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I can let you do the Allied turns for me until you get a turn.
It's Nov 2nd '43, the siege of Pegu is almost over as last attack whipped out 11 LCUs bring total down to 16 and probably the 13 divisions trapped there; Death Star is getting some much needed R&R after Mindanao landings, Taytay, and Jesselton have been captured; there is always lots and lots of logistics and prepping for future objectives you can do, old man.

I did a very mild re-write of the Circle Plans description reflecting on adding a pair of B-65 and a pair Aratami-Class Command Cruisers to the immediate pre-war build. The changes are BOLDED and ITALICISED.


Japanese Pre-Circle and Circle Plans
Changes/Additions

BB Kaga and Tosa
BC Takao and Atago
LBC Chichibu
CVL Ryukaku and Karasu
CVE Ibuki and Hosho
CA Yoshino, Miyako, Chishima, and Seiki (Myoko-Class)
CL Minase, Otonase, and Ayase (Jintsu-Class)
DD +4 Minekaze-Class
SS +3 ML SS and 4 I-Boats

The Capital Ships and SS have already been detailed in the Washington Conference description.

There is no Ryujo here. The sister ships, Ryukaku and Karasu, have smaller air groups and are stable CVLs.

Two ‘experimental’ carriers are allowed by Treaty so Japan has Hosho and Ibuki.

The construction of 4 follow-on Myoko-Class CA comes PRIOR to the London Conference. The 3 additional CLs were planned but never built. These are. Ditto for the Minekaze DDs.

Circle One Plan (1930)
CA Kako, Aoba, Furutaka, and Kinugasa are down-gunned to 6” Light Cruisers (3x3 6”)
CL Mogami, Mikuma, Suzuyu, and Kumano built as planned (5x3 6”)
CAV Kushiro and Tokachi
6 Hatsuharu-Class DD
10 Shiratyuki-Class DD

The London Conference of 1930 goes slightly better for Japan. The Americans get their Flightdeck Cruiser agreed to and Japan then builds her CAV to the maximum allowable by Treaty and then some…

The oldest CAs are down-gunned due to the Conference allowing for the actual 15-15-12 numbers to still stand-up. A number of old CLs are phased out of active Fleet service and are converted to fast minelayers and training ships. Japan starts with 12 nearly matching CAs with 8 newer and/or more modern CLs added to her strength.

Two additional Shiratyuki-Class are ordered over the original 8 planned.

Circle Two Plan (1934)
2 Hiryu-Class CVs
2 CC Aratami-Class
3 CS Chitose-Class
4 DD Shiratsuyu-Class
18 DD Asashio-Class

Japan KNOWS it is leaving the Treaty System so Soryu and Hiryu are built as true sisters of the Hiryu-Class. The Japanese lay down two cruisers of exceptional size. The Aratami-Class Command Cruiser (21,000 tons) are built as an experiment to test new technologies that will be incorporated into the next generation of Japanese capital ships featuring triple gun turrets, better compartmentalization, differing AA armament, etc… Four additional Asashio-Class are ordered over the planned 14.

Between the Storms—Air takes hold with the next Circle Plan. Admiral Yamamoto becomes Vice-Naval Minister and begins promoting air-minded, younger officers to higher rank so their presence becomes more and more noticeable over time. Work begins on increasing/building an additional naval slipway at both Port Arthur and Shanghai.

Circle Three Plan (1937)
CV Shokaku and Zuikaku
CS Nisshin built as CVL
2 BC B-65-Class
2 CC Aratami-Class
2 Niitaka-Class CA
2 CL Tokoro-Class
22 DD Kagero-Class

The Fleet Faction of the IJN are sold on two fast BC with plans made for the monster Yamato-Class BBs pushed back several years. They will, in fact, never be built.

The Natori-Class Training CLs are scrapped as well as the Tone and Chikuma Aircraft Cruisers.

The B-65 requires no extra yard expansion and are built as larger, tougher and more capable successors to the Aratami-Class CC (two more of this design are also ordered). The new Niitaka-Class CA is built to provide escort to carriers freeing up the 12 early CAs for surface warfare. Tokoro-Class CL are a slightly smaller Mogami-Class CL that is fast and capable and are destined to replace the elderly World War One CLs. The 4 ‘fake’ Kagero-DDs (hiding the cost of the Yamato-Class) are built as real DDs.

