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Better Presentation of CAF (China Air Force) four posts below by Big Red

See Page 10

The Doro Nawa Unit was an ad hoc, military staff assigned (under the energetic and creative and brilliant Col Masanobu Tsuji) by Gen Yamishita to plan for the invasion of Malaya. As Col Tsuji notes in his book (Japan's Greatest Victory, Britain's Worst Defeat) - there had been no prewar military (vice naval) planning for war with the USA or British Commonwealth. There was simply no staff work to draw upon, not even intelligence. Tsuji was part of that staff, as was a full captain of the Navy. Its formal name was Taiwan Army No 82 Unit and it sometimes also was called the Taiwan Army Research Unit. The commander was Gen Itagaki. Its size was 30 en toto, including "servants and typists" - an ideal size for a planning staff (not so big people waste time writing memos, they just talk to each other).

Scenario 105 assumes that Gen Yamashita proposed, and the Imperial General Staff implemented, a similar national staff. This staff has an executive committee of five - Gen Yamashita (theorist of armor and combined arms), Vice Adm Hosogawa (theorist of the Kiddo Butai), and a Vice Minister from the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Finance. This body met continuously in July 1941, and monthly thereafter until November, when the military members left to take up their wartime posts - replaced by one star officers who would travel to consult with them during the war - and who acted as their personal representative on the committee. The staff itself was nominally supervised by prince Tsuneyoshi Takeda, a staff officer with the Imperial General Staff in 1940, in charge of the personal section. [He had served as chief of finance of Kwangtung Army, and as a junior officer, in cavalry in Manchukuo] This was a small joint staff, with representatives from various military, naval and government branches, including the Nakano School, the submarine arm, artillery, and the Kempeitei (intellegence section) and Tokkeitei (Naval intelligence), as well as experts in finance and industry.

The staff only forms up in July, 1941, after the decision to mobilize is made, in the context of the capture of British plans by a German raider, which were turned over with permission from Hitler IRL (a story in itself, complete with how the messages were sent but not intercepted by Ultra). The committee was unable to change anything which had happened before it formed, and it needed time to decide what other changes to implement? For this reason, Scenario 105 assumes only minor impacts by the time the war begins, and capital construction impacts cut in more and more over time. It makes no attempt to device theater strategies - except for guidance about joint policy. Like the real Doro Nawa ("robber rope" - more or less "barn door brigade" for the English idea of "it is too late to lock the barn door after the horse is stolen" - implying the planning should have been done long ago) unit, this fictional one requires joint cooperation between Army and Navy and civilian ministries - itself a rather profound concept in Imperial Japan.

Since aircraft carriers were already clearly important, and since VADM Hosogawa is a carrier vice a battleship advocate, the first strategic investment decision was made in re carrier construction. Both the USA and Japan found steel to be the second most critical strategic material, after oil. The amount of steel produced is approximately constant, and grows only slowly over time, if at all. It is vital to vastly different things (rails for trains, frames for factories or bridges, tanks, guns of all sorts, warships, vehicles, etc). Similarly, the output of engine plants for large ships is approximately constant. The number of large, high speed hulls is essentially limited - not subject to the whim of "we want more of those" alone. So the decisions were made in the context of hulls already laid down, as well as how fast new hulls might be produced, at a very limited rate?

The first decision was with respect to the four large battleships under construction (two laid down in 1940, two others much earlier nearing completion). Aside from the potential use of battleships as such, and their many advocates in the Navy, there also seemed to be, in 1941, a real requirement for such vessels, and tearing apart hulls almost ready for service to get carriers years later in time didn't make sense compared to battleships operational in 1942. So Yamato and Musashi survived the review. Shinano and Hull 111 (probably named Kii) didn't. Construction was suspended IRL, but this staff decided to keep building the hulls as designed, and to keep building the engines for them, while directing a specialist staff to design a carrier variation - very similar to what happened to Shinano in 1942 except these two ships were to be full operational carriers. Big enough to hold on the order of 120 planes, for code reasons, and because the planes will be larger by the time the ships are completed, this design is "limited" to 96 - still bigger than any others in Japan. They also get new names - to confuse the enemy in case they had detected the construction of the battleships - and not imply their huge size. They will be called Owami and Iwari. Not being delayed by suspended construction, or even waiting for plans for the carrier version to be drawn (it takes time to build the hull and the redesign would preserve that portion), these ships could complete (if industry remains productive) as early as 430219 and 430822. These ships get four squadrons - the classical fighter, dive bomber and torpedo bomber mix - all at 27 planes - with a smaller squadron of carrier recon planes (which could be replaced by carrier night fighters later on).

