Utsunimiya's War - HoI3(TFH) Japan AAR

[TheButterflyComposer]

Yes, somehow Hungary’s claim for those regions had not only been given priority over other claims. It, in fact, had canceled the other claims.

Umm...

Then on the 24th Czechoslovakia started to mobilize even as the German and Hungarian troops were removing themselves from the Allied power.

So...even if the rest of europe falls, the germans are going to have to eventually fight the Czechs all over again. Lovely.

If the Spanish show up to help before the end of France, then the germans might even get stuck in western Europe for the whole war before collapsing, never even touching stalin. Not good news for Japan at all, if that happens.

 

[serutan]

{snip} ...allows Germany to go to war with Stalin.

Should we join them and try to sneak some of Siberia and steal their communist puppets in Asia?

IF Germany goes to war with the SU, yes. But we definitely need to avoid going too far north of the Trans-Siberian railroad, and
be conscious that the T-S is just about the ONLY thing that resembles infrastructure in Siberia.

And for a Russian campaign we would be wise to work on the concept of improvised airfields (OOC i.e. is there a SeaBee tech or some equivalent?).

 

[Wraith11B]

Seems odd that affected the game so much. But this is of course why mods are absolutely essential.

 

[El Pip]

Now there were THREE Escort Carriers, the USS Cowpens, the USS Monterey, and the USS Langley, now being built in American dry docks.

Does seem quite clumsy of the USN to have misplaced the original USS Langley. Or are they trying to hide their strength by building many ships with the same name, that would be a truly cunning plan.

When they did it was to start working on 50g Type 100 bombs. For the Strategic Bombers that were already in production.

I fear this IJAA development came from the IJA part of their heritage. A 50kg bomb would be pathetic enough, but a 50 gram bomb is basically dropping sandwiches on the enemy. Sandwiches with no filling at that.

Then again, given the history of the IJAA in designing aero engines and heavy aircraft perhaps this is just careful forward planning. Perhaps the bomb load of the future strategic bomber will be 50grams all up. If so, Japan is prepared.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Does seem quite clumsy of the USN to have misplaced the original USS Langley. Or are they trying to hide their strength by building many ships with the same name, that would be a truly cunning plan.


I fear this IJAA development came from the IJA part of their heritage. A 50kg bomb would be pathetic enough, but a 50 gram bomb is basically dropping sandwiches on the enemy. Sandwiches with no filling at that.

Then again, given the history of the IJAA in designing aero engines and heavy aircraft perhaps this is just careful forward planning. Perhaps the bomb load of the future strategic bomber will be 50grams all up. If so, Japan is prepared.

It will be at least 50mg.

Hopefully they've stopped using ml instead. An expensive mistake...

 

[Eurasia]

Utsunimiya’s War
(HoI3 TFH - Interactive Japan AAR)
Chapter One Hundred-Twenty-Five : Almost In Position - 1.10.1939 To 31.10.1939

The Economic Front​

During this time period, while many of the stockpiles were in fluctuation, the Supply and Fuel reserves continued to increase.

True, Chile, Finland, France, and Latvia canceled Trade Agreements with Japan but this did little to the trade center of the Pacific Rim. In fact the USA offered a deal and it was accepted. It seemed that even though the Americans didn’t trust the Japanese they were still willing to trade with them.

Japan also canceled a Trade Deal with Yunnan and later turned an offer down from them.

In fact, on the 9th of October, the Japanese government imposed an embargo on Yunnan. If Yunnan didn’t realize war was coming at this point it was unlikely it ever would.

On the 14th the Armaments Minister announced that the Research Project to improve on Main Armaments of the Light Cruiser was a success!

It was decided that the Research Team would work on the next generation of Cavalry Support Weapons. The Army could always use more firepower.

On the 24th more Cargo Ships left the dry docks to join the Convoys.

Then the Armaments Minister, on the 25th, announced another breakthrough. The Main Armaments of the Destroyers had been improved on.

It was decided to expand on the creation of the census tabulating machines by working on mechanical computing machines. Thinking machines!

By the 31st of October the economy was still going strong. But the business owners and economists and the bankers were not too happy. As the Imperial Japanese Army was almost ready for the next war. Which meant a uncertain future. And the one thing the market hated more than anything else was a uncertain future.

The Military Front​

Of course at the start of October many within the Imperial Japanese Army were unhappy. The HQ of ‘Manchukuo’ Operations was complaining about how outnumbered they were by the Russian forces sitting across the border.

And many units within China, such as some of the garrison brigades and cavalry divisions, were complaining about a lack of supplies. Even some of the Air Wings complained about a lack if supplies. But interesting enough, this time, there were no complaints about lack of fuel.

