1941 Ends

Machine Guns and Autocannons

In the Japanese Navy, weapons with a caliber of 40 mm or larger were referred to as "autocannons," while those under 40 mm were called "machine guns."

The Japanese Army initially used a caliber of 11 mm as the dividing line, but this classification was abolished in 1936. The Ho-103 (12,7 mm) was officially adopted as the "Type 1 12,7 mm autocannon. Meanwhile, the Navy adopted a slightly larger caliber weapon, the Type 3 13 mm fixed machine gun (13,2 mm) caliber.

Although one is called an "autocannon" at 12,7 mm and the other a "machine gun" at 13,2 mm, don't worry too much about it. Such inconsistencies between the Army and Navy were not uncommon...

- ほうこうおんち

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At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Matsuoka, who was in the process of obtaining a visa and handling procedures for a special departure, was stopped by a staff member.

"The Foreign Minister is calling for you," he was told.

With a tense expression, he entered the minister's office. However, it turned out there was no significant matter to address. The conversation casually touched on the impressions of the recent mock exercises against the Soviet Union conducted by the Total War Research Institute.

"The Army is quite upset, you see."

As a member of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Seijūrō Matsuoka had also heard about the general conclusions from the Total War Research Institute. The consensus was that Japan could maintain superiority for one year, but would inevitably face defeat in a few years, ultimately being driven out of the continent. It was expected that this would result in the establishment of a communist government in China or a puppet regime.

At the time when Seijūrō Matsuoka was still exclusively assigned to the Total War Research Institute, and before he was informed of his mission to the Arctic, the defensive line was predicted to be along the Yangtze River, with the Soviets unable to advance south of it. However, upon learning of Soviet tanks capable of operating even in marshlands, this prediction had been revised.

"Tōjō-san has studied thoroughly, but he remarked that real combat doesn't align with such simulations. If you had been there, perhaps the results would have been different, don't you think?"

No, even if Seijūrō Matsuoka had been present, the results would not have changed significantly. Research that hinges on the influence of a single individual is inherently flawed. Nonetheless, his absence from the mock exercises seemed to preserve the trust of Yosuke Matsuoka and Hideki Tōjō.

One of the Army's counterarguments was that the projected losses in aviation were overly pessimistic. Based on lessons from the Nomonhan Incident, the Army was developing heavily armored fighters with superior climb and dive capabilities.

Nakajima Aircraft Company had already submitted two fighter models, the Ki-43 and Ki-44, for evaluation. Among these, the Ki-44, a heavy fighter equipped with cannons, was the frontrunner. Meanwhile, the Ki-43, a lighter fighter with impressive range, was found lacking in dogfights compared to the Type 97 fighter and failed to reach a top speed of 500 km/h, leading to its deferred adoption. Although some evaluators argued for improvements in anticipation of a conflict with Britain, the likelihood of such a conflict was diminishing. The Ki-43 was expected to be discontinued.

On the other hand, the Ki-44, despite falling short of the desired top speed of 600 km/h, performed well in mock battles against the imported German Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7. While complaints about its handling, poor turning capability, and limited forward visibility were noted, it was officially adopted. Its defensive features included 13 mm armor plating behind the cockpit and self-sealing fuel tanks, while its offensive capabilities consisted of two machine guns, two cannons, and the ability to carry a 250 kg bomb. It was anticipated to perform effectively in battles against the Soviets. With a range of 1.296 km (with auxiliary fuel tanks), the Ki-44 was deemed sufficient compared to the Messerschmitt's 660 km, Britain's Spitfire (1.840 km with auxiliary tanks), and Soviet fighters like the I-16 (700 km with auxiliary tanks) and MiG-3 (820 km).

In November, the 47th Independent Squadron was formed with additional test units of the Ki-44 for operational trials. By December, it was deployed to the front lines as the Type 1 single-seat fighter.

Meanwhile, the Army also completed the improved Type 97 medium tank, nicknamed the "New Turret Chi-Ha," with enhanced anti-tank capabilities. While the specifications couldn't be drastically altered due to its intended use on the Chinese front, the Army believed it would lead to different outcomes than those projected by the Total War Research Institute.

Matsuoka thought to himself, 'These individual performances won't change the bigger picture.'

Without the industrial structure, resource security, development capacity, and foundational industrial strength to support them, the end result would remain the same—it was only a matter of time. The key question was, "Can we sustain these capabilities during wartime?"

However, there was no point in voicing such thoughts and causing displeasure. For now, he aimed to complete his Arctic mission without incident. After engaging in casual conversation and responding appropriately, he left the Foreign Minister's office.

