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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