The second decision was related to plans to lay down another large carrier in July, 1941 - the improved Shokaku armored carrier Taiho. It would require three years to complete, and in spite of a decision to order a sister, as well as plans to order an early version of Unryu, the second Taiho never laid down and the Unryu needed a year more staff work before the first three began in August and later in 1942. The staff decided that losses in war were likely, that expanding the carrier force if there were no losses was useful and a good counter to likely enemy construction, and that the best compromise was to immediately order a pair of repeat Soryu class ships - to complete in two years. Not waiting until 1942 to begin construction, and using material assembled for Taiho to begin the first in July, 1941, these could complete (if industry remains productive) as early as 430706 and 430710 (never mind the second unit starts building more than a month later in time, based on historical construction performance of the first two Unryus). These ships get similar air groups to the real Unryus - three squadrons with 18 fighters, 18 dive bombers and 18 torpedo bombers - supported by a section of 9 carrier recon planes. These ships will use the first two Unryu class names, Unryu and Amagi.

The shadow program producing the Hiyo and Junyo was also retained, so both ships will appear in 1942 as IRL. These retain the historical air groups.

Later construction was of the Unryu class - slightly enlarged Soryu's - with two in 1942 able to complete in 1944, again as IRL as early as 440806 & 440810. These will use the second pair of historical Unryu class names, Katsurigi and Kasagi. These retain the historical air groups, the same as described above. Another pair laid down at the end of 1942 and start of 1943 can complete early in 1945. These will use the third pair of historical Unryu class names, Aso and Ikoma. If no construction delays, unlike real life, earliest completion is possible 450106 and 450110. The staff decided to order two more units to lay down later in 1943, as a replacement unit for assumed war losses. Named Kurama and Azuma, they could complete as early as 450613 and 450617. While these numbers are insufficient to compete with likely Allied construction, it is the most Japan can reasonably afford. Japanese strategy assumes the war must be won early, and that it cannot compete in a long term building contest with the USA, so later construction will focus on defensive ships and ships with the potential to convert to peacetime use.

Scenario 105 assumes that Gen Yamashita proposed, and the Imperial General Staff implemented, a similar national staff. This staff has an executive committee of five - Gen Yamashita (theorist of armor and combined arms), Vice Adm Hosogawa (theorist of the Kiddo Butai), and a Vice Minister from the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Finance. This body met continuously in July 1941, and monthly thereafter until November, when the military members left to take up their wartime posts - replaced by one star officers who would travel to consult with them during the war - and who acted as their personal representative on the committee. The staff itself was nominally supervised by prince Tsuneyoshi Takeda, a staff officer with the Imperial General Staff in 1940, in charge of the personal section. [He had served as chief of finance of Kwangtung Army, and as a junior officer, in cavalry in Manchukuo] This was a small joint staff, with representatives from various military, naval and government branches, including the Nakano School, the submarine arm, artillery, and the Kempeitei (intellegence section) and Tokkeitei (Naval intelligence), as well as experts in finance and industry.

Sid, what is the possibility the Japs get a better deal w/ the WNT.

ORIGINAL: el cid again

RHS Plane List 1 Slot Order [CAF Section]

Slot # Game Name Notes Bitmap Scenarios
1 CAF Chinese Air Force Header None All
2 CAF A-29A Hudson Medium Bomber 1 All
3 CAF B-24M Liberator Heavy Bomber 2 All
4 CAF B-25D Mitchell Medium Bomber 3 All
5 CAF IL-4 [DB-3B] Medium Bomber 4 All
6 CNAC DC-2 XPT Civil Light Transport 5 All
7 CNAC DC-3 XPT Civil Medium Transport 6 All
8 CAF C-46A XPT Medium Transport 7 All
9 CAF F-5E RC Unarmed Recon Fighter 8 All
10 CAF I-16 Type 24 Fighter 9 All
11 CAF I-153 Chaika Biplane Fighter ["Seagull"] 10 All
12 CAF P-40A3 Tomahawk Fighter 11 All
13 CAF Hawk 75 Fighter 12 All
14 CAF P-40E Kittyhawk Fighter 13 All
15 CAF P-40N Warhawk Fighter 14 All
16 CAF P-43A-1 Lancer Fighter 15 All
17 CAF P-66 Vanguard Fighter 16 All
18 CAF Mustang VI Fighter 17 All
19 CAF SB-2 Medium Bomber 18 All

499 CAF Chinese Air Force Header None All
500 CAF CW-21 Demon Fighter [Needs new bitmap] 145 All
501 CAF SBC-4 Helldiver Dive Bmr [Needs new bitmap] 482 All
502 CAF V-935 (O3U) Light Bmr [Needs new bitmap] 494 All
503 CAF Hawk II Fighter [Shared bitmap] 12 All
504 CAF Hawk III Fighter [Shared bitmap] 12 All
505 CNAC Lockheed Mod18 Light Xpt [Needs new bitmap] 254 All

