A New Set of BTS, RA, and Treaty Mods

[btd64]

… last December 8th I got dizzy and fell down the stairs and broke my leg and dislocated my ankle. Had surgery to repair the brake and fix my ankle. 5 days in the hospital and 11 days at a rehab hospital. Now I'm home and I'm ready to put weight on my foot.

Yikes! May you be out and about, and with no cold weather bone aches, in no time!

My daughter and her family took me in for 2 weeks as I couldn't get into my house....GP

[btd64]

… last December 8th I got dizzy and fell down the stairs and broke my leg and dislocated my ankle. Had surgery to repair the brake and fix my ankle. 5 days in the hospital and 11 days at a rehab hospital. Now I'm home and I'm ready to put weight on my foot.

Yikes! May you be out and about, and with no cold weather bone aches, in no time!

My daughter and her family took me in for 2 weeks as I couldn't get into my house....GP

And thanks for the good wishes....GP

[John 3rd]

Between the Storms: A Balance of Power

As the Treaty Period ends, history takes another turn as Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku makes a greater contribution to the development of the Kaigun from 1936-1941. Yamamoto exerts a much greater influence first on the Japan Naval Aircraft Industry, then as Deputy Navy Minister, and finally as Navy Minister itself. Yamamoto chooses, at great risk to his life, to forego command of the Combined Fleet and dedicate himself to preparing Japan for the war he didn't want. He adds two new cruiser/carrier-sized slipways (Shanghai and Port Arthur) for Fleet construction to facilitate a different, final pre-war expansion of the Kaigun. New and expanded Naval Yards, Heavy Industry, and Armaments are added at tremendous cost for the Japanese economy as the Admiral attempts to prepare Japan for a possibly long war.

This Mod features a balancing act between the air-minded and fleet-minded groups within the Imperial Navy. Admiral Yamamoto becomes the Naval Minister, risking his life to the radicals within the nation, and he does battle with this group of Admirals. In this variant of the Mod, he is able to focus both sides of the IJN to compromise and build a balanced fleet.

The Fleet Faction gets four powerful battleships of the Owari-Class (3x3 16” guns) and two fast Battlecruisers that are B-65 design. The ships are built in pairs with the first Owari’s and a pair of B-65 authorized in 1936 and a second pair of Owari’s ordered in 1940. There are no Yamato’s here as they are too big and costly for the industry to build.

To provide powerful escorts to the carrier fleet, the Japanese culminate their magnificent heavy cruiser design with 8 Niitaka-Class CAs. These ships are Command Cruisers coming in at over 15,000 tons, have 4x3 8” guns, strong 3.9” secondary, long lances, and four floatplanes. They are powerful, balanced cruisers that are ordered in pairs in 1934, 1936, 1940, and 1941.

Looking to replace the aging Nagara-Class Light Cruisers, six Teshio-Class CLs. These are balanced 6” 3x3 cruisers with good speed, long lances, and decent AA. Nine are originally ordered but thee are converted to CVL.

A-class destroyers continue to be accelerated with an even ordering of Akizuki, Yugumo, and Shimakaze-Class DD being produced. The CVs gain AA protection and the battleline gets the heavy gun and long lance striking power.

Quick, reasonably cheap carrier conversions are moved forward seeing all of the pre-war CVs/CVLs deploy by December 7th or at slightly earlier dates in 1942. Though only a few of these new ships are ready on December 7th, these additions make the Kaigun a force to be reckoned with well into 1944.

The main carrier construction focuses on the excellent Shokaku design. They are ordered in pairs in 1938 and 1940. Once the war begins four Shokaku-Kai are ordered. These are slightly bigger and stouter carriers. The above mentioned Teshio-Class see three converted into the Aso-Class CVL.

The Japan Naval Air Arm deploys its magnificent A6M2 with research complete for its land-based successor the M3. These airframes are ready in December 1941 and the Japanese wisely look at advanced prototypes elsewhere and decide to explore several second-generation fighter concepts. The Zero Team moves on to the Sam (no Jack), while private contractors work on the George. Yamamoto fosters a sense of competition between the two teams to see who will win out as having a worthy successor to the A6M2 line. Additional streamlining and encouragement brings forward second-generation aircraft of other fields--Dive-Bombing, Torpedo-Bombing, and the creation of a small heavy bomber line.

On the ground Yamamoto reorganizes the SNLF units into a Brigade-Sized offensive force and—knowing it will be a war of attrition—converts many Naval Guard into enhanced units with Coastal Defense artillery (using guns taken from refitted warships) for a stronger defensive unit. Additional small units are added to the IJN’s Troops and support units better reflecting Yamamoto's foresight into base building, defense, and expansion needs. While all these units are small and not in great number they promise to help the Japanese war effort.

The foresight of the Admiral pays off during late-1942 and 1943 as new ships, aircraft, and ground units enter into the Japanese Order-of-Battle, however, the cost is steep. Though expanded and using modern aircraft many Japanese Naval Air units start with their experience lowered to reflect the dilution of the experienced pilots into new units that start in Japan or arrive during 1942-1943.

Supply and fuel reserves start at a much reduced state. The Japanese MUST take the DEI as fast as possible!
Manpower is at a premium within the Fleet so Submarines, Escorts, and ASW forces all see a major retooling reflecting the Japanese quality over quantity belief. Yamamoto chooses the immediately useful projects, large APs converting to CVEs, better destroyers, fast transports and coastal defense forces.

[John 3rd]

What was the name of the fictional Japanese ship-building website? Has drawings and designs of never built Japanese warships...cannot remember it right now!

[Kitakami]

What was the name of the fictional Japanese ship-building website? Has drawings and designs of never built Japanese warships...cannot remember it right now!

This one? http://www.combinedfleet.com/furashita/furamain.htm

[John 3rd]

Thanks Kitakami!

I was close but couldn't quite remember it.