Comments by "William Cox" (@WildBillCox13) on "The Drydock - Episode 075" video.
-
13
-
My Spin on a hypothetical rejuvenation of the IJN in '44?
Like Drach said, it takes time to launch hulls, to fit out ships, and to work them up for combat duty. The planning would have needed to begin in the fourth quarter of '41 at the latest. Modifications are cheaper, time-wise, if not too extensive. For extensive conversions you night as well build a new one from the ground up. I cite the Italian Aguila, and the various proposals for Kriegsmarine cruiser conversions. And the Ise/Hyuga thing. What was that, anyway? A ninja tool for the Village Hidden in Stupidity?
Still, a few things stand out:
1) the Japanese had a goodly number of Vickers PomPom from various new possessions, or scavenged from wrecks. The plans and tooling and even samples of Bofors M32 gun could've been transferred through U--Boat activity (there were historical precedents). Devote all of the IJN's resources into mass production of 40mm AAA and ammunition, load down the Akisuki class ships with single and dual mount (the quad was late innovation) 40mm, rather than 25mm. Then just focus on the Akisukis, and also produce a small ASW escort for the crude oil safaris.
2) Clear the N1K1J for carrier Ops. Poke friendly holes (for ventilation) in the Taiho's sides, and use her as a plane magnet for the allied forces. If you need more aggro, pair her up with the Yamatos.
3) Fortify Truk. Maybe unload all of those superfluous 25mm guns there.
4) Ask the Kwantung Army to offer to help Chiang eliminate the Communists in a two--pronged offensive. Make a deal to pay him, as the representative of the legal government of China (a la Pu-Yi), a large indemnity in art, sculpture, financial aid, western medicines, some great opium (which Chiang would use to, ahem, "motivate national sentiment") and sake, and offers of both technological exchange and cooperative ventures, and thereby seek to pacify China . . . and bring its resources of food and minerals under one roof.
5) Treat the Pacific side Panama canal locks like the British treated the gates at St Nazaire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Nazaire_Raid.
6) Offer aid to Vichy. Perhaps transport "agents provocateurs" to the African littoral by submarine? Run a ninja hit on De Gaulle? Or, even better, to keep up a plausibly deniable dialog between the two halves of the French People in case of an eventual rapproachment?
7) Change the Navy's effing codes. Frequently. And with prejudice. Or, alternatively, make a deal with the Ainu, like we did with the Navajo. Use them as Code Talkers.
8) Submarines, submarines, submarines. Remember, your original plan to bring the US fleet into a Grand Battle can only work if your subs can go for his carriers, while he's pounding your decoy (see number 2 above) to smoldering ruin.
9) Make an open appeal to return prisoners as a gesture of civilized comportment. Offer any allied prisoner a pardon if he signs a pledge to make war no more against the rightful rulers of the world. With all the food from a willing China, you'll be able to raise the standard of living for your peasantry, AND feed prisoners like you'd want the emperor to be treated if conditions were reversed. Very Buddhist of us. Western fools would misrepresent it as adherence to their silly "Christian virtues".
10) If you have all those new resources . . . perhaps you might reach out to your natural partner in world trade . . . India. After all, they hate Churchill, too. Spread a few rupees around and see what happens.
11) Send an official embassy to the USA, with full autonomy to negotiate and . . . offer to sell them Chinese scrap iron and Dutch Crude oil below scale. Not to generate good will, mind you, but to insult the bastards for starting this whole thing in the first place.
12) Offer a diaspora group citizenship if its members would like to colonize some of your new possessions. Protest in world maritime courts if their rights are abused by allied acts of terror. Why? Number 11, M----------r. Who's the Good Guy NOW? Hehe.
2
-
1