The 1. China Kiheishidan was still moving south to its new deployment at the Port of Guangzhou.

In the Port of Macau the Portuguese airfields were in the progress of being expanded on.

Then on the 3rd of October news came out of China. Another revolt. Chinese Nationalists had started a uprising in the Province of Anyang.

Of course Anti-Partisan Operations sent in one of the Cavalry Divisions to crush it.

By the 5th the Cavalry was in position to launch an a attack on the Provinces. The rebels, for some reason, had ceased moving and were still in the province.

While this was happening, on the 8th, the 1. China Kiheishidan made it to the Port of Guangzhou.

On the 10th the battle between the 2. China Kiheishidan and the rebels began. Over eight thousand mounted veterans against over eight thousand Chinese rebels. The latter had no supplies and, therefore, the Battle of Anyang was short.

In fact it ended within the hour. There were no losses on either side but it was still a victory for the Japanese as 8,933 Chinese rebels were either captured or escaped into the surrounding countryside. Now all was needed was for the cavalry to chase out the rebel government and bring order back to the province.

The Province of Anyang was freed on the 13th and the cavalry was ordered back to Jinan. It would be back in its barracks by the afternoon of the 18th.

By the 25th there was only one unit of cavalry of the Army that was not yet in place. Once it was in position the Imperial Japanese Army would be ready for its war with Yunnan.

Misc. Events​

News from outside of Japan was sometimes stocking and sometimes so foreseeable as to be boring.

On the 15th of October Germany asked Japan to join the Axis and the Japanese government refused.

They did so again on the 23rd and, once again, were turned down.

It was at the end of October, on the 30th, that there was some surprising news. Finland had joined the Axis. No doubt Stalin wasn’t very pleased by this piece of news.

Both Germany and Italy were pushing into France even while in Africa the English were pushing into Italy’s North African territories. Italy’s push into French Africa had come to a halt. Likely due to the poor infrastructure.

All evidence suggested that Africa would likely fall to the Allies in the long run. But France would likely fall, very soon, to the Axis powers. And there was very little the Allies could do about that.

By the end of the month the Head of Intelligence reported that Canada had captured two Japanese agents, Brazil had captured four Japanese agents, Yunnan had captured three Japanese agents, Portugal had captured six Japanese agents, the Netherlands had captured two Japanese agents, and the US had captured four Japanese agents.

Japanese Security had arrested one spy from the Philippines, one spy from Tibet, and one spy from Yunnan.

 

[Surt]

Maybe the army should train some Kempetei to suppress those peasants from being so revolting.

 

[Bullfilter]

Starting a few episodes back:

Even Turkey, on the 31st of August, stopped aligning itself with the Soviet Union.

Shocking!

By the 11th of September Czechoslovakia was mostly occupied by the Axis powers.

They have been very tenacious.

new Destroyer Engines had been made and now the Destroyers could be refitted to be faster and have greater range.

I thought engines, hulls and main armament for ships was fixed when produced and wouldn’t be upgraded (just applied to new models). Or am I wrong, or a mod is in use that allows it?

Then Hungary announced to the world they had retaken those provinces of Czechoslovakia they had traditional seen as theirs and the conflict with it came to an end.

Yes, somehow Hungary’s claim for those regions had not only been given priority over other claims. It, in fact, had canceled the other claims.

So instead of Germany conquering the rest of the defended nation the Axis powers now had a Truce with it. And Czechoslovakia, who was still a member of the Allies, was at peace. (1)

Czech diplomats have proven even more resourceful that their valiant army! How appropriate that the Czechs should succeed in averting Inevitable Defeat where the Slovaks were unable to in a parallel universe.

It was noticed that Czechoslovakia even had a Truce with Ethiopia. Which suggested there was a Government-In-Exile floating about somewhere still, officially, at war with the Allies.

And they will return when France surrenders and Ethiopia returns to Axis control.

1 OOC - My fault. I tagged Hungary and set its Wargoals for Cores in Czechoslovakia. I wanted to make Hungary do something that made sense. The forums suggested that it would have priority over the other claims. Which I assumed MEANT that Hungary would get the Cores and Germany would get the rest. Nope. It CANCELED the other claims. Good work game. Good work. Sadly I ran out of my moonshine months ago so now I can only drown my sorrows in water.

Zany. I see the peace mechanics are as shot here as in my current Soviet AAR.

Finland had joined the Axis. No doubt Stalin wasn’t very pleased by this piece of news.

No ‘easy’ winter war for Stalin, then.