In 1939, Yamamoto accepts, at grave risk to his life, the position of Naval Minister. He immediately begins moving Fleet-minded individuals into retirement or other less critical positions within the Kaigun. The Yamato-Class BB, in fact ANY BB, is scrapped.
The lessons coming from the European war are taken to heart. The Bismarck’s end and Taranto demonstrate the power of the aircraft carrier.

Circle Four Plan (1940)
4 CV Shokaku Kai-Class
2 BC B-65 Class
2 CA Niitaka-Class
2 CL Tokoro-Class
5 CLAA Teshio-Class
4 DD Shimakaze-Class
32 DD Yugumo-Class
24 DD Akizuki-Class

No Taiho or Unryu in the 4th Circle. Four slightly improved Shokaku Kai-Class are ordered with 2 follow-on B-65. Niitaka and Tokoro continue their builds. The Japanese take strong notice of the war in Europe and see the advent of the Dido-CLAA cruiser. A similar design is quickly worked out and the Teshio-Class is put into the order cue.

A total of 60 DDs are ordered in Circle Four. Historically the order was for 29 Yugumo, 3 Kagero, 12 Akizuki, and 1 Shimakaze—Total 45. This number is bounced to 60 due to streamlining each class to ONE manufacturer allowing for specialization and quicker building.

As Japan counts down to war, the Americans pass the Two-Ocean Bill and the Japanese have to counter it with SOMETHING.

Circle Five Plan (1941)
8 CV Hiryu-Class
3 CVL Aso-Class
2 CA Niitaka-Class
1 CL Tokoro-Class
4 CLAA Teshio-Class
8 DD Shimakaze-Class
24 DD Akitsuki-Class

Slow to build and expensive Shokaku-Kai are moved away from and Japan orders eight of the far easier to build Hiryu-Class carriers. Four can be built by 1944 with four more in 1945. Four Tokoro-Class are ordered but three are converted into CVLs. The remainder of cruiser construction comes in the form of four more CLAA.

In RL the Japanese ordered 16 Shimakaze- and 16 Akitzuki-Class DDs. The number is left the same but shifted towards the Akitsuki-Class to see how many the Japanese can build by the end of hostilities.

New Ship Classes for Between the Storms
Aircraft Carriers
Shokaku-Kai: 28,155T, 32 Knots, 81 Planes (36F-24DB-21TB), Belt 165, Deck 60, and Tower 25

Aso (Tokoro Conversion): 12,000T, 33 Knots, 36 Planes (27F-9TB), Belt 75, D 25, T 0

Battlecruisers
B-65: 31,500T, 32 Knots, 3x3 14”, 4x2 3.9”, B 190, D 125, T 180

Heavy/Command Cruisers
Aratami: 21,000T, 3x3 12”, 4x2 3.9”, 6x3 LL, B 160, D 100, T 200

Niitaka: 16,000T, 4x3 8”, 3x2 3.9”, 8x4 LL, B 140, D 75, T 100

Light Cruisers
Tokoro: 9,700T, 33 Knots, 4x3 6”, 4x2 3.9”, 8x4 LL, B 140, D 60, T 100

Teshio: 8,500T, 32 Knots, 16x2 3.9”, B 75, D 25, T 75

Admiral,

Going back with our discussions over the years of having a CarDiv being 2 heavy and one CVL does the math work out here?

Plans for small CV TFs with say 2 CVL, 4 DD, and maybe a CLAA to be able to cover for invasion TFs at wars beginning.

Is there a particular DD/DE Class that is ASW focused versus AA? Can an old DD Class be upgraded for serious ASW work?

Circle 3 & 4 have just ONE CVL, but now four B65. How about identifying a CL hull to use for CVL like USA did for their CVLs that were about 10k ton. These would be the precursor to the Aso Class and if there are enough slips available, go for two each Circle. If they carry 30 airframes, then it would be 21 F and 9 DB/TB with just 9 TT.

Nice thoughts Michael.

Will give that some serious thinking. The upgraded ASW platforms are PB/PG that Stanislav worked on years ago. You are correct though in that all the oldest DD convert over to ASW platforms and form the back of the Unified Coastal Command in early-43.