' as you will. I recoiled in horror at the suggestion, but after a few days of reflection I have come up with a possible third option which could benefit the IJN in the long term. I would be willing to consider the creation of an independent Air Force under the following conditions:
1. CAG's will always be part of the IJN, this should be enshrined in the constitution in such a way that even the suggestion of moving the CAGs to the remit of the new 'Air Force' would be a personal dishonour to the Emperor and an offense so great that it would lead to immediate sacking and exile from public life. Possibly with a ten year jail sentence between the sacking and the exile.
2. To avoid the budgetary squabbles that have plagued the IJA and the IJN, the new Air Force budget should be capped by law at 50% of the IJN's budget and 100% of the IJA's budget. The difference in percentages is to be explained by the fact that the navy will have to continue running it's own Air Service for it's CAG's, while the Army's Air support will be relegated to the Air Force entirely. The suggestion of exceeding this cap would be considered just as dishonourable as disregarding the previous law.
3. Officers of the rank of Colonel and above: Half of them must be issued from the parts of the IJNAAF which get absorbed, the other half from the IJAAF. This until they are gradually replaced by Officers who never served in either branch. During this transition period, the legacy officers must continue to be 50/50 ex-IJAAF/ex-IJNAF.
4. The new IJAF must participate in at least 1 IJN training exercise per year so it's forces can learn from, and to operate alongside, IJN CAG's. If they participate in only 1 exercise, it must be the largest one of that year. Each year, at least 1/4 of the total number of IJAF planes must participate in IJN exercises, and every IJAF member and unit must participate at least once in every 5 years. This is to avoid the IJAF sending a token force to fulfil this obligation.
5. The new IJAF will be responsible to run and maintain Air Bases near all naval bases which are large enough to host, supply, and perform repairs on a Battleship, Battlecruiser, or Carrier currently in service. If no such air base exist, one must be built. Where only an Air Base run by the IJNAF exists within interceptor range of such a naval base, the IJAF will have to pay rent and utilities to the IJN if it doesn't want to build it's own base to fulfil this requirement. As the bulk of IJNAF operations already consist of CAGs, the IJNAF will naturally retain all of it's air bases. A good argument can be made that these are required to service the Navy's expanding air fleet and train it's Carrier pilots in basic flight skills before they can start practising on a real Carrier. Unless it decides to sell one off to the new IJAF.
6. This is maybe the most far-fetched of my requirements, but if I don't add it, some people might get some very dangerous ideas. The new IJAF is not allowed to field warships of any kind. All of it's aircraft must be based on land (except for potential emergency landings on IJN Carriers), and if it were to build it's own fleet of supply vessels, they will have to request, and pay for, an IJN Fleet to escort their transports in waters the IJN considers at risk from convoy raiders. Otherwise, they may rely on the IJN's supply fleet for their shipping needs, and pay market rates.
As stated in the first point, even suggesting modifying any of these provisions should be an offense to the Emperor's honour and result in sacking and exile from public life, if not jail time.
My proposal stem from a desire to improve the quality of Japan's military over all. Of course, we may want for the entire military to be run by the IJN, but if we can take the planes away from the Army and put them into a new service with a heavy ex-IJNAF presence, we could expect this new service to achieve much better results with the same planes, to the benefit of Japan as a whole. As long as this new service is constructed in such a way that it can never overshadow the IJN, which will still need to run both a Carrier-based Air Force, and a large fleet of Ships. To suggest that running a major fleet and a medium-sized Air Force would cost the same as just running a medium-sized, or even a large Air Force is laughable. As an island nation, Japan still needs a strong navy to protect it's shipping lanes, and to project influence abroad in a way a bunch of planes with no Carriers will never be able to. At the same time, I fear the IJN is starting to invest so much into aviation, far beyond the realm of naval strikes and carrier-based Air support, that it's core mission is fading into the background. We're not building presence ships, we're not building large surface combattants. Sure, we're getting Marines, but there aren't enough ships to provide them fire support nor to escort their landing craft, not while the rest of the navy performs it's other missions: Trade protection, air support beyond the range of land-based aeroplanes, Shore bombardment, naval diplomacy, and the destruction of enemy fleets. Maybe if this new Air Force can run Strategic bombing missions, Land-based Air superiority and Intercept missions, Ground Attack missions etc. The Navy can start really working on ships again. And not just Carriers, as useful as they are.
