NationStates Jolt Archive

The Empire of Japan Factbook, News and Diplomacy (Age of Imperialism)

Factbook of the Japanese Empire

Name: Empire of Japan
Capitol: Tokyo
Territory: Japanese Home Isles, Korea, Formosa, Outer Manchuria, Sakhalin, the Kurrill Islands, Hainan Dao, Former French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Palau, the Marshall Islands, the Caroline Islands and the Mariana Islands
Head of State: Emperor Yoshihito
Type of Government: Constitutional Monarchy, but not quite a democracy.
Population: 65 million people
Maximum Army Potential: 5%=3.25 million
10%=6.5 million
15%=9.75 million
Current Percentage: 1.6%

Imperial Japanese Army
-1250000 active forces, divided over 5 armies, 3 Independant Corps and 2 Marine Corps age group 18-36
-Recruit Resource pool of 500000 Infantry and 50000 Cavalry
-50,000 Second line Reserve - Same as above but former Class B(2) conscripts
-220,000 National Army
1st National Army - 37 to 40 year old men from end of 1st Reserve to 40 years old.
2nd National Army - untrained 20 year olds and over 40 year old trained reserves.

Armies (self made list):
1st. Army (150000 infantry, 10000 Cavalry, 2 Corps, 6 Inf. Div. 1 Cav. Div.)-Korea
2nd. Army (150000 infantry, 10000 Cavalry, 2 Corps, 6 Inf. Div. 1 Cav. Div.)-Outer Manchuria
3rd. Army (150000 infantry, 10000 Cavalry, 2 Corps, 6 Inf. Div. 1 Cav. Div.)-Formosa/Hainan Dao
4th. Army (150000 Infantry, 10000 Cavalry, 2 Corps, 6 Inf. Div. 1 Cav. Div.)-Outer Manchuria
5th. Army (100000 Infantry, 10000 Cavalry, 2 Corps, 4 Inf. Div. 1 Cav. Div)-Japan
11th. Corps (75000 Infantry, 3 Inf. Div.)-Divided over the Mariana Islands, The Marshall Islands and the Caroline Islands
12th. Corps (75000 Infantry, 3 Inf. Div.)- SIC. Indochina Jungle Training
13th. Corps (75000 Infantry, 3 inf. Div.)-Former French Islands in the Pacific

Reserves
1 Corps (50000, 2 Div.) 2nd. Line Reserves-Demobilized, in Japan
1st. National Army (100000 men, 10000 Cavalry, 2 Corps, 4 Inf. Div. 1 Cav. Div.)-Activated, Japan
2nd. National Army (100000 men, 10000 Cavalry, 2 Corps, 4 Inf. Div. 1 Cav. Div.)-Activated, Korea

Recruit Resource Pool

These are reserves who had basic infantry/cavalry training and in case of war can be called up, get advanced training and form units to fight in war.

500000 Infantry
50000 Cavalry

The Japanese Army was a Highly Trained Fighting Force, capable of doing extraordinary things. The Infatry was well trained in Modern (trench) warfare and had enough experience in the Russo-Japanese war. Recruits learn how to use all kinds of weapons used in the IJA, theories in Advanced Offensive and Defensive Tactics, Hand-to-Hand Combat, the Art of Camouflage and they continously train to expand their physical abilities. The Average Infantry Squad looked like this: One NCO, Four Machinegunners (2 Machineguns), Two Light Artillery Men (1 Light Mortar), 18 Infantry Soldiers (Armed with type 38 Rifles). Squads in Assault Divisions look like this: One NCO, Four Machinegunners, Four Light Artillery Men (2 Light Mortars), 16 Infantry Soldiers (8 Armed with MP18, 8 with type 38 Rifles).

The Cavalry has had their lessons from the Russo-Japanese war, where they (as a famous British Observer said) "were only fit to cook Rice for the Infantry". Since then the Cavalry has been trained specificely for scouting purposes and to act as Mobile Infantry.

The Largest Part of the Cavalry is being reformed into so called "Tank Battalions". These battalions consist of 25 Tanks. Each Cavalry Division will have 500 tanks per Division. The entire Tank Corps of the IJN will consist of 2500 Tanks. This number is expected to be reached in 1920.

