1940 - 1941 |
PHASE 2 - 1940-1941, Preparation for All Out War There is a scenario file which allows you to skip right to this phase. Phase 2 starts with the outbreak of war in the European theatre which offers Japan a unique opportnity to oust the European colonial powers from Asia while their forces are preoccupied in their homeland. With the bulk of the British Fleet out of the equation and France and Holland already fallen to the Axis, it proves to be too alluring a temptation for Military factions in Japan to ignore. Hitler on the other hand fears the impending involvement of the U.S.A. in Europe and offers a pact to the Japanese to start a war in the Pacific to preoccupy the Americans. A win-win (and eventually lose-lose) situation for the Axis forces. Phase 2A involves the occupation of French-Indochina. The formation of the pro-Axis Vichy French government which legitimizes the occupation gives the Americans little excuse for declaring war. The port of Saigon is particulaly important as it is required as a staging point for the invasion of Malaya and later the Dutch East Indies. Phase 2B is merely the pre-positioning of naval and amphibious forces for all out war. You should not attack either of the Allied powers (Phase 3) until you have researched the 'Tripartite Pact' which causes Admiral Nimitz to move the U.S. Pacific Fleet to Hawaii. In addition, Pearl Harbor must be the first target attacked or the main U.S. battleship fleet will be able to escape. One suggested order of battle for your naval elements is as follows: One main strike fleet wth carrier based bombers and some escourts situated west of Pearl Harbor. One main invasion fleet with batleships and troops stationed off the coast of Vietnam ready to swoop down on Malaya and Borneo. A second invasion fleet stationed off Taiwan ready to land in the Northern Philippines and in Hong Kong. A combined fleet stationed off Palau ready to land in the Southern Philippines. This should contain carrier elements to counter attempts to disrupt the invasion from Australia in the south. If possible, marines and secondary surface vessels should be pre-positioned to capture Allied-held minor islands auch as Wake Island, Guam and Attu.
UNITS THAT BECOME AVAILABLE FOR THIS PHASE |
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Yamato Class |
At 862 feet long and with a displacement of 71,659 tons, the Yamato-class battleships were undeniably the ultimate surface combatants. Their nine 18-inch guns and 16 inch armour belt easily allowed them to outclass any comtemporaries upon coming into service in 1941, and arguably any battleships of any time period. These ships were pretty much unsinkable and it took twenty torpedoes and seventeen bomb hits to sink IJN Musashi during the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea. These ships are very expensive and inspite of their improved statistics over the Nagato, it is probably not cost effective for you to build more than two or three because of the growing dominance of carrier based air power. |
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Shokaku Class |
Two Shokaku-class fleet carriers were commissioned in 1941, just in time for Pearl Harbor, and participated in almost every major carrier battle during the war. They had the airfleet size of the Agaki era carriers together with the modern features of the smaller Soryu-class. With an armoured flight deck twice as thick as her predecessors, this unit has a defense factor of 8 (16 verses aricraft) making it able to adsorb a lot of punishment. You should build a couple of these before attacking Pearl Harbor as four carriers is really not enough for multiple simultaneous operations covering the entire Pacific. |
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Mitsubishi A6M |
The 'Zero', first introduced in 1940 in China, was the finest naval fighter in the world when the Pacific War errupted and it was the first shipboard fighter capable of defeating land-based challengers. It was specially designed to be light and maneuverable and a new special aluminum alloy developed by Sumitomo gave it a range of more than 1200 miles, something unheard of at the time. It became a legend in its own time and the 'Zero' took part in every major action in which the Japanese Navy was involved, from Pearl Harbor all the way to the final B-29 assault on Japan. Over 10,000 were built, more than any other type of Japanese aircraft.
You will need plenty of these to defend against ever increasing air
attacks and for escourt purposes. Start building them at multiple
locations as soon as you research 'Naval Fighter'. note: All second generation monoplanes have a red nose cone. |
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Nakajima B5N |
The production variant of the 'Kate' entered service in 1939 after over five years of prototyping, finally fulfilling a Navy requuirement for a three-seat attack torpedo bomber with folding wings and the ability to carry a 800 kg torpedo. It quickly replaced the antiquated 'Jean' and saw heavy action with great success against several American carriers with 1150 aircraft built. As in the case of the 'Zero', it was able to achieve its performance and agility by ignoring the need for crew and fuel tank protection. Your 'Kate' bombers should be able to perform their anti-ship role admirably when supported by fighters. Station at least three to four squadrons on each carrier. |
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Aichi D3A 'Val' |
The 2-seater 'Val' dive bomber entered service in 1940 and was one of the last designs with non-retractable landing gear. It played an important role in the beginning of the Pacific War as a deadly and accurate dive-bomber, much like it's illustrious German counterpart the "Stuka". They sank more Allied ships then any other type during World War 2 but by 1942, the weakness of their slow speed and poor dog-fighting ability began to show and they were taken out of active duty the following year. Your carriers should carry 'Val's as well as 'Kate's even though their attack factor is less - you'll be needing them for sorties against terrestrial targets. |
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Mitsubishi G4M |
The 'Betty' bomber was the most well-known and numerous medium bomber of the Japanese Air Force during World War 2. It had an amazing bomb load and range for a plane of its size. Unlike the 'Nell' which it replaced, it was a revolutionary design for the Japanese in the sense that it utilized simplifying production techniques to facilitate mass production. Like all other Japanese designs, the emphasis on light materials with no armour or self sealing fuel tanks meant a successful operational history up to the point where Allied fighters began to gain air superiority. 'Betty' bombers can stay four turns in the air and when flying out of island bases, they are useful on search-and-destroy missions in open sea areas where you are unable to deploy ships. |
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Yokosuka
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The Japanese were so impressed by the German airborne opeartions employed as the spearhead of the remarkable and daring invasion of Scandinavia in 1940 that they began both glider and paratroop exercises one month later, with the help of German advisers. Small numbers of Japanese airborne troops were used with some success in the Dutch East Indies campaign, specifically in the Celebes, Sumatra and West Timor. In each case they were used in conjunction with amphibious landings and there were never sufficient paratroopers to be used as an independent formation. This unit cannot be built (but you will receive one free unit) so make sure your para-unit becomes a veteran unit without doing anything too risky. As in history, paratroopers will be most useful in island hopping operations. |