Hearts of Iron: The Empire of Japan
Name: The Empire of Japan
Version: Hearts of Iron
Map: Historical
Player: CSL
January 1st, 1936
In a room in downtown Tokyo, a small gathering of men had been arranged, hunched over a large map spanning from China all the way across the Pacific towards the United States itself.
Among these men were several important generals and political figures of Japan. The Chiefs of Staff were all there including Kanin Kotohito, the head of the Imperial Army, Osami Masahiro, head of the Imperial Navy, and Yamamato Isoroku who was in full command of the Empire’s vast fleet of aircraft. While these men were often against each other for funding and interests in varying sectors, they had just agreed upon a plan - a plan that would soon turn the Pacific into a battleground.
With this plan set in motion, the first steps of Japan's might were organized, and the troops in Manchuria started to move, rallying and forming into groups on the Chinese and Russian borders. A third border with that of Manchuko was left unattended as the government had been put in place by the Japanese military. Military access had been granted and the country was now merely a vassal of the Empire.
There were 21 divisions total in Manchuria, and by January the 7th they had mostly assembled and were entrenching on the borderlands of Japanese held territory. Field Marshall Hata was put in charge of the whole of the Manchurian Expeditionary Force, leading the 3 divisions of modern motorized infantry. Supporting this line of defense was the Japanese Air Force in Manchuria that had under its command 2 air flotillas of G3M Tactical Bombers, commanded by Lt. General Fuchida based in Northern Korea.
While this 21 division force consisted of most of the battle worthy men of the Japanese army, more forces were deployed among the many island chains that were under the control of the Japanese Empire as well as more divisions in the Japanese home islands. The Japanese Navy itself had organized itself around the four carriers of the Imperial fleet. The Ryujo, Akagi, Hosho and Kaga were all based in Japan (except for the Ryujo, currently docked in Seoul). Carrier groups were formed around these carriers and most of the fleet assets were put towards protecting these valuable targets. However, Grand Admiral Yamamoto was given command of the grand battleships that still clung to the illusion of controlling the sea.
With the organization of the Imperial Army and Navy the grand plan now called for the economic stabilization of the Japanese industries as well as the strengthening of the Army and Navy. The plan proceeded as planned.
January 9th, 1939 Downtown Tokyo
The military planning room was a blaze with activity when the meeting got underway. Present for the Army was Field Marshall Hata Shunroku, rushed from the Chinese border in Manchuria to Tokyo the night before, as well as the current commander of the Imperial Motorized Guard Division, General Nishio. The Chief of Staff, Kanin Kotohito was also present, however the Chiefs of Navy and Air Force were missing.
A colonel handed Kotohito a folder before rushing off joining a nearby group of frantic officers that were studying a large map of downtown Tokyo. Just then the head of the Imperial Air Force, Admiral Yamamoto entered the room and quickly took his place at the table.
Kotohito started the meeting then. "Glad you could join us Admiral, I trust your voyage here was . . . pleasant to say the least."
Yamamoto looked disgruntled at the comment, "You know as well as I that getting anywhere within Tokyo right now is dangerous, what with those goddamned rebels trying to kill everyone! I told you we should have put a lid on that whole Kodoha movement, especially after fool Aizawa killed the Chief of Military Affairs. Then you gave the plotting officers time to think the whole rebellion affair over!"
Kotohito had by now had enough and interrupted Yamamoto. "What’s done is done Yamamoto, we can't change that now. The Emperor has denounced these foolish rebels and even now the Imperial Guard divisions are removing what little rebellion actually got started in the last few days. True they managed to kill quite a few important members of the government, word has even gotten out that they may have killed Prime Minister Okada, but our sources tell us otherwise. It has been confirmed however that the former Prime Minister Saito has been killed. They apparently filled him with 50 bullets before they sliced open his belly, quite an unfortunate affair, its a shame we weren't able to do it when he was still in office..."
"If the rebels are going to be crushed soon then why am I here." It was the Field Marshall now speaking up. "You speak as if this rebellion is almost done with, with the Emperor's support it won't matter what the rebels do, they'll all be dead before February."
"I didn't fly you all the way here because of the rebel problem Field Marshall; I need to know how the organization of the army in Manchuria is progressing. Word has reached me that you have begun construction of a defensive line on the Soviet border"
"Yes, my engineers have started work on the first lines of fortified bunkers, minefields and trenches, mostly in the northern provinces Hailer and Oroqen Zizhiqi. I've stationed more troops on the Manchukou border as well, I don't like the idea of having another possibly hostile government on the rear of our Manchurian territories, Russia alone is enough. If I had my way, we'd have never installed the last Manchu ruler there, puppet or no puppet."
Kotohito cut off the Field Marshall then. "Good, then you'll be in fully in step with the first step of our plan. Admiral Yamamoto and I have been in contact with General Togo and it has been confirmed that the Manchu dynasty will meet a sudden end very soon."
April 17th, 1936 General Togo's Headquarters
General Togo was seated when the men entered the conference room; they took their places quickly and quietly and waited for Togo to begin speaking.
Assembled before Togo were the commanders who would in the next few months begin the final preparations for the invasion of Manchukuo that would secure more of the vital Manchurian resources that were becoming so vital for the Japanese economy and war plans. In addition to the Army Chief of Staff Kotohito were the respective commanders of the current Manchurian Army forces. The overall theater commander, Field Marshall Hata was there with his second in command, General Yamashita, who was in command of the central forces as well as their subordinates Lt. Generals Higuchi and Honda. The Western Manchurian commander General Okamura was also seated with his own subordinates Lt. General Tanaka Shizuichi and Lt. General Hyalataka. Finally, Lt. General Ayaka and his second in command Maj. General Hashimoto represented the Northern Command branch.
Seeing that all the men were seated and ready for the meeting to begin, Togo got the meeting off to a start.
"I've been told your forces have now been arrayed on the Manchukuo border Field Marshall. How exactly are the preparations for the invasions coming?"
The Field Marshall motioned to Lt. General Honda and the man pulled out a large map of the Manchurian Theater that fully encompassed Manchukuo. He handed it to the Field Marshall and he unfurled it onto the table in front of General Togo.
General Togo studied the map for several minutes, shaking his head a few times and grimacing before he looked up at the Field Marshall. "You've done a good job. I see you've put the 8 extra divisions I managed to get off the mainland and the Kuril Islands to good use."
"They will help General, but when war comes I would rather have more then just the 30 divisions I currently have. Our tactical bombers remain without any sort of fighter escorts and other than my four divisions of motorized infantry our men must get around on foot or by means of horse. We have only a few old tanks that have machine guns only and the infantry have very little artillery support."
General Togo cut the Field Marshall off before he could finish. "Then you shall be pleased to hear that we were able to get designs for several new artillery pieces from the Germans recently, as well as a few of our own designs. 30mm AT and Infantry guns are being shipped to your divisions right now. As well new 90mm Howitzers are starting to go into production at factories across Japan. The Air Force too is under going improvements. The first of a new line of fighter aircraft are being tested right now."
Before the Field Marshall could respond to this Togo called the meeting to an end. The men rose and saluted General Togo and quickly left the building, within the hour they were on the way back to the Manchukuo border. Field Marshall Hata however was stopped by General Togo and was soon informed that a tentative date for the invasion had been made. The Field Marshall flew back to his command with new orders that would ensure the destruction of Manchukuo once and for all.
Research developed since January
- Basic Short Range Fighter Engines
- Basic Aerodynamics
- Effective Landmines
- Infantry Gun 30mm+
- Anti-Tank Gun 30mm+
- Anti-Aircraft Gun 30mm+
- Howizer 90mm+
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