Each Tank Battalion is divided in two Squads: the Light Tank Squad (15 Tanks) and the Heavy Tank Squad (10 Tanks). The Specifications of the Light Tanks are as follows:

Length: 30 feet
Width: 6 Feet
Crew: 6 (one Driver, one Commander, four Machinegunners)
Armament: 4 6.5mm Machineguns
Propulsion: 2 75hp Diessel Engines
Armor: 15 mm

The Heavy Tank Stats are as follows:

Length: 36 feet
Width: 8 feet
Crew: 10 (Two Drivers, One Commander, One Gunner, Two Loaders, Four Machinegunners)
Armament: 1 Dual Barrelled 57mm gun, 4 6.5mm
Propulsion: 3 75hp Diessel Engines
Armor: 17.5 mm

The Artillery was probably the soft spot of the Japanese Army, though it was still a formidable branch of the army. The Rule was that every Corps had an Independant Artillery Brigade, with some 150 guns (120 light field artillery 85mm, 30 heavy field artillery 100 mm). Each Division also has an Artillery Battery, with 30 85 mm guns. Last but not least is the special Siege Artillery Brigade, with the heavy 210mm guns (40 per Army) and 305mm guns (20 per Army)

Each Corps in the Imperial Japanese Army contains 3 Infantry Divisions, or 75000 men. Of these divisions, one is trained as an Assault Unit (Stormtrooper), the two others are regular trained.

Fortifications

Yamato Line (border Korea/Liaoning with China, 100000 men, 4 Inf. Div. 1st Army)
Seoul Fortified Position (around Seoul, 25000 men, 1 Inf. Div. 1st. Army)
Port Arthur Fortified Position (around Port Arthur, 25000, 1 Inf. Div. 1st. Army)
Pacific Island Fortified Islands (Truk, Palau, Kwajalein, Saipan, 75000 men, 6 Brigades, 11th Corps)
Tahiti (the Island of Tahiti, 25000 men, 1 Division)

Under Construction

Togo Line (Border Outer Manchuria with China/Siberia, 90 Months)
New Caledonia (6 Months)

Imperial Japanese Army Air Corps

200 Independant Operating Aircraft, Fokker DVII
(organized in groups of 10)
130 Aeroplanes, 52 Rumpler Taube for Scouting, 78 Fokker D VII for Fighter/Ground Attack Purposes (4 RT, 6 D VII Per Corps)
60 Aeroplanes, Fokker D VII(Reserves, for the RRP Armies)
25 Zeppelins (5 Per Army)

The Army Aircorps had three purposes: scouting, defending the airspace of the Empire and Ground Attack. The First is simple and the old and outdated Rumpler Taubes are used for that. The Fighter Role is being done by the Fokker DVIII's, which have preformed magnificently in the end of the Pacific Campaign and the Western Front. Ground Attack duties are also done by this aircraft.

Although some other nations use and have used (France, Russia, Italy) bombers, the Army Aircorps thinks they are not necessary for our kind of warfare.

Imperial Japanese Army Gaswarfare Brigade

11000 men, two regiments, both in Indochina

Imperial Japanese Navy

Dreadnoughts 20
Battle cruisers 25
2nd class Battle cruisers 4
Pre-dreadnought battleships 10
Coast defense ships 4
Armored cruisers 12
Protected cruisers 25
Light cruisers 35
Aircraft and seaplane carriers 8
Destroyers 120
Submarines 85
Patrol Boats 40
Motor Torpedo Boats 75

Fleets

1st. Fleet-Yokohama/Combined with 3rd. Fleet
4 Dreadnought Battleship
8 Battle Cruiser
3 Pre-Dreadnought Battleships
2 Coast Defense Ships
4 Armored Cruisers
5 Protected Cruisers
10 Light Cruisers
30 Destroyers
20 Submarines
20 Patrol Boats (currently around the Kurril Islands)
20 Motor Torpedo Boats
2 Sea/Airplane Carrier

2nd. Fleet-Sasebo/ Currently at Sea, Destination unknown
10 Dreadnought Battleships
8 Battle Cruiser
2 2nd. Class Battle cruisers
4 Pre-Dreadnought Battleships
1 Coast Defense Ship
4 Armored Cruisers
10 Protected Cruisers
10 Light Cruisers
4 Sea/Airplane carrier
55 Destroyers
25 Submarines
35 Motor Torpedo Boats
10 Patrol Boats

10 Submarines, the PT's and the 20 destroyers remain in the Eastern Pacific for Defensive purposes.

3rd. Fleet-Hainan Dao/Combined with 1st. Fleet
6 Dreadnought Battleship
9 Battle Cruiser
2 2nd. Class Battle cruisers
3 Pre-Dreadnought Battleships
1 Coast Defense Ship
4 Armored Cruisers
10 Protected Cruisers
15 Light Cruisers
2 Airplane/Seaplane Carrier
35 Destroyers
40 Submarines20 in Indochina
20 Motor Torpedo Boats
10 Patrol Boats (around the Ryukyu Islands and Formosa)

The General Doctrine of the Imperial Japanese Navy is, move fast, strike hard with all possible means, and retreat once the enemy is completely destroyed.

