WesWorld

If Japan or Iberia go to war production, the US have little choice but to follow suit. Congress also may have to look at look at expanding the USAAF as well as a expansion of the Selective Service and Training Act to enlarge the US Army.

Please note nothing is finalized, merely voicing options that may be chosen (moving to war production is a given if the above prerequisites are met tho).

The expanding scope of the conflict between China and Chosen – the use of chemical weapons on the battlefield and on targets behind the line of battle, the intervention of volunteers from nations removed from the conflict – would force any prudent nation in the region to look to its defense. The Philippines has done this, and some of its actions have been alluded to in the Philippine news. However, as the conflict is happening – as it were – in the past, not all of these have been highlighted.

The Chinese decision to declare war production is within the scope of the rules of our game; and any prudent nation in the region would react to such. The Philippines has been a victim of Chinese aggression in the past. Despite its involvement in the current conflict the Chinese naval program of purchase abroad is clearly aimed at future conflicts – or so it would appear to any prudent nation in the region. The Chinese decision, coupled with the reactions of other nations in the region, would demand action on the part of the Philippines.

If the conflict persists beyond 31 March 1944, and other powers move forward with their decisions to declare war production in response to China’s action, the Philippines would have little choice but to do likewise. This is a step that I, as player, truly desire to take - but it is the response a prudent nation would take in the present circumstances.

Like Brock I can't help but post some retroactive steps (partly to prevent suddenly splurging stuff into my Q1/45 updates).

Britain will not go to war production, such a step would be overkill in my opinion and I haven't got the kind of regional breakdown of material factories around the Empire defined to make any meaningful distinctions. I think Indochina has a valid reason.

As to gas attacks, Britain knows something is going on and is taking a dim view but says little publically being aware that all the Great Powers used such weapons during 1915-17, albeit on purely military targets.


Steps (as ever dependent on the state of the war at these times)

In Q3/44 defensive border zones are announced along the northern borders of Burma and Malaya. In Burma the Burma Frontier Force is mobilised and all its local manpower called up to carry out policing missions.
In Q2/44 the 27th Armoured Brigade in Malaya is formally brought up to full Division strength as the 4th Armoured Division. In Q3/44 the 4th Light Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade joins the Division with fresh Daimler armoured and scout cars and Mk VII Light Tanks. A large shipment of factory-fresh Cruiser Tank Mk VIII Cromwell tanks arrive, of which some are assigned to the 9th Armoured Division in Burma.
In Q3/44 the 2nd Infantry Division arrives in Malaya to join XI Corps, this may become a permanent deployment.
In Q3/44 the RAF decides to send de Havilland Hornet fighter-bombers to Burmese units from Q1/45. This is a pre-planned move dating from 1943. In addition the RAF approves construction work at RAF Rangoon and RAF Tengah to operate very-heavy bombers which will arrive during early 1946. A force of three to four such squadrons are planned
In Q2/44 the Rangoon and Mandalay AA defences are brought to full readiness and all the recently delivered radar sets brought into use. In Hong Kong all defences are brought to wartime readiness and all militia begin extra training.
In Q3/44 the 3in AA guns in storage in Malaya are dispersed to wartime positions in towns around Malaya to provide some morale-boosts to the local population. The stored 18pdr artillery pieces not yet issued but made ready.
In Q4/44 the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force is brought up to brigade strength with a frontline military role, the Strait Settlements Volunteer Force is mobilised too for local security patrols of military installations
An increase in anti-Chinese feeling is generally noted and this is heightened by fears of gas attacks on cities, clamour for gas protection equipment and the local authorities begin to discuss widespread issuing of gas masks to the population. Gas masks will be issued in Hong Kong during Q3/44.
Generally heighted surveillance of suspect Chinese and all military intel and Y-Service installations sealed and at full work
Naval fuel stocks at Singapore maintained at max capacity.
Q3/44 deployment of five Victorious Class battleships for the region confirmed.
If gas attacks continue into Q3/44 then the British government will secretly ship mustard gas shells to Malaya, this will be strict OOC knowledge only
Q3/44 New gunboat flotilla approved by Treasury for Hong Kong and older MTBs approved for transfer to Hong Kong Maritime Police for patrol work (both not likely until 1945)
Shipping under tighter control, more customs, more RN escorting, suggested longer routes via Pacific, like France, Britain advises air routes further out the sea but trade with China and Japan and Chosen continues in basic commodities etc.
Joint SAER exercises to be carried out and the British government is considering calling a SAER member conference to discuss further steps.