 

[serutan]

It was at the end of October, on the 30th, that there was some surprising news. Finland had joined the Axis. No doubt Stalin wasn’t very pleased by this piece of news.

No doubt. This creates the potential for a most fascinating situation.

 

[Eurasia]

Utsunimiya’s War
(HoI3 TFH - Interactive Japan AAR)
Chapter One Hundred-Twenty-Six : In Position - 1.11.1939 To 3.11.1939

The Economic Front​

During the last days before the next war the economy was doing very well. The Fuel stockpiles were growing and even the US canceling a trade agreement with Japan didn’t stop that.

The Military Front​

The 6. Moukogo Kiheishidan was moving towards the Province of Markam. It was the last division needed to be in position for the war for Yunnan.

To the south, on the far left flank of the Imperial Japanese Army, almost a Corps of divisions had been piled into the Province of Napo. An ancient Greek tactic being used in Asia during the 20th Century. Would it work? Or would the infrastructure of the provinces destroy such a scheme?

By the 3rd of November the last unit was in place. The Army was ready.

Misc. Events​

In the three days not much happened. The Americans released another one of their films in which the Tories and Indians were evil and the mostly ethnic German settlers, who were not yet Americans, were good. Funny enough, during the REAL Mohawk Valley campaign, the British had the major role while the Tories and Indians, who did play a part, had only minor roles. The film makers didn’t wish to paint the Brits as villains.

During this period the Head of Intelligence reported that Portugal had captured one Japanese agent and Brazil had captured three Japanese agents.

General Sho-ichi Utsunimiya, in Taiwan, pondered how well the Army and Air units would do without the Navy to back them up?

 

[serutan]

The Air Force will do fine unless the Army decides to steal our fuel and supplies. I am aware this may be giving them too much credit - incompetence IS more powerful than malice, as repeatedly demonstrated by Intelligence. As to the Army's actual performance, If Yunnan decides to roll over and play dead, they will look like worldbeaters. If not, let's just say the optics will be somewhat poorer.

 

[Eurasia]

Utsunimiya’s War
(HoI3 TFH - Interactive Japan AAR)
Chapter One Hundred-Twenty-Seven : War! - 4.11.1939 To 10.11.1939

The War Starts​

On the morning of the 4th of November the Imperial Diet declared war on the nation of Yunnan. The reasons were many, from protecting the ‘people’ from their own government to protecting Japanese ‘interests’ from the local warlords.

It was also decided that the territories of Yunnan would be absorbed into the Empire. Yunnan would be conquered.

So the Imperial Japanese Army lurched into live and marched towards the border as the Imperial Japanese Air Administration set its Air Wings into the skies to attack the enemy’s positions.

The Imperial Japanese Navy just watched and made fun of the other two military branches.

The Land War​

The Army hit the enemy’s far right flank with over sixty-five thousand men. They sent four Mountain Divisions and two Infantry Divisions into the Province of Wenchan.

The Chinese only had one Infantry Division of just under six thousand soldiers to defend the province.

At the same time the Army sent a lone infantry division into the Province of Qujing. A long Yunnan infantry division was waiting for them. But the Chinese had no skilled officer assigned to them and they were at numbered at least two-to-one.

They also launched an attack on the Province of Zhaotong. Three Japanese infantry divisions, totaling over twenty-nine thousand soldiers, against a lone Chinese division of less than six thousand men.

The Army also hit the Province of Xuanwei with a single Cavalry Division. Eleven thousand mounted troops against less than six thousand Chinese infantry. Who were leaderless.

So the Army was engaged in four battles before the sun was even up. And before lunch on the 4th the Army announced victory in the Province of Wenchan.

It was a Japanese victory in which the Army lost only 18 men whole the Chinese lost 425 men. It wasn’t just a victory but a major victory and the newspapers celebrated this first victory with full colorized maps of Yunnan and the future territories of Japan.

A couple days later, on the morning of the 6th, another victory was announced. The Army had won the Battle for Zhaotong. The Japanese had lost 52 men while the Chinese had lost 410 men. Another major victory that suggested the enemy soldiers had not been prepared for the invasion.

The next morning, on the 7th, the Army reported another victory. The Battle of Xuanwei had come to an end with the Japanese losing 75 men, and horses, while the Chinese lost 218 soldiers.

Shortly before midnight the Battle of Qujing came to an end. Another victory in which the Army lost 155 men while the Chinese lost 389 men.

It was clear to anybody with a set of good eyes and a map of Yunnan that the enemy units, who had been engaged, were in full retreat by the closing of the 7th of November.

By the 10th of November the Army claimed four victories at the cost of 300 men. The Chinese had lost 1,442 men.

