John 3rd
Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005 From: La Salle, Colorado Status: offline
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Designers: I did a bunch of research over the weekend. One does have to do SOMETHING while in a quasi-jail scenario! Books used include: Kaigun, The Reluctant Admiral: Yamamoto, Carriers and Destroyers of Japan, and Cruisers of World War Two. This is my Mod Proposal: The Yamamoto Vision: 4th Circle Plan 2xImproved Shokaku-Class ---Increased durability ---3.9” AA Guns ---Mid-1943 CV Taiho ---Late-43 2xCA Ibuki ---Suzuyu-Class ---Substitute 4 3.9” AA for the 4 5” AA ---Late-43 6xLight Cruisers ---Advance all 6 CL by six months ---4 Agano-Class (no change) ---2 Oyodo-Class -----Built as CLAA instead of Sub HQ Ships -----Substitute 4 Pairs of 3.9” guns instead of 2 Pair as designed -----Reduce Plane capacity to Agano-Class The Plan mentions the building of 6 CVE. I could find no mention of these ANYWHERE. Ideas? DD and SS as already described…. Air Additions: (Dec 7th Start in Home Islands) Carrier Trained: 81 Planes—1 Zero, 1 Val, 1 Kate Daitai Carrier Capable: 81 Planes—1 Zero, 1 Val, 1 Kate Daitai Land-Based: 2 Betty Daitai, 1 Emily Daitai, and 1 Jake Daitai 5th Circle Plan 2xTaiho-Class ---Mid-44 Unryu ---As ordered with same due date 2xB-64/65 Supercruisers ---Thomas has stats ---Mid-1944 32 DD ---12 are Moon-Class AA 45 SS Upgrades: Late-43 on sees the replacement of CA, CV, CVL, BC, and BB 5” Secondary with new 3.9” turrets. Shadow Fleet Conversions: Start with Shoho Operational with Zuiho Advance Ryuho six months Leave Junyo/Hiyo at regular date but allow for ‘fixed’ engines—30 Knots CS ---Nisshin completed as CVL on her existing due date. Becomes lead-CVL of that Class ---Allow Chitose/Chiyoda to immediately upgrade (12 month conversion) ---Allow Mizuho to convert into this class but takes 15 months due to upgrading engines Notes: I need a few days (hours on the computer) to write a narrative explaining these changes but ALL of them apply to conversations Yamamoto had within the Navy from 1936-1940 when he served as Head of the Aeronautics Department and then Navy Vice-Minister. Economy: Expand HI by 60-120 (reflects increased steel production and precision tooling factories) Expand Shipyards so that all DDs/SSs would be built at the civilian yards detailed in Kaigun to free-up/allow for several new slipways in the four naval yards. Expand some Aircraft Production Lines/Pools at start of war: Zero, Val, Kate, Betty, and Emily Accelerate research into all Zero Variants: M3a, M5, M7 NO JACKS! Advance Judy and Jill production dates as well. When I get some more time (later in the week) I will write more to explain some of these ideas more fully. With the exception of the 3.9” Guns, CA Ibuki’s, and Supercruisers, this is a realistic vision of what Yamamoto WANTED to see happen with 4th Circle construction and 5th Circle Planning. Thoughts?
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