ORIGINAL: el cid again

RHS Plane List 2 Bitmap Order

Map # Game Name Notes Slot # Scenarios
1 CAF A-29A Hudson Medium Bomber 2 All
2 CAF B-24M Liberator Heavy Bomber 3 All
3 CAF B-25D Mitchell Medium Bomber 4 All
4 CAF IL-4 [DB-3B] Medium Bomber 5 All
5 CNAC DC-2 XPT Medium Transport 6 All
6 CNAC DC-3 XPT Civil Medium Transport 7 All
7 CAF C-46A XPT Medium Transport 8 All
8 CAF F-5E RC Unarmed Recon Fighter 9 All
9 CAF I-16 Type 24 Fighter 10 All
10 CAF I-153 Chaika Biplane Fighter ["Seagull"] 11 All
11 CAF P-40A3 Tomahawk Fighter [Flying Tigers] 12 All
12 CAF Hawks Fighter also slots 503 & 504 13 All
13 CAF P-40E Kittyhawk Fighter 14 All
14 CAF P-40N Warhawk Fighter 13 All
15 CAF P-43A-1 Lancer Fighter 14 All
16 CAF P-66 Vanguard Fighter 15 All
17 CAF Mustang VI Fighter 16 All
18 CAF SB-2 Medium Bomber 17 All

Regarding CVLs and CVSs, and AVs, the joint staff, with the perspective
available to it (and lacking the lesson's not yet learned of the war that hasn't happened
yet) decided in its first two weeks (the second half of July 1941):

1) To retain the shadow CVL program ships Shoho, Zuiho and Ryuho;

2) To retain the shadow CVE program ships Taiho, Unyo and Chuyo;

3) To modify the shadow program CVS ships already built or building into CVL form, for which plans were already extant (as well as plans to serve as fast oilers or tenders, depending on requirements). This had the impact of allowing the Mizuho to complete on 430604 first. Chitose and Chiyoda can complete earlier than history in CVL form, at the expense of not being available for start of war operations in CVS form, on 430431 and 430503, with the odd impact that Chiyoda completes before her historical sister in spite of being a later unit (just as IRL). All three of these units being in Chitose form (the rather different Mizuho had an almost identical hull and plans to convert to identical form). But the Nisshin, which can complete sooner than the others (as it does not need to be deconstructed first) can appear in 1942, on 420427, is a larger ship - although in all other respects almost a Chitose - on whose design she was also based. That is, four new build or converted CVLs to add to the three above as well as the already serving Ryujo. [Hosho, uniformly classified as a CVL in references, remains a CVE in RHS as it is in stock]

4) The old seaplane tenders Kamoi and Notoro, being slow and not assigned air groups anyway, were ordered to revert to their AO form, a fast and inexpensive process.

5) The true auxiliary CVS ships - all former AV turned into de facto carriers by the addition of Hein Mat technology (permitting landing while underway, adding to catapult takeoff while underway) - and all faster than Kamoi or Notoro - were upgraded with full air groups - or in one case, the creation of an air group (from one of the former Chitose seaplane squadrons). The other Chitose squadron was assigned to fly off the Akitsushima, with reduced numbers - something that does not require converting the ship (but does require modifying how the class is defined in game data terms). Akitsushima now has 6 E13s. It is one knot faster than the auxiliary CVS ships and a nice early war addition to the seaplane force.

6) The decision was taken to place into conversion for CVE purposes as soon as spaces can be made available (in the fall of 1941) Argentina Maru and Brazil Maru, removing them from use as APs in early war operations. Renamed, they will appear as Kaiyo and Kaijo on 430724 and 430827. Similarly the Scharnhorst will be taken in hand a year sooner than IRL (never mind she was taken over for that purpose in 1939, conversion did not begin until fall 1942), resulting in yet another CVE - named as IRL Shinyo on 430615. This adds 3 more CVE to the extant Hosho and the 3 Taihos.

7) Similar to the Scharnhorst, but not yet taken over, the decision was made to acquire by force the Italian Conte Verde at Shanghai, converting her into a similar CVE named Toyo. This will get the standard 2 squadron air group for a CVE.

8) Plans will be drawn to convert the three Aikoku Maru AMC to CVE form, named Zenyo, Wayo and Yoko. These will merely be aviation platforms, to transport aircraft or to which other carrier capable squadrons can be assigned (see for example items 9 and 10 below).

9) Later in the war, when consideration of converting tankers to Army CVEs was done IRL, the joint committee will decline the option, instead taking them sooner as tankers. This applies to Shimane Maru, Otakisan Maru, and Nippo Maru (Type 1-TL) as well as to Yamashiro Maru, Ominisan Maru and Chugasa Maru (Type 2-TL). This is a total of six tankers, 1 in 1943, 2 in 1944 and 3 in 1945. Their former air groups - if such they can be called - will form up as land based, carrier capable assets of the Grand Escort Command - available to use on land or carriers as required - able to be outfitted with Army type carrier capable (also float capable) Ki-76s or Navy type ASW armed Kates (manned by JAAF crews).