The only reason there had not been more battles was the horrible terrain. It could take days just to take the provinces they had won.

Of course the Air Wings would have no such problem.

The Air War​

As the Army started to grind the enemy units into dust the Air Bomber Groups were ordered into the conflict.

The 1. Hikoutai was assigned the Province of Kunming, and the Region around it, as its target area. It was ordered to attack during the day.

The 3. Nihon Koukuujieitai was also assigned the Province of Kumming, and the Region around it, as its target area. It was ordered to attack during the night.

The Province of Kunming was attacked fourteen times and the result was the death of 1,337 Chinese soldiers.

Then, on the 6th of November, the Province of Qujing was being bombed by the two Bomber Groups. They seemed to switch back and forth between the provinces. It was attacked three times and the result was the death to 305 Chinese soldiers.

The 1. Nihon Koukuujieitai was assigned to the Province of Yunxian, and the Region around it, as its target area. It was ordered to attack during the night.

The Province of Yunxian was attacked seven times and 347 Chinese soldiers were killed.

With the Air forces attacking the enemy units behind the lines and the Army striking the front line enemy units it was hoped that the Japanese military would be crushing the Yunnan Army between them. Like burning a candle from both ends.

Misc. Events​

Between the 4th of November and the 10th of November the stockpiles of military supplies and fuel stayed in the ‘Green’ while the Treasury was in the ‘Red’. But the military only care about the supplies and the fuel so that wasn’t seen as an issue.

Turkey did a cancel a Fuel Deal with Japan but this didn’t do much to the economy. It seemed the Factories were able to keep up with the demand of fuel from the Air Wings.

The first piece of news during this time period was the fact that Sweden had offered Germany Military Access. And Germany accepted the offer.

The next piece of news was from the Imperial Japanese Navy. They reported that their many Classes of Heavy Cruisers and CAGs had almost completed their upgrades.

On the 7th it was reported that the US had placed an embargo on Finland. There was no masking the Anti-Axis policy of the US.

On the 10th the Minister of Armaments announced that the Capital Ship Main Armament Research had been completed. Battleships and Battle Cruisers, depending on their Class, could have their Main Armaments upgraded.

The Research Team, after a short rest, was assigned to the next Project. This was the study and development of Advanced Aircraft Design. Both supporters of the IJAA and the IJN approved of this Project.

By the end of the first week of the conflict the Head of Intelligence reported that the US had captured one Japanese agent, Yunnan had captured two Japanese agents, Portugal had captured one Japanese agent, and Canada had captured one Japanese agent.

Security reported the arrest of a spy from Iraq and a spy from Nepal.

General Sho-ichi Utsunimiya, in Taiwan, was already becoming bored. Unless Japan went to war with the Allies or the Comintern the Imperial Navy wouldn’t be doing much for the next few years. Besides building up, of course.

 

[Bullfilter]

The Imperial Japanese Navy just watched and made fun of the other two military branches.

It will probably soon descend into internal bickering - battleship v carrier v cruiser v submarine lobbies

Battleships and Battle Cruisers, depending on their Class, could have their Main Armaments upgraded.

I think I may have asked this kind of question before, but don’t such advances only apply to new ships, rather than upgrading existing ones?

 

[Eurasia]

I think I may have asked this kind of question before, but don’t such advances only apply to new ships, rather than upgrading existing ones?

Seems to depend on the Tier or the Class. Too old and nothing happened. But it they were just launched a few years ago and they are just one tier down from the new Level of Main Armaments they will be upgraded. I think. Either way there are currently a few Tiers of Heavy Cruisers being updated and I assume the Battleships and Battle Cruisers will soon be upgraded.

 

[serutan]

So the campaign appears to be yet another snoozefest. The Army will doubtless claim it was all due to their genius, and we can expect an epidemic of swollen heads amongst Army officers to rival the Navy's.

 

[Wraith11B]

Clearly, the Army had to have a campaign that was well away from the coast so that the Navy didn't wind up being covered in glory.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Still, it is good Japan remains capable of just about defeating a peasant army with no modern weapons and no real chain of command.

It bodes well for the future. Of Russia and the US, it must be said, but at least it bodes well for someone.

 

[Surt]

Still, it is good Japan remains capable of just about defeating a peasant army with no modern weapons and no real chain of command.

It bodes well for the future. Of Russia and the US, it must be said, but at least it bodes well for someone.

Then its good that Russia is the Workers & Peasants Soviet and the US are mostly hillbillies so the Army should not have huge problems with them ...