Quoted

Once news of Indochinese preparations and Japanese participation reach Australia, Australia will go from completely indifferent to actively interested.

Would be more realistic to assume that Australia is already actively interested since the news came out that the Mexicans are involved. An East Side Pacific Nation sticking its nose in West Side Pacific business. Surely Australia is not going to ignore that.

Quoted

I view it in the same vein as the enhanced preparations countries started making in the late 1930s when it became clear another world war was approaching - or the spending powers like Great Britain did during the war scares of the 1800s. Note that I've not actually declared war production, just stated that I shall declare war production if this situation continues.

I encourage Britain, Japan, the Philippines, Iberia, and Australia to take the same response to the Chinese declaration.

Does seem logical. It makes sense that nations near those two (Russia, Japan, Philippines, Indochina, India) and with interests in the Region (GB, Netherlands, Iberia) would do that. Still I think that for a bigger nation to do that, could be seen as a sign of weakness. I think that the normal production of the bigger nations individually is greater than the war productions of China and Chosen combined.

Quoted

If Japan or Iberia go to war production, the US have little choice but to follow suit.

Not sure why. Japan's part of (what's left of) SATSUMA and its interests have always been in Asia, not the Pacific (except for ally Pacifica) so there should be no threat to the US territories there (and definitely not the main land). Now, if Pacifica were to do that, then it would be a completely different matter cause they would be a big threat to US interests in the Pacific.

Quoted from "Hood"

Joint SAER exercises to be carried out and the British government is considering calling a SAER member conference to discuss further steps.

France will be there for both events - just set a date and place!

Quoted from "Rooijen10"

Quoted

I encourage Britain, Japan, the Philippines, Iberia, and Australia to take the same response to the Chinese declaration.

Does seem logical. It makes sense that nations near those two (Russia, Japan, Philippines, Indochina, India) and with interests in the Region (GB, Netherlands, Iberia) would do that. Still I think that for a bigger nation to do that, could be seen as a sign of weakness. I think that the normal production of the bigger nations individually is greater than the war productions of China and Chosen combined.

I agree, it's a bit of overkill. I think I can justify it for Indochina ("We're so small and on the borders of an aggressive giant, we must look to our defence!"), although I believe a lot of other powers (including France) shall find it more difficult to justify. I can definitely see Japan and the Philippines doing so: the Philippines with the same justification as Indochina, and Japan because it looks like they're about to get drawn into the war.

For everybody else, it'll be a case of "Don't let a good crisis go to waste."

Hmmm, what could I do with 90,000 tons a quarter for two quarters...

Another reason for the boys and girls to play nicely and let the Lion have a nap.

I wouldn't mind 45,000 tons a quarter either. US interests no longer stop at the international date line Walter, I thought you knew that?
Also, US and Japan's production are too close for the US to risk it. Still, the reaction would be more delayed than if Iberia declares war production. The US will focus more on strengthening non-naval assets in the Pacific and look at a detente with Iberia in the Caribbean in order to move its two Atlantic Fleet carriers to the Pacific initially. A move to war production would come if it appears the war is going to drag on. Note, that scenario is if only Japan declares war production.

In all honesty, Japan likely doesn't need to declare war production either, it also outnumbers China and Chosen's production by a comfortable margin and unless China sinks half its fleet outnumbers both by a comfortable margin with what it has in hand. Japan would be better off using that potential expansion in expansion of its non-naval assets if as it seems it is joining a land war in Asia.

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Hmmm, what could I do with 90,000 tons a quarter for two quarters...