10) The army will put the Ki-65 Mike (Me-109T - a variation of the Me-109e for which Japan has a licence, tooling and three completed machines IRL - into production for use by Army carrier capable squadrons, normally used on land, or on Army owned (but Navy manned) aviation ships Akitsu Maru, Nigitsu Maru and Kumano Maru. This will upgrade to a carrier capable variant (historical) Ki-44III late in the war or on any of the CVEs that have no air groups or want to change their air group to have interceptors instead of long range naval fighters.

ORIGINAL: bigred

Scenario 105 assumes that Gen Yamashita proposed, and the Imperial General Staff implemented, a similar national staff. This staff has an executive committee of five - Gen Yamashita (theorist of armor and combined arms), Vice Adm Hosogawa (theorist of the Kiddo Butai), and a Vice Minister from the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Finance. This body met continuously in July 1941, and monthly thereafter until November, when the military members left to take up their wartime posts - replaced by one star officers who would travel to consult with them during the war - and who acted as their personal representative on the committee. The staff itself was nominally supervised by prince Tsuneyoshi Takeda, a staff officer with the Imperial General Staff in 1940, in charge of the personal section. [He had served as chief of finance of Kwangtung Army, and as a junior officer, in cavalry in Manchukuo] This was a small joint staff, with representatives from various military, naval and government branches, including the Nakano School, the submarine arm, artillery, and the Kempeitei (intellegence section) and Tokkeitei (Naval intelligence), as well as experts in finance and industry.

Sid, what is the possibility the Japs get a better deal w/ the WNT.

Washington Naval Treaty???

That isn't for Scenario 105 - which only changes things after July 1941 - the decision for war. That might apply to Scenario 100 - we need to ask Mifune.

This material reposted after significant updating at the end of the thread.

Plane List 1 in Slot Order is posted on Page 11 below

This material reposted after significant updating at the end of the thread.

This material reposted after significant updating at the end of the thread.

This material reposted after significant updating at the end of the thread.

RHS US Carrier Logic

Early in the war, all the considerations that led to the design and ordering of Allied carriers remain valid. In scenario 105, AFTER the ADDITIONAL carriers of the REVISED shadow program and regular production programs begin to appear, THEN the Allies change what they did historically. I assume that something like the attack on Pearl Harbor happens, so the original revisions to pre war planning still occur in game terms. Here we ONLY look at further changes after that. However, in scenarios 101 to 105 US carriers get the ORIGINAL names assigned, not renames (which depend on what sank in the war). In scenarios 101 to 104, all dates are date of commission. Stock sometimes uses dates before commissioning! Other times later. Scenario 100 uses an entirely different logic stream, starting long before the war.

Historical Name RHS Name RHS Date Stock Date Scen 105 Date

CV-9 Essex Essex CV-9 21 May 43 19 May 43
CV-10 Yorktown (ii) Bon H Richard CV-10 15 Apr 43 2 July 43
CV-11 Intrepid Intrepid CV-11 16 Aug 43 4 Dec 43 20 Jul 43 in 105
CV-12 Hornet (ii) Kearsarge CV-12 29 Nov 43 2 Feb 44
CV-13 Franklin Franklin CV-13 31 Jan 44 1 May 44
CV-14 Hancock Ticonderoga CV-14 8 May 44 5 Aug 44 23 Apr 44 in 105
CV-15 Randolph Randolph CV-15 9 Oct 44 7 Dec 44 2 Oct 44 in 105
CV-16 Lexington (ii) Cabot CV-16 17 Feb 43 15 Jul 43
CV-17 Bunker Hill Bunker Hill CV-17 25 May 43 9 Sep 43 28 Feb 43 in 105
CV-18 Wasp (ii) Oriskany CV-18 24 Nov 43 11 Mar 44
CV-19 Hancock Ticonderoga CV-19 15 Apr 44 16 Aug 44
CV-20 Bennington Bennington CV-20 6 Aug 44 11 Dec 44 6 Mar 44 in 105
CV-21 Boxer Boxer CV-21 16 Apr 45 13 Jul 45 4 Feb 45 in 105
CV-31 Bon H Richard Valley Forge CV-31 26 Nov 44 30 Mar 45 23 Apr 44 in 105
CV-32 Leyte Crown Point CV-32 11 Apr 46 Not in Stock
CV-33 Kearsarge Kearsarge CV-33 2 Mar 46 9 Aug 45
CV-34 Oriskany (ii) Not in RHS Not in RHS Not in Stock Completed in 1950
CV-35 Reprisal Not in RHS Not in RHS Not in Stock Cancelled in 1945