 

[Eurasia]

Utsunimiya’s War
(HoI3 TFH - Interactive Japan AAR)
Chapter One Hundred-Twenty-Eight : Second Week - 11.11.1939 To 17.11.1939

The Land War​

The Imperial Japanese War started the second week of the conflict trying to move as quickly as it could into the provinces it had won from the enemy. The terrain of this area of Asia was mostly mountains and while the Mountain units were at home with this most of the other units were not.

It wasn’t till the morning of the 12th that the Province of Wenchan was finally occupied. Outside of being the right anchor of the enemy front line it was a pretty worthless prize.

It was decided, on the same day, that once the nation of Yunnan was taken it would need at least one unit to keep down the revolts. So the 4. China Kihei Shidan Cavalry was told to move to the border Province of Xingyi. There it could wait till victory and then it could occupy the defeated enemy’s Capital.

Shortly before midnight the Army also took the Province of Xuanwei. It seems the enemy were not even trying to retake their territories.

Around the same time the Army hit two provinces. They sent a infantry division into the Province of Yunxian. Nine thousand Japanese soldiers against just under fourteen thousand Chinese. It sounds bad till you realize that two out of the four enemy units were HQ units and the remaining ground troops were also half militia.

The second was the Province of Donchuan where a cavalry division went against two Chinese infantry divisions. Over eleven thousand mounted men against over eleven thousand Chinese ground troops.

Looks like the Army was heading straight for the enemy Capital. Would this bring them quick victory or would tunnel vision hurt them in the end?

On the 13th, in the Province of Sasebo, the Japanese 2. Sensha Shidan had been assembled. The first Armoured Division had been completed. Or at least the Japanese produced part of it. It had one Light Armour Brigade made up of Type 92 Tanks (which were really Armoured Cars), one Motorized Brigade, and one Armoured Car Brigade (which looked more like Armoured Lorries).

Now all the division needed was the Italian made Anti-Tank guns. Also it was have to be decided WHO would be receiving them.

On the 15th the Army occupied the Province of Zhaotong. This cut off one retreating Chinese unit and it was forced to surrender. Thousands of Chinese soldiers were marched off to a POW camp.

This also allowed another cavalry unit to join in the attack on the Province of Donguan.

By the end of the second week the Army claimed that the enemy front was falling back and that three provinces had been taken. But there were also reports starting to come in that many units on the front line were having supply issues. Not enough to stop them but it was becoming worrisome.

The Air War​

The Bomber Groups continued their onslaught of the Yunnan ground troops.

Two of the Groups continued to launch Ground Attacks on the Province of Kunming. The province was attacked fourteen times and 983 Chinese were killed.

The remaining Group also continued to carry out Ground Attacks on the Province of Yunxian. It was attacked seven times and 469 Chinese were killed.

By the end of the second week the IJAA claimed their were causing confusion behind the enemy’s lines.

On the other hand there were reports that the Fighter Groups were complaining. Not only were they being ignored but they were not receiving fuel.

Also some newspapers suggested that the IJAA was not being aggressive enough to truly hurt the Yunnan military.

Misc. Events​

By the end of the second week of the war with Yunnan the economy was still moving along nicely. Both military supplies and fuel were still being stockpiled faster than they were being consumed.

The government even made a deal with Siam to export supplies for cash. This would also strengthen Japan’s ties with Siam. Hopefully.

On the 16th the air bases in the Province of Guilin had been expanded. This would be helpful in the future as the IJAA, itself, was expanded.

Around the same time Italy announced great progress made in its invasion of France. By all reports it did seem the French military was losing ground. They had even lost the Island of Corsica to the Italians. And France was not just having problems with the Italians.

Germany was also advancing deeper into France. They had finally overwhelmed the French defenses and were expanding the front line. The Germans, for the moment, seemed to have superior numbers and were using them as best they could.

The battles in Africa was a back-and-forth affair that really didn’t seem to help the Axis or the Allies. The UK’s troops would have likely been more useful in France.

On the 17th, at the end of the second week, the air bases in the Province of Chengdu, were also expanded on, finally, much to the pleasure of the IJAA. At least these air bases were close to the nation of Xibei San Ma.

After the second week the Head of Intelligence reported that Portugal had captured three Japanese agents, Yunnan had captured two Japanese agents, and Brazil had captured one Japanese agent.

Japanese Security also announced the arrest of a spy from Yemen and the arrest of a spy from Oman.

By the end of the second week is was pretty clear that the Yunnan military was unlikely to be able to win. The government felt the biggest factor to how long the enemy would be able to hold out was the mountainous terrain of the battlefield.

 

[serutan]

By the end of the second week the IJAA claimed their were causing confusion behind the enemy’s lines.

Getting bombed into the Stone Age does tend daze and confuse the enemy.