You should donate all those tons to Japan for a safer Asia.

Quoted

US interests no longer stop at the international date line Walter, I thought you knew that?

I am well aware that the US has interests beyond the international date, especially with the Philippine - American Treaty of Amity and Commerce around... I guess that with Tōjō as PM, I could expand Japanese interests beyond the international date line as well... and something silly just popped up in my mind now that I mentioned that.

Anyone feel we have a WWI scenario on our hands?

Quoted from "Desertfox"

Anyone feel we have a WWI scenario on our hands?

Not really, no.

In all seriousness, China is the next closest thing to an international bogeyman at the moment, while Chosen has eliminated any potential allies they may have received because they're chewing the furniture. The way I see it, Japan's only supporting Chosen because the only thing worse than having Chosen as your neighbor is having China conquering Chosen and becoming your neighbor...

I concur, the web of alliances that is credited with beginning WW1 is not prevalent in this situation, and frankly is unlikely to occur. None of the belligerent nations has official ties with anyone except themselves.

I don't want to spoiler too much but I assume that it is very likely that the war will still be raging on the 31st of March 1944.

Well, seeing as to how things were going, I guess Japan will have to come in to get Chosen into 1944...

Quoted from "Daidalos"

I don't want to spoiler too much but I assume that it is very likely that the war will still be raging on the 31st of March 1944.

Facta non verba.

Quoted from "Brockpaine"

Given the way the conflict is going, and how it's slowly starting to suck in Japan, I'm going have to issue some retroactive French responses to what's happening here. I'd hoped not to have to issue retroactive news, but things are getting a bit too wild and wooly for me to pretend to ignore it.

[*]In Q4/43, the Indochinese Air Defense Group orders two hundred more MB.1052D Milan fighters and a hundred and fifty trainer aircraft (a mix of MS.472 Vanneaus and MS.730 Alcyons) to strengthen their air defenses.
[*]In Q4/43, construction of new airfields in northern and central Indochina begins in relative secrecy. These are mostly secondary airfields to scatter fighters, or dedicated bases to base interceptors.
[*]In Q2/44, the French Air Force orders 264 B-32 Dominator bombers from the United States. Half of the bombers will be delivered to G.B. II/18 based in Nha Trang and G.B. II/23 based at Anh Son. See French Q2/44 news.

I'm curious to see how fast these huge orders will be fullfilled.

I think that if the fighter and the trainer aircrafts are around in significant numbers, that would be an order that could be completed very quickly by shifting existing planes to Indochina. The bombers will take a bit longer I guess but it seems logical that the first 132 bombers will be sent to Nha Trang and Anh Son.

Quoted from "Rooijen10"

I think that if the fighter and the trainer aircrafts are around in significant numbers, that would be an order that could be completed very quickly by shifting existing planes to Indochina. The bombers will take a bit longer I guess but it seems logical that the first 132 bombers will be sent to Nha Trang and Anh Son.

Same think i .... but .... also 132 bombers will take a while, because the US are in peace ... so the production numbers of WW2 are not comparable.

And by the way .... heavy bombers are a pure offensive weapon ..... so i think China will react on this threat from the south.

True, but it will only take half as long as 264 bombers.

Quoted from "parador"

Quoted from "Rooijen10"

I think that if the fighter and the trainer aircrafts are around in significant numbers, that would be an order that could be completed very quickly by shifting existing planes to Indochina. The bombers will take a bit longer I guess but it seems logical that the first 132 bombers will be sent to Nha Trang and Anh Son.

Same think i .... but .... also 132 bombers will take a while, because the US are in peace ... so the production numbers of WW2 are not comparable.

And by the way .... heavy bombers are a pure offensive weapon ..... so i think China will react on this threat from the south.

Well, America may be at peace but their production rates are far higher than I think you give them credit for. And frankly, I doubt that China can react to any perceived threat from the south when it has a full scale war on its hands in the north.

With the Chosen Air Force virtually wiped out I'm sure China can spare a few fighter squadrons.