Historical Name RHS Name RHS Date Stock Date Scen 105 Date

CV-36 Antietam Antietam CV-36 28 Jan 45 21 May 45 7 Jun 44 in 105
CV-37 Princeton Valley Forge CV-37 18 Nov 45 Not in Stock
CV-38 Shangra La Shangra La CV-38 15 Sep 44 15 Jan 45
CV-39 Lake Champlain Lake Champlain CV-39 3 Jun 45 15 Sep 45 6 Aug 44 in 105
CV-40 Tarawa Tarawa CV-40 8 Dec 45 7 Mar 46
CVB-41 Midway Midway CVB-41 10 Sep 45 10 Sep 45
CVB-42 F D R Coral Sea CVB-42 27 Oct 45 27 Oct 45 Renamed FDR
CVB-43 Coral Sea Not in RHS Not in RHS Not in Stock Completed in 1947
CVB-44 No Name Not in RHS Not in RHS Not in Stock Cancelled in 1945
CV-45 Valley Forge Not in RHS Not in RHS Not in Stock Completed in 1946
CV-46 Iwo Jima Not in RHS Not in RHS Not in Stock Cancelled in 1945
CV-47 Philippine Sea Philippine Sea CV-46 11 May 46 Not in Stock
CV Iowa Type Ship Name Oct 43+ Not in Stock IF converted only

Note 1: CV-16 & 17 both laid down on 15 Sept 41. CV-16 launched 11 days sooner than CV-17 did. In 105, it is assume higher priority kept the pair 11 days apart all the way to completion.
Note 2: CV-10 & 11 both laid down on 1 Dec 41. CV-10 launched 3 months and 5 days sooner than CV-11 did. In 105, it is assumed higher priority kept the pair 3 months and 5 days apart to completion.
Note 3: CV-14 is given the priority to launch and complete at the same time span as CV-13 took.
Note 4: CV-15 is given the priority to launch and complete at the same time span as CV-13 took.
Note 5: CV-20 is given the priority to launch and complete at the same time span as CV-13 took.
Note 6: CV-31 is given the priority to launch and complete at the same time span as CV-13 took.
Note 7: CV-36 is given the priority to launch and complete at the same time span as CV-13 took.
Note 8: CV-39 is given the priority to launch and complete at the same time span as CV-13 took.
Note 9: CV-21 is given the priority to launch and complete at the same time span as CV-13 took.

RHS US Light Carrier Logic

Early in the war, all the considerations that led to the design and ordering of Allied carriers remain valid. In scenario 105, AFTER the ADDITIONAL carriers of the REVISED shadow program and regular production programs begin to appear that the Allies change what they did historically. I assume that something like the attack on Pearl Harbor happens, so the original revisions to pre war planning still occur in game terms. Here we ONLY look at further changes after that. However, in scenarios 101 to 105 US carriers get the ORIGINAL names assigned, not renames (which depend on what sank in the war). In scenarios 101 to 104, all dates are date of commission. Stock sometimes uses dates before commissioning! Other times later. Scenario 100 uses an entirely different logic stream, starting long before the war.

Historical Name RHS Name RHS Date Stock Date Scen 105 Date

CVL-22 Independence Independence CVL-22 1 Jan 43 16 Jun 43
CVL-23 Princeton Gettysburgh CVL-23 25 Feb 43 1 Jul 43
CVL-24 Belleau Wood Belleau Wood CVL-24 31 Mar 43 6 Jul 43
CVL-25 Cowpens Cowpens CVL-25 28 May 43 26 Aug 43
CVL-26 Monterey Monterey CVL-26 17 Jun 43 18 Sep 43
CVL-27 Langley Crown Point CVL-28 31 Aug 43 2 Dec 43
CVL-28 Cabot Cabot CVL-27 24 Jul 43 11 Nov 43
CVL-29 Bataan Bataan CVL-29 17 Nov 43 28 Feb 44
CVL-30 San Jacinto San Jacinto CVL-30 15 Dec 43 24 Mar 44
CVL-48 Saipan Arlington CVL-48 5 Jul 43 Not in Stock Only in 105 Note 2
CVL-49 Wright Wright CVL-49 31 Dec 43 Not in Stock Only in 105 Note 3

Note 1: While generally the names of WWII battles are avoided in RHS, it is safe to assume the long planned battle for Bataan would occur. Bataan's forts prevented enemy use of strategic Manila Bay.
Note 2: This is not the historical Saipan class using a modified Baltimore hull. It is a repeat Independence on a war emergency basis which can be built in less time in Scenario 105 ONLY. It is assumed that the hull of CL-89 Miami is taken over for conversion in mid 1942.
Note 3: This is not the historical Saipan class using a modified Baltimore hull. It is a repeat Independence on a war emergency basis which can be built in less time in Scenario 105 ONLY. It is assumed that the hull of CL-90 Wilksbarra is taken over for conversion in mid 1942.

btw,When does the RHS mod formally issue?