The First Phase of Naval Engagement is always scouting to discover the enemy before the enemy discovers the IJN. The IJN uses seaplanes, carrier based planes, submarines and light cruisers for this role. Once the enemy is discovered, submarines attack the flanks and the rear of the fleet, to cause confusion and distruction. After the submarine attack the fleet lines up with Destroyers in front, Cruisers and Battlecruisers in the second row and in the rear the Dreadnoughts. The ships start firing at the greatest possible range, while they try to get closer. The Firing sequence is orginized to keep the enemy vessels under fire during the entire battle. Light Cruisers defend the rear and keep scouting to detect any reinforcements and fleeing ships. The Submarines stay in the rear of the enemy fleet, ready to engage them in case of retreat. Seaplanes and Carrier based planes will try to bomb enemy vessels, the main targets are the smaller ships. During the entire battle MTB's will run torpedo attacks on the enemy fleet to break their formation. Once the battle is over, and the enemy is fleeing, destroyers, light cruisers and submarines (if necessary supported by Battlecruisers) continue to harras the enemy vleet.

In case our fleet is defeated, light cruisers, destroyers and battlecruisers cover the retreat of our fleet. Submarines continue to attack the fleet.

Imperial Japanese Marine Corps

I Corps

1st. Infantry Regiment-7500 men-Indochina
2nd. Infantry Regiment-7500 men-Indochina
3rd. Infantry Regiment-7500 men-Indochina
4th. Infantry Regiment-7500 men-Indochina
5th. Infantry Regiment-7500 men-Indochina
6th. Infantry Regiment-7500 men-Indochina
7th. “Cavalry” Regiment-5000 men-Indochina

II Corps

8th. Infantry Regiment-7500 men-New Caladonia
9th. Infantry Regiment-7500 men-New Caladonia
10th. Infantry Regiment-7500 men-New Caladonia
11th. Infantry Regiment-7500 men-Truk
12th. Infantry Regiment-7500 men-Palau
13th. Infantry Regiment-7500 men-Tahiti
14th. “Cavalry” Regiment-5000 men-New Caladonia

The IJMC is the elite of the elite. Superbly trained and equiped they can do anything that has to do with warfare. They sign for 15, after a harsh training of 18 months, which takes them through every aspect of war and its history. Expertly Trained in: Trench Warfare, Jungle Warfare, Artic Warfare, Man-to-man combat, Rifling, Heavy Weapons, Night Time Warfare, Offensive and Defensive Warfare, Banyonet Charges. They have an extraordinary physical strength which they continue to maintain every day.

Allies:
Ottoman Empire
Austria-Hungary
China
Germany
Italy

Weary:
America

Extremely Cautious
none

Neutral/Friendly:
Everyone else

At War
France
Great Britain
South Africa

Since the threat of war is decreased in our region, the folowing armies will be demobilized:

9th Army
10th Army

The following armies may be demobilized in the near future:

7th Army
8th Army

Half of the demobilized men will join the RRP, the rest will be reserves, to be called up if necessary. The soldiers will be helped with finding new jobs, more than enough jobs are available due to possible building orders of ships etc. from our allies in the west.

Japan will lease a large part of the captured Russian Pacific Fleet to China untill new vesels have finished construction. Japanese Crews will teach Chinese recruits how to handle these powerful weapons of war. For that purpose 8500 sailors and officers are send to Shanghai, which will be the base (for now) of the Chinese Fleet.

The fleet consists of:

3 Dreadnought Battleships
5 Battlecruisers
2 Light Cruisers
15 Destroyers
30 Torpedoboats

The first fully Chinese manned vessel will be ready at the end of 1917.

The Third Naval Expansion Act is passed with a majority of the votes. The following list of ships will be build:

-4 Dreadnought
-11 Battle Cruisers (I like the mix between heavy armor and guns but still speedy)
-20 destroyers
-5 Light Cruisers
-15 Submarines

SIC.

The 1st. 2nd Line reserve Corps is activated and will be shipped to various parts of the former French Pacific Possessions. The Marine Coprs Regiments currently stationed there, plus all other Marine Regiments will be moved to Indochina for extensive Jungle Training in cooperation with the Chinese.

Plans are being made to expand the Marine Corps with another 50000 men, or a full Corps.

The 8th. Army demobilizes entirely save 1 Corps which will form the 16th Corps. The Corps will be transported by rail to Pusan and from there to Indochina for extensive Jungle Training.

All schools in the recently acquired territories (Outer Manchuria, Sakhalin, French Pacific Possessions) will close on the 1st. of May for a Three Month Holiday during which the teachers will learn new Educational Methods and Schools will be modernized. All adults will receive a quick course Japanese Language and culture during the summer. The costs will be paid by the government.