At this point, Seijūrō Matsuoka was still just a low-ranking bureaucrat, preoccupied with self-preservation and fulfilling duties within his capabilities. It would be several years before he truly awakened.

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The Soviet Union refused to allow Japan to conduct surveys in the Arctic Ocean near its territory.

Despite the Japan-Soviet Neutrality Pact, Japan was an ally of Germany, and allowing them into their backyard was out of the question. Nevertheless, granting Japan permission to survey the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea, along with access to ports and supplies, was a significant concession. To put it bluntly, the Soviets simply didn't have the bandwidth to deal with this issue at the moment. Even if they raised objections, the Soviets would have no choice but to tolerate the surveys if the Japanese Navy decided to act unilaterally.

While there was some difficulty in determining which diplomatic channels to use, Japan managed to secure permission for stopovers in the Aleutian Islands from both the Preparatory Government of the New United States in the Philippines and the Provisional Cuban Office of the United States Federal Government. The Dutch Harbor base planned for construction by the United States had never materialized because the US itself ceased to exist after approval was granted. Nonetheless, the location had long served as a port of call for fur traders and whaling ships. Japan decided to establish a supply base there for its survey operations.

A bureaucrat named Matsuoka, a deputy ministerial candidate from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, was dispatched to handle administrative procedures for the mission. This was why he had temporarily left his position at the Total War Research Institute. He worked tirelessly, shuttling between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the British Embassy, the former US Embassy, and the Soviet Embassy. He coordinated with the Army and Navy Ministries to secure ships, request base construction, and procure supplies.

"This is an excellent person you've sent us," remarked Takashi Uda, the leader of the expedition team. Though also a bureaucrat, Uda was fundamentally an academic.

While not so oblivious to the world as to be labeled a "naïve scholar," he found the vast amounts of paperwork cumbersome. He excelled at compiling reports but struggled with administrative tasks like filling out applications. Running between offices to collect stamps and assembling necessary documents felt like a colossal waste of time to him—time he would rather spend reading research materials.

Yet, administrative procedures were indispensable. Six months earlier, during the Sōya expedition for a North American Shelf survey, there had been errors in fuel and supply arrangements. The mismatch between meeting points and schedules had nearly left the Sōya adrift in the middle of the ocean. Although radio communication prevented a full-blown crisis, working in such a remote and harsh environment necessitated eliminating every possible risk. Thanks to Matsuoka and his team of administrative experts (along with their secretaries, assistants, and subordinates), the expedition members could focus on preparing for their journey into hostile, sovereign waters of former enemy nations or harsh, life-threatening regions, instead of repeating the previous trip's logistical shortcomings.

Matsuoka, however, was not a scholar. Frankly, he had no idea what he was supposed to do in the Arctic. Perhaps he would be handling cables? He figured he would find out when he got there.

For now, in addition to the paperwork, Matsuoka had been entrusted with safeguarding valuable data. European scientists were eager for detailed data from Japan's Pacific regions. However, handing such information to foreign entities could arouse suspicion, even if there was nothing to hide. For this reason, Matsuoka, with his influential guarantors, was tasked with overseeing the data. He ensured it was managed under strict confidentiality, affixing classified seals to maintain security and control.

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Preparations for Arctic research were also underway in Britain.

"The scientist is Prof. Uda, but the political figure was someone named Matsuoka, wasn't he? I remember because he had the same surname as the Japanese Foreign Minister. They share a surname but aren't related, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"Ultimately, whatever decision Japan makes is their problem, not ours. But until we establish a system where the United Kingdom can survive, Japan's cooperation is indispensable. So, how's the migration plan coming along?"

Churchill had developed a massive migration plan, one resembling the premise of a certain popular animated work from another world. The elite would remain in the homeland, while the poor would be relocated overseas to engage in primary and secondary industries. No matter how much the climate cooled, the upper class would cling to the homeland.

Australia appeared to be entirely unaffected by the current climate changes and had ample land. Its productive capacity was appealing, but its population was insufficient.

"What? Did I commit some crime? Being sent there must mean something like that, right?"

Such sarcastic remarks from citizens weren't uncommon.

For this reason, Churchill aimed to move a large population there, creating a win-win scenario that would benefit the migrants, Australia, and the British homeland. Of course, this "win-win" was from Churchill's upper-class perspective, and he sincerely believed this policy to be correct. Regions in the Southern Hemisphere, such as Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, and surrounding British colonies, were crucial destinations for this "migration," or rather, exile.

"There's no room to engