Hearts of Iron: The Empire of Japan
An Overview of the Imperial Navy
Ryujo Carrier Group (Seoul)
Ryujo - CV (Carrier)
Mogami - CR (Cruiser)
Mikume - CR
Maya - CR
Jintsu - CR
Taiwan Fleet
Mutsu - BB (Battleship)
Abukuma - CR
Isuzu - CR
Sendai - CR
Yubari - CR
Kaga Carrier Group (Tokyo)
Kaga - CV
Kiso - CR
Oi - CR
Tenryu - CR
Imperial Grand Fleet (Hiroshima)
Fuso - BB
Karuna - BB
Kiei - BB
Kirishima - BB
Kongo - BB
Nagato - BB
Yamashiro - BB
Hosho Carrier Group (Osaka)
Hosho - CV
Kagura - CR
Kuma - CR
Nachi - CR
Natori - CR
Tama - CR
Tatsuta - CR
Akagi Carrier Group (Osaka)
Akagi - CV
Aoba - CR
Kako - CR
Kino - CR
Kinogasa - CR
Naka - CR
Yura - CR
1st Pac. Squadron (Tokyo)
Hyunga - BB
Isa - BB
Kitakami - CR
2nd Pac. Squadron
Ashigara - CR
Atago - CR
Chokai - CR
Takao - CR
3rd Pac. Squadron
Furutaka - CR
Izumo - CR
Myoko - CR
Nagura - CR
July 19th, 1936 Emergency War Meeting
The men had all arrived and were already seated when General Togo entered the room. He sat down quickly and began the meeting quickly.
"You all know what’s going on in Spain I presume?"
A chorus of murmurs went through the gathered military officials present before Togo raised his hand and regained silence. "While we would all wish General Franco well in his crusade against the communists and socialists in Spain, I must admit that from the reports I have heard that it may in fact be a hopeless cause. Franco was obviously very hopeful about how the army would react to the coup. It seems, in fact, he gambled wrong."
Togo motioned to the map on the wall, on it was a large map of the Iberian Peninsula. "While large portions of Spain have defected to Franco's side it seems the army was no so obliging to him. The Republican Army at best estimates outnumbers Franco twelve divisions to three. And his early bid to capture Madrid was rebuffed by Field Marshall Miaja's seven divisions."
Togo let that fact sink in before he continued. "However the Navy and Air Force were more forgiving towards Franco and his fascist revolution and more than half of the Navy and Air Force is now under his command. The Nationalist Navy as well recently won the first major sea battle in the straight of Gibraltar. As well the major European powers have taken sides in this conflict as well. The Soviets and British have both sent men and supplies to aid the Republican forces, while Italy and Germany too have sent the same to Franco's forces. It doesn't look like it will have too much effect however, I fully believe that Franco will be crushed within a few months time with the divisions he currently has in the Iberian Peninsula."
July 23rd, 1936 The New York Times Special Edition!
Nationalist Forces attack Barcelona!
Nationalist forces today began a large-scale invasion of Barcelona. In the week since the Nationalist forces started the civil war, the city, a current stronghold of the Republican forces, has come under attack by General Fanjul's rebel fascist forces.
Early estimates by Republican officials in Barcelona have put the rebel’s forces in the area at a total of twelve to fourteen thousand men, all of them of the former Spanish Army. These trained military men are now being faced by the brave remnants of the loyal army units numbering close to 5,000 strong. However these numbers have been further bolstered by the addition of loyal Barcelona police and numerous worker’s militias that have joined the remaining army units that still pledge allegiance to Prime Minister Casares Quiroga. While this group of nearly 16,000 tries to fight off the might of a better trained, better armed enemy, it has become clear that this is a fight that may not end in victory for the Republican forces. Casualties for both sides are rumored to be high, two to four thousand so far in a week’s hard fighting around the city proper. However now that the fight has entered the city, the civilian population is beginning to take casualties at an unheard of rate.
Rumors in the city about alleged Nationalist atrocities against Communists, Socialist and known Union members now are on the lips of every loyal citizen. Several of these rumors have credible sources, however for now these are still only rumors and only one has been confirmed.
This confirmed rumor, having only been recently been verified by several high ranking Republican officials in Barcelona has cast a morbid fear among all current residents of Barcelona, particularly those with known ties to Communist, Socialist, Anarchist and Labor Unions. It was early on the night of July 22nd and the Nationalist forces had just entered the city proper and had broken through the first line of defense manned by volunteer police officers, they were only armed with rifles dating back to the great war and possessing no machine guns or heavier firepower. The first contact with the enemy was light and the police were confident in there ability to hold of the fascist dogs until reinforcements could arrive in the morning. It was not to be as soon a small battalion of well trained army regulars advanced on there position. They were quickly overrun and most of them were forced to surrender. The Nationalist commander a Major reported to be named Jose Varquest had the police officers executed on the spot. He has since been named the Butcher of Barcelona as under his direct command it has been rumored that lines of fleeing civilians have been fired upon and summary executions of Republican fighters is ongoing.
As of this hour the fighting has now stabilized as fresh Republican fighters have now been rushed to the front lines still near the outskirts of the city proper.
It is rumored that a relief force is approaching the city from near the French border but the time of its expected arrival is unknown and many civilians here have given up hope. In a war that has only just begun it seems that the city of Barcelona may be the first casualty.