RHS RN & CW Carrier Logic

Revised and expanded to include CVEs - see Page 6 of this thread.

RHS Japanese Carrier Logic

This is a presentation of the Japanese carrier program to reinforce the ships that start the war on active duty: the "big six" CVs, the CVLs Ryujo and Zuiho, the Hosho (always listed as a CVL but treated as a CVE by AE, and properly so), and the CVE Taiho. It is about the date of appearance, the form the ship appears as, and any variations between Scenarios 101 to 104 vs Scenario 105. Scenario 100 uses an entirely different logic stream, starting long before the war.

Historical Name RHS Name RHS Date Stock Date Notes

CV Junyo Junyo 420503 420503
CV Hiyo Hiyo 420731 420731
CV Taiho Taiho 440307 440307
CV Shinano Shinano 440704 441119 Not in 105 Note 3
CV Shinano Iwami 430219 Not in Stock Only in 105 Note 2
BB 111 (Kii??) Iwari 430822 Not in Stock Only in 105 Note 2
CV Unryu Unryu 441219 440806 430806 in 105 Note 1
CV Amagi Amagi 450724 440811 430906 in 105 Note 1
CV Katsurigi Katsurigi 441015 441015 440806 in 105
CV Kasagi Kasagi 450515 450515 440810 in 105
CV Aso Aso 450615 450615 450106 in 105
CV Ikoma Ikoma 450615 Not in Stock 450110 in 105
CV Kurama Kurama 450915 Not in Stock 450613 in 105
CV Azuma Azuma 450617 Not in Stock Only in 105 Note 5
CVL Shoho Shoho 420126 420126 Sister of Zuiho
CVL Rhuho Ryuho 421128 421128
CVL Ibuki Ibuki 430901 450515 Note 4
CVL Isama Isama 430911 Not in Stock Note 4
CVL Shinyo Shinyo 431215 431215 430615 in 105 Note 6
CVL Kaiyo Kaiyo 450724 431123 430823 in 105 Note 7

Historical Name RHS Name RHS Date Stock Date Notes

CVL Kaijo Kaijo 430827 Not in Stock Only in 105 Note 7
CVL Mizuho Mizuho 430604 Not in Stock Note 10
CVL Nisshin Nisshin 420427 Not in Stock Note 11
CVL Chitose Chitose 430503 CVS in Stock Note 12
CVL Chiyoda Chiyoda 430431 CVS in Stock Note 12
CVE Unyo Unyo 420531 420531
CVE Chuyo Chuyo 421125 421125
CVE Shinyo Shinyo 4301215 431215 430615 in 105 Note 14
CVE Kamakura Maru Kamakura Maru from 4306 AP in Stock 411106 in 105 Note 13
CVE Shimane Maru Shimane Maru 450215 450215 440317 in 105 as 1TL
CVE Otakisan Maru Otakisan Maru 450515 450515 450214 in 105 as 1TL
CVE Yamashiro Maru Yamashiro Maru 450127 450127 450119 in 105 as 2TL
CVE Chugasa Maru Chugasa Maru 450615 450615 450215 in 105 as 2TL
CVE Ominisan Maru Ominisan Maru 430929 Not in Stock 430929 in 105 as 2TL
CVE Nippo Maru Nippo Maru 450615 Not in Stock 441215 in 105 as 1TL
CV Kongo Type Kongo etc. Note 16 Not in Stock From 8/42 (1/42 in 105)
CV Nagato Type Nagato etc. Note 16 Not in Stock From 8/42
CV Ise Type Ise etc. Note 16 Not in Stock From 8/42
CV Fuso Type Fuso etc. Note 16 Not in Stock From 8/42

Note 1: In Scenario 105, Unryu and Amagi are repeat Soryus rather than Unryu class design, so it may lay down sooner.

Note 2: In Scenario 105, Yamato Class hulls Shinano and No 111 are not suspended on mobilization - but keep building while a conversion design is drawn up - and then completed to a full hanger deck CV rather than as a support carrier as IRL: air group = 96. In addition, after 7/44 in all scenarios it is possible to convert any Yamato class Battleship to a Shinano CV. 105 features a full air group.

Note 3: In Scenarios 101 to 104, support aircraft carrier: air group = 43. May convert to a Yamato class battleship. This represents a decision to build the ship as a gunship vice as a carrier.

