Mike Carroll
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Joined: 10/21/2002
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The Great Pacific War
1926 to 1930
Unlike most countries Japan comes out of the Great War with very little loss and gaining significantly in territory and treasure. Between the Great War and the Russo-Japanese War the military has gained in ascendancy and there is a significant push to expand Japan’s status as a Great Power.
Japan aggressively expands its interests in Manchuria and forms a close alliance with Chinese Warlord B. By 1920 Manchuria is a virtual client state of the Japanese Empire. Japan has troops stationed at major strategic spots and they are providing weapons and training to their client Chinese troops. Raw materials and food are flowing to Japan.
Alarmed at Japan’s open aggression in China and rapid expansion of military power, the US attempts to find a warlord in China to support. They also want to limit world-wide naval expansion and work to get the Washington Naval Talks underway. Through deft political maneuvering they get the British, French, Italian, and Japanese to agree to meet in Washington to discuss imposing limits on warship production. Things seem to be going well when disaster strikes. The Japanese Intelligence Service learns that the US has broken their diplomatic codes and is using the information from the intercepts to gain an advantage at the talks (this actually happened). Outraged Japan leaves the talks and the Washington Naval Conference ends in a shambles with the US disgraced and an unbreachable rift between the US and Japan.
In China the presence and actions of Japan in Manchuria, starts a limited unification movement under Warlord A. Warlord A captures Peking in 1923 and begins the process of unifying the outlying provinces. The US is covertly providing support and help.
In 1924 the Anglo-Japanese Neutrality Pact is reached. This allows the British to deactivate a portion of their fleet as a cost saving measure and focus on the growing unrest in their own colonies. The French and Dutch are also having problems with their colonial populations and conclude Non-Aggression Pacts with the Japanese that same year.
In late 1924 Japan begins to plan for a war with the US. Their economic, political, and military status as a Great Power is tied to their control of Manchuria. The rising unification movement in China is a direct threat to their future. They know the US is supporting Warlord A and would oppose any open movements in China proper. The Japanese believe that if they can capture Guam and the Philippines they will have deprived the US of any bases to strike into their territory, which will allow them to deal with the situation in China at their leisure. Through diplomacy they have neutralized the British, French and Dutch so it comes down to a naval war with the US. A war they believe they can win.
Since the Washington Naval Conference ended in a shambles, the Presidency of Warren Harding was beset by scandal. Warren Harding died of a heart attack in 1923, and his successor Calvin Coolidge was easily defeated in 1924 by Democratic Governor James Cox. The Coolidge administration had been trying to strengthen the US military and expand the bases at Guam and the Philippines. But Congress was in no mood to support the disgraced administration and the people of the US, flush in an economic boom began to look inward. President Cox’s initial diplomatic agenda was to try to join the League of Nations and repair the breach with Japan. Not wanting to further enrage the Japanese he drastically cut back on base expansion in the Philippines and Guam as well as the support being given to Warlord A. Unfortunately the Japanese had already decided on war.
In May 1926 the Japanese formally declared war on the United States.
List of scenario features: (this is still being worked)
Japanese:
1) 50% of Japan fuel production will be moved to Manchuria and Sahkalin Island (sp), most in Manchuria.
2) 35% of Japan supply production will be moved to Manchuria.
3) Approximately 60 destroyers will be added to Japan’s reinforcements – 20 No. 35 and 30 No. 19. I will also add maybe an additional 10 No. 2 for a total of 60
4) Manchurian Chinese units will be added to the Japanese OOB in Manchuria. I am thinking 6 divisions – with 3 more as the war progresses.
5) A large number of smaller patrol/sub-chasers will be added to the OOB as reinforcements say 50 to 70.
6) 20 transports and 2 tankers will be added as reinforcements, 8 transports and 2 tankers will be added to the OOB (see below).
7) Commerce Bases will be added. 1 Base in the Indian Ocean (200 supply/400 fuel per day) and one in the lower right corner of the map (300 supply/100 fuel). No warships of either side will be allowed within 3 hexes of the base. Each base will have 4 transports and 1 tanker in port at the start of the war.
8) Will add at least 2 “Nagasaki” class submarine cruisers. One normal and one minelaying variant. (Large fast sub with 8” guns, minelayer will carry 300 mines)
9) Will add a couple of small merchant ship carriers as reinforcements.
10) Will add 15 Minesweepers as reinforcements.
United States:
1) All available US destroyers will be added as reinforcements (this will bring the total up to around 275 eventually). Approximately 30% of the older, obsolete destroyers will have their class changed to newer classes and be later game reinforcements.
2) Will add approximately 90 small sub-chasers/patrol craft as reinforcements.
3) Will add 20 Minesweepers as reinforcements.
4) There will be 2 late game fast cruisers added. (Pensacola Class)
5) Some older obsolete cruisers will be added to the Asiatic fleet OOB.
6) Will add regiment sized defense forces to Guam, Midway, and Pago-Pago. Guam will also get a coastal arty rgt.
7) USMC units will not be assigned to a restricted HQ.
8) 3rd Division will be assigned to Hawaii Nine Corps.
9) US battleship reinforcements will be reworked slightly. They will show up a bit sooner.
10) Republic of China will have approximately 8 divisions that are not static. They will receive another 10 divisions as reinforcements over the course of the war. This should put Japan in the situation of protecting their vital supply/fuel in Manchuria.
11) Will add a couple of merchant class carriers.
This will be a war between US/China and Japan. If Japan attacks the British, French or Dutch then those powers will come into the war.
I am sure there will be other changes, would appreciate feedback as well. Do these ideas seem out of whack? Do you have something better?
< Message edited by Mike Carroll -- 3/10/2006 7:09:32 PM >
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