I honestly believe my proposal is fair, and I'm not prepared to negotiate any of it's major points. And yes, to get such a deal through, we need the support of the treasury.
Captain RobaS3,
Trying to imagine the IJN as an actual navy, not just a collection of lightly escorted, vulnerable & flammable, floating Air Bases.
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How about... INSTEAD OF bowing down to IJN... We simply construct our own supply vessels, and our own carriers, and let the IJN bafoons still stuck on era of Battleships, simply have their Battleships and grand battleplan, and let the GLORIOUS, EMPEROR worshiping IJAF have a glorious Carrier arm, supported by the finest air support the Land of the Rising Sun can offer!
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I do wonder how you expect to get support for the creation of your Air Force? By this simple statement it is clear your intention is to eventually replace the IJN and the IJAAF by one massive service. This is understood by every single Navy proponent and member as a direct threat to the very existence of the IJN, and rightfully so. As for the IJA, they will surely be loth to replace a bitter rivalry with an existing service (the devil they know), by a bitter rivalry with a new service which is, according to your own words, going to be a lot bigger than the IJA, therefor reducing the IJA's influence.
But maybe I've misunderstood and the IJAF will be the new IJN, with all the same ships, and all the same people, but with the IJAAF added on, and a name change to fool the IJA into accepting such an arrangement.
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Tempting as that thought is, in reality it is not practical. To run the ships, we would have to convince Navy people to work with us. That would give the Navy a prime opportunity to infest us with moles and sleeper agents who would work towards making us a Naval puppet. It is currently in our best interests to negotiate an arrangement w.r.t. sea based air power that both Navy and Air Force can live with. Time and technical advances are on our side; we can afford to be patient.
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Chapter Sixty-Nine : The Twenty-Second Week - 25.11.1937 To 1.12.1937
Utsunimiya's War
(HoI3 TFH - Interactive Japan AAR)
Chapter Sixty-Nine : The Twenty-Second Week - 25.11.1937 To 1.12.1937
The Land War
(HoI3 TFH - Interactive Japan AAR)
Chapter Sixty-Nine : The Twenty-Second Week - 25.11.1937 To 1.12.1937
The Land War
This time period of seven days started with the Imperial Japanese Army already engaged in two battles. The Battle of Yan'an and the Battle of Jingbian.
Sadly the Army failed again to take the Communist Capital on the early morning of the 25th of November. The Army lost 626 soldiers while the Communist Chinese only lost 209 soldiers. It was likely the fortifications giving the Reds the edge. Plus their overwhelming numbers which seemed to counter their lack of supplies, food, or bullets.
The Army also lost the Battle of Jingbian in which they lost 98 soldiers. The Communist Chinese lost 32 soldiers. Once again they likely won due to their numbers.
Shortly after the announcements of the defeats the Army, to the east, launched an assault on the Province of Jining. The 7. Mountain Division was attacking a Nationalist Infantry Division. Eleven thousand Mountaineers against six thousand Nationalist soldiers. The defenders were dug in but that’s about the only advantage they had.
An hour later the Nationalists took the Province of Kaifeng. Which what was Utsunimiya feared would happen. The enemy lines were not the only ones with holes. If the Army didn't get its act together it would soon be losing ground to probing enemy units.
One thing the General noticed was a lack of movement on the Nationalist's part. Likely they were having issues also. Lack of supplies, bad weather, and poor leadership were all disadvantages the Chinese were suffering at the moment.
It was noticed, late in the evening of the 25th, that the ‘Mongol’ Army was deploying into new positions. The Mongols (the REAL ones), whose units were all Soviet soldiers, were massed on their eastern border.
By the 26th the 19. Hohei Shidan in northern Korea was complaining about a lack of supplies again. Funny enough the HQ of the Mongol Army was also complaining. Yet it seemed able to keep its units well supplied. No doubt its Command Staff were willing to go without for the sake of its men.
The Nationalists launched an attack in the morning of the 26th against the Province of Weifang. Over five thousand Chinese soldiers against over eight thousand Japanese soldiers. It didn't even last an hour, more like a few minutes, before it fell apart. The Japanese Army lost 2 men while the Nationalists lost 7 men.
Shortly before midnight, on the 27th, the Battle of Jining came to an end. The Army win at the cost of 164 soldiers while the Nationalists lost 462 soldiers.