The Local non-Japanese Population of Sakhalin Island and the Kurrils will be moved to Formosa for a duration of four years. After that period they will be moved to Outer Manchuria.

The Army Engeneering Corps will also construct schools, hospitals, railroads and other infrastructure to make life in the territories better. japanese Industries are encouraged to invest in the new territories and build new factories. The Naval Facilities in Vladivostok are seized by the Government and used for the production of ships.

Minister of Colonial Affairs

Military

All families of the soldiers stationed in Outer Manchuria, Korea, Sakhalin, Formosa and the Pacific Islands will move to live withtheir husbands and fathers. This will increase the speed of the japanification of these territories. Soldiers to quit their full military service will be encouraged to live in the territories where they served.

SIC. Military

The Recently Demobilized Corps will be retrained as a defensive occupation force for the Former French Pacific Possessions. They will replace the reserve Corps after three weeks of defensive training. The Main Islands (Tahiti, New Caledonia, several other islands) will be heavily fortified just like Truk, Palau, Saipan and other Japanese held Islands in the Pacific.

Along the Border of Outer Manchuria (including the River Amur) a Defensive Line will be constructed. It will consist large Forts (each with a 1000 men garrison), 15 miles apart, with in between smaller forts, bunkers and trenches. The local terrain will be used to the greatest benefit (forts on top of hills etc.) The total cost of the project will be around the 1 Billion Yen.

To: Japan
From: Austria-Hungary

We are interested in knowing if you would like to purchase more artillery pieces that you did before

SIC. To; Austria-Hungary
From; Ministery of Defense

We are interested in buying 160 305 Skoda siege guns. Our experiences in Russia has told us that they are very usefull. Since it is a very large order, and you're porbably very busy with your domestic production, maybe its an idea that we buy the production rights.

SIC. A military reorginization is planned, with a expansion of Corps Size to 3 Infantry Divisions (bringing the number of men to 75000 per Corps). Of these divisions, one will be trained specificly for the role as Stormtrooper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormtrooper). The soldiers will be equiped with five handgrenades per soldier, knife, assault rifle (MP-18) and further normal military equipment.

SIC.

Research has started in developing Armored Vehicles who can serve as platforms for guns and as transportation over battlefields.

SIC. To; Austria-Hungary
From; Ministery of Defense

We are interested in buying 160 305 Skoda siege guns. Our experiences in Russia has told us that they are very usefull. Since it is a very large order, and you're porbably very busy with your domestic production, maybe its an idea that we buy the production rights.

We can provide you with 20 guns and the rights

To; Austria-Hungary
From; Ministery of Defense, Tokyo

We thank our great ally. We hope the guns serve the Empire well.

The New Schoolyear begins with the new Educational Law in the Newly acquired territories. The Engineering Corps is finished with building the schools, hospitals and basic factories. Private Companies will continue to expand the factories, hospitals and schools while the Engineering Corps diverts attention to the construction of infrastructure (roads, railroads) but mostly to the new Defense Line.

In Tokyo, Osaka and Nagasaki the COmmunist Party held demonstrations with as common theme: Long Live the Proletarian Revolution! Stop the War! Peace and Power for the People! (ooc. weirdo commies ;)) The Demonstartions were peacefull, but a large policeforce was nearby in case of riots...

Burst Message to Japanese Commercial Shipping Around the World

*ENCODED*

War with Great Britain likely-stop-leave all British Empire Harbours ASAP-stop-be Sure to Maintain a Radiowatch at all times-stop-in case of Hostile Forces boarding your ship, destroy all communication devices, codes, engines and if possible cargo-stop-Godspeed-end-

Emergency Mobilization is considered, 300000 Infantry and 30000 Cavalry RRP is being mobilized and should finish initial deployment in Japan in 5 days. After that it will be decided if they receive further training or deployment abroad.

SIC.

All Naval Builds are Rushed, and Austria-Hungary is asked if they mind that their ships are temporarily seized and used by the IJN.

Untill Further Notion All Actions By Parliament Are Suspeneded On Imperial Order. The task of Governing Will Be The Entire Responsability Of The Imperial Government And Military. The Suspension will Last 99 Days. After The 99 Days Have Passed His Imperial Divine Majesty Can Decide To Lengthen The Suspension.

For Japan, The Emperor and the Gods!

The Empire of Japan considers itself at war from this moment on. All reserve Naval Crew is mobilized to sail the ships which were build for the K.u.K. navy. After some extra training they will be ready in 7 days.

The 1st. and 3rd. Fleets move to blockade Hong Kong.