Note 4: May upgrade to CA form. This represents a decision to build a gunship vice a carrier. This second hull was laid down ten days after Ibuki, but was cancelled a month later. In RHS, the player decides if it is to build or not? In 105 only, these ships lay down as repeat Suzuya class and may complete to a CVL form identical with Ibuki. Since carriers take less time to build, the CVL form appears first - and if a player wants the gunship - simply converts it to one after it appears.

Note 5: Historically eight Unryu's were authorized (the original plus 7 follow ons) not counting eight slightly larger follow on designs. This is the seventh hull of the series.

Note 6: In Scenario 105, Scharnhorst is converted early.

Note 7: In Scenarios 101 to 104, APs Argentina Maru and Brazil Maru may convert to CVLs Kaiyo and Kaijo. Stock has Argentina Maru represented by two hulls, and does not allow Brazil Maru to convert.

Note 8: In Scenario 105 Nippo Maru, Shimane Maru and Otakasan Maru appear as Type 1TL Tankers.

Note 9: In Scenario 105 Yamashiro Maru, Chugasa Maru & Ominisan Maru appear as Type 2TL Tankers.

Note 10: Mizuho starts the game as a CVS in stock and Scenarios 101 to 104. In 101 to 104 she may convert to this CVL form. In 105, it appears in CVL form. Plans existed for this conversion. She is almost identical in hull form with Chitose and the CVL form is identical.

Note 11: Nisshin starts the game as a CVS in stock and Scenarios 101 to 104. In 101 to 104 she may convert to this CVL form. In 105, it appears in CVL form. It did not require deconstructing as much as Mizuho when the decision was made to convert her in July, 1941, so it completes sooner.

Note 12: Chitose and Chiyoda start the game in CVS form in stock and Scenarios 101 to 104. In stock and in 101 to 104 they may convert to this CVL form.

Note 13: Chichibu Maru, an AP, was renamed Kamakura Maru in 1939. She was planned for conversion to a CVE starting from 1943, but was sunk before work began. In 105 she is not used as an AP at all, but instead converted starting in the fall of 1941.

Note 14: In Scenario 104, Scharnhorst starts conversion into CVE Shinyo sooner.

Note 15: Type 1 TL may convert to Shimane Maru CVE and Type 2 TL tankers may convert to Yamashiro Maru CVEs in all scenarios. These are similar to Allied "merchant aircraft carriers" used in the Atlantic but in this case are actually Army aircraft carriers for Army fighters or ASW aircraft.

Note 16: After the Battle of Midway, plans were drawn up to convert every capital ship to carrier or to semi-carrier form. There were three options for each class: a 1/3 conversion as was ultimately done for the Ise class; a 2/3 conversion which is similar but provided about twice as much aircraft capacity; and a full conversion suitable for use with carrier aircraft. RHS provides for 1/3 conversions for Ise and Fuso classes and for full conversion of all classes from 8/42. In 105 there are contingency plans for the fast Kongo class drawn up in the fall of 1941 so conversion is an option from 1/42. Except for Ise and Hyuga, there is no provision for dedicated air groups for these ships. The partial conversions actually got half seaplane air groups, and half carrier planes which could not be recovered by the ship - but there is no way to model this case in AE - so semi-carriers get seaplanes and only full conversions get carrier planes.

This was a radical recon aircraft designed in the 1930s.
It solved the problem of more power by a unique engine
- more or less two 12 cylinder inline engines built into a
single block - at the bottom - separated (for cooling reasons)
otherwise - but employing a single shaft to drive a single
tractor airscrew. The plane itself was missing the usual
bulges for the crew windows - and instead the forward
section was more or less all windows - resulting in great
visibility with the air resistance of a perfect cylindrical form.
The propeller was at the extreme front end - but the
power plant was in the center - with the crew at the very front
of an all glass section - such that only the airscrew obstructed
vision in any direction except dead aft. This glass section was
entirely in front of the wings - you could see down and to the
side as well as forward (above, below, right or left of the airscrew).

The plane was large, fast, high altitude, and long ranged - and
almost unarmed (a single 7.9 mm MG15 was all it had). It could
fit floats. Two machines were purchased by IJN along with
production rights, and the engine was a variant of one used
for the He-100 (which IJN also had rights to), the Me-109 (which
IJA had rights to), and was later used by the Ki-61. One of the
two machines was lost before the Pacific War began - but the other
still flies. Some of its technology ended up in the late war R2Y1
project. I propose to add it as a type - and allow Japan to decide
to produce it or not? As a creature of the expanded RHS filmstrip.
However, in Scenario 105, it will be in limited production and
one unit (of six) will outfit the Akitsushima - a sort of ship without
a job in game terms (and certainly a ship without an air group). It
may also serve on the Tone Class Cruisers and the Oyodo in 105.