Then there was a warning on the 28th. Again the fuel stockpile was being used up too quickly. There was only 25 days of fuel left. (See Misc. Events)
That same day the 16. Hohei Shidan was ordered to march from Jaozhou to Rizhao where the Chinese were already on the run. But it seems they were not running fast enough. The Battle of Rizhao started when the Japanese soldiers overcame the slow moving Nationalists. The Battle was over before it begun. The Army lost 2 men while the Nationalists lost 13 soldiers. Likely due to the Naval support fire from the 2nd Navy.
Then, shortly before lunch on the 28th, the Army launched an assault on the Province of Jingbian. One cavalry division against three Communists militia, one mountain division, and four HQ units. Twelve thousand Japanese Cavalry against fifty-six thousand dug in, but starving, Communists infantry. The only problem with horses was they didn't really work well on the sides of mountains.
Then during the early hours of the 29th, with the sun not even up yet, the Imperial Japanese Army attacked the enemy Capital again. A mountain division of over eleven thousand soldiers poured into Yan'an. Defending the Province was over fifty-three thousand militia, mountaineers, infantry, and HQ staff members. All of them starving for food and ammo. But the Communists did have land forts, trenches, and a river to help protect them.
By the 29th the fuel problem was semi-fixed. The military was still using fuel faster than it could be produced but not as quickly.
Shortly before midnight it was also reported that the enemy HQ units in Yan'an had fled completely.
By the 30th the fuel issue had been totally fixed. But now the Treasury was shrinking.
A hour later the Army decided it wanted the Province of Kaifeng back and attacked it with a infantry division and a cavalry division. Over 20 thousand soldiers against over seven thousand Nationalist soldiers.
The Army then reported the Nationalist bombing the Province of Neze. The Cavalry Division there was pretty much unprotected against such an attack. But before the “Russian” Bombers could leave the air space one of the Army’s Fighter Groups hit them.
Seems the Chinese pilots had come too close and now were in the range of the Army’s Ki-27s! Sadly, 31 Japanese cavalry and their horses were killed by the Nationalist bombing run. (See Air War)
Around the same time the Army launched an attack on the Province of Tai’an. Over seventeen thousand Japanese soldiers against over five thousand dug-in Nationalist soldiers.
As the sun rose above the office buildings and warehouses of Shanghai the news came in of defeat in Jingbian again. The Army lost 502 soldiers while the Communists only lost 143 men.
Also the Province of Rizhao was occupied, finally, by the Army’s advancing divisions. Now the 16., under command of the Navy, was told to take Junan. A coastal province the Navy’s guns would be able to aid in its capture.
A Nationalist division was waiting. So the Battle of Junan begun with over eight thousand Japanese soldiers against over eleven thousand Nationalist soldiers. Luckily the weather was clear if a tad cold. There was no rain or mud to slow the Imperial Japanese Army down at the moment.
As evening came on the 30th the Army announced a victory in Tai’an. The Japanese lost 36 men while the Nationalists lost 84 men.
On the morning of the 1st of December the Army announced a victory in Junan. The Japanese lost 19 men while the Nationalists lost 37 men. Likely, once again, to Naval gun fire.
And once again there was a warning that the fuel would run out within 19 days!
In the afternoon the Nationalists tried to strike back against the Japanese with an attack on the Province of Linyi. Over five thousand militia against nine thousand infantry. The Nationalists lost 3 men before retreating in defeat.
Another Battle started in Junan as a Nationalist militia unit decided to enter the Province right when the 16. was entering it. And the Japanese won the Battle at the cost of 2 men while the Nationalists only lost 1 man. But they broke - likely, once again, under the Naval gun fire.
By the end of the seven day period the Army claimed seven victories and downplayed the three defeats are just probing attacks. The Imperial Japanese Army lost 1,451 men to Land Combat and another 31 to a Nationalist Ground Attack. The Communist Chinese lost 231 men to Land Combat and the Nationalists lost 753 to Land Combat.
The newspapers were not kind. The Pro-Army media demanded to know where was the final victory against the Reds the Navy had “promised” and the Pro-Navy media asked why the Army could not take a capital of “starving scarecrows”?
The public wasn’t having it and was developing, once again, a anti-military stance. Recruiting posters for both sides were marked with the red hammer and sickle. And the parks were being filled with men on soap boxes talking about “peace” and “unions”. Mothers wearing formal mourning kimonos were now a common sight in the streets.
The Air War
The Army Bomber Groups continued to blast the enemy Capital of Yan'an. There were eighteen Logistical Bombing Runs and sixteen Strategic Bombing Runs.