Scenario 105 RHSEOS Tank Logic

Background: Gen Yamashita had witnessed the war in Europe. Upon return to Japan, he wrote a report recommending the creation of a tank corps. This was initially rejected, along with the concept that tanks might be a war winning weapon. Eventually a version of this plan was implemented. In Scenario 105, since Yamashita sits on the "robber rope" (too late) planning committee, the decision was taken to implement his recommendation.
IJA Tank Divisions: As really happened, the first divisions form up from other formations. Three exist by the time the scenario begins: one at Harbin (at the expense of virtually all armor in Manchukuo), one at Peking (at the expense of virtually all armor in China) and one at Cam Rahn Bay (at the expense of virtually all armor in SE Asia). These units start divided - as 4 tank "regiments" - a motorized infantry group - an engineer unit - an artillery unit and an AA unit. Players wishing to preserve the identity of the components - or to send specialized elements different places - may do that. Or players may combine the units into a single (weak) division - which in turn may sub divide into 3 combat commands (amounting to a mechanized regimental combat team each).

Later in the game, four more armored divisions appear. These too may divide, but they do not appear in their sub component form. And many independent units have been removed because they are parts of these divisions. The 4th appears at Hiroshima, and is unrestricted, in Aug, 1942. The 5th appears in the same location, but is restricted to the Home Defense Army, in Aug, 1943. The 6th and 7th appear at Mukden, and are restricted to Kwangtung Army, in Aug, 1944 and May, 1945, respectively.

IJA Tank Brigades: In addition, some initial tank regiments not part of the tank divisions may form up into Independent Tank Brigades. The First is assigned to 14th Army. The Second is assigned to 16th Army. The Third is assigned to 15th Army. These units include two tank regiments and a small artillery unit of two companies of experimental SP guns. 14th Army's First ITB starts at Bako, the Pescadores. 15th Army's Third ITB starts at Saigon. 16th Army's Second ITB starts at Karor. Three additional formations of this type appear early in 1942. Once again, the player may keep the separate component units, or combine them up into the "brigade" form. These interim tank "brigades" are typical IJA specialist units - little more than the combination of two independent tank "regiments" (battalions). They are intended, as indeed most Japanese armor was intended, to attach to infantry divisions for operations.

After mid 1942, a revised tank Brigade appears. There are four of these. As well, the first six reorganize into this form. This adds a small "infantry unit" of two mechanized infantry companies. It also adds as "support unit" which includes an engineer company and an AAA company, as well as a regimental scale regimental train. These formations are raised to provide additional attachments which do not take the great amount of time required to form a tank division. All appear at Hirshoshima in 1942 and 1943, and all are unrestricted. Hiroshima is the primary embarcation port of the IJA.
 
IJA Amphibious Brigades: Organic Tank Unit: After initial war experience, IJA formed a new kind of brigade specifically for amphibious assault operations. This organization had five infantry battalions as well as a battalion of 81 mm mortars and a tank unit which combined amphibious tanks with infantry trained to work with tanks. Scenario 105 simply implements this organization as soon as the amphibious tanks are available for it, and creates more of them. The half dozen South Seas Regiments formed in the mid war period instead appear as additional Amphibious Brigades.

IJA Organic Tank Units: Recon elements of infantry brigades and divisions may contain tanks or other types of AFVs. In Scenario 105, the Guards Mixed Brigade trades its cavalry recon element for Type 2 light tanks and halftracks. The Hong Kong Defense Force gains up a company of tankettes and motorized infantry. RGC tankettes in the Capital Divisions are upgraded to light tanks. [Each division also gets an artillery unit of 8 mountain guns, vice a company of 4; it gets a company of 70 mm mortars in each of its three regiments, vice a company for the whole division; and a company of 4 MMG in each of its six battalions, vice 3]. The Imperial Guards Division and the 18th Pack A Divisions have their tankettes replaced by light tanks. Several small, independent units of tankettes or tanks were folded into larger formations.

IJN Organic Tank Units: Most IJN Assault SNLFs have a platoon of armored cars. In Scenario 105, these are replaced by obsolete tankettes no longer required by IJA. No longer in production, about 25% of these remain fit for service. In 1942, these organic tank platoons are expanded to amphibious tank companies. Similarly, IJN 1941 Combined SNLFs have a company of organic light tanks. In 1942, the Combined SNLF loses its tank company at regimental level in favor of two amphibious tank companies at battalion level. Scenario 105 does not change that.
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IJA Engineering Demolition Tanks: The smallest of AFVs are tiny demolition tanks, either wire or radio controlled. These are called Ya-I Go. Historically they were only used by one specialist "electric" engineering regiment. In Scenario 105, all engineer regiments, including divisional ones, which have assault engineers also have a company of 12 of these tiny AFVs. Assault engineer companies get a platoon of 4.