The 1. Nihon Koukuujieitai was ordered to cancel Strategic Bombing Runs on the 30th and was told to switch to Ground Attacks. Three attacks were launched and 210 Communist soldiers were killed.
And one Army Fight Group was active during this period of time. It didn't "win" but it did chase the Chinese Bombers away and they stayed away for the rest of the time period (See Land War)
Utsunimiya noticed from the reports that no factories had been damaged. Why? Because they had all been destroyed. And the Communists had no time in-between to rebuild or repair them. In fact ALL the stockpiles were empty. The roads were gone. The railroads wreckage. The fuel on fire.
He noted this information. He knew it would become important later. There was a debate going on within the rank and file of the military. Fuel usage verses efficient results.
The Navy War
The Navy's Bomber Groups continued their attacks on the Provinces of Hefei and Nanjing. There were eighteen Strategic Bombings Runs on Hefei and twenty-four Logistical Bombing Runs on Nanjing.
By the end of the period the Nationalists still had supplies and fuel but had no stockpiles of resources, no roads, no factories, nor any railways in either provinces.
The Carrier based aircraft continued their attacks on the ground troops of the Nationalist Revolutionary Army.
The Province of Yong'an was bombed twenty-nine times and killed 925 Nationalist militia.
The Province of Shenxian was bombed twenty-eight times and killed 1,109 Nationalist infantry.
The Province of Minhou was bombed once and only killed 6 Nationalist militia. This alarmed the General somewhat. What was happening to the CAG assigned to attack this province? Was there issues with fuel or were the aircraft worn out?
On the 28th the 5th CAG was attacked by the Chinese Nationalist Fighters. This air combat, called the Battle of Dehua, was declared a Navy victory.
Later that day the Chinese Fighters pounced on the 5th CAG again and, once again, failed. It wasn't declared a official victory but it might as well as been. The Nationalist Air Force was failing.
On the 29th Heavy Cruisers, Light Cruisers, and Land Craft were all added to the Production Queue. This pleased the Navy slightly. These ships would be modern BUT would also come out late 1938 at BEST. By then they might not be "modern" anymore.
By the end of the seven days the results were mixed. The Pro-Navy media cheered on the victories in the air while downplaying lack of bombing runs on Minhou. The Pro-Army media wanted to know when the Navy's forces were going to "advance inward" and take the enemy's Capital?
General Shō-ichi Utsunimiya compiled as much information as he could. As with the Army Air Groups the Navy Air Groups and CAGs were also being watched by those in the upper ranks of the military. How fuel was being used and how effectively it was being used by the Navy was also being examined.
Misc. Events
There were many events outside of China that factored into the history of the period.
Due to the need to stop the outward flow of fuel, then the outward flow of cash, then the outward flow of fuel again there were a series of Trade Agreements created and cancelled. Deals were made with the US, the Netherlands, Romania, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Colombia,
Not all deals were accepted. One from Turkey was turned down.
The Minister of Armaments was very clear with the diplomats in charge of the trade negotiations. "Fuel, fuel, fuel. I don't care about the cash," he was reported to have said. "We're a government not a business. Our job isn't to make shareholders happy. Our job during war is to keep our Navy afloat and our planes flying!"
El Salvador came forward and requested permission to produce a Wing of Mitsubishi Ki-30s. Of course this request was accepted as it put cash into the Treasury. Which could be used to buy more fuel.
France, Saudi Arabia, and Nicaragua cancelled deals with Japan which, to be honest, didn't upset anybody. They were small deals that were, mostly, worthless.
By the end of the week the fuel stockpile was still being used up far too quickly.
The Head of Intelligence reported that Brazil had captured two of our agents, the US had captured one of our agents, Nationalist China had captured one of our agents, and Communist China had captured one of our agents.
Also the Domestic Agents captured and neutralized a agent from Siam, two agents from the USSR, and three agents from Mongolia.
Agents within Brazil reported that the nation was starting to drift towards Germany. Mostly due to their distrust of the US and the UK.
General Shō-ichi Utsunimiya had been asked to compile a report on where the fuel was going and how its use could be decreased or slowed down. This is where all the information he had collected would now be used. He wasn't looking forward to that meeting. A lot of the fuel was being used up by the Air Forces AND the CAGs.
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Utsunimaya better have an ironclad case before telling the navy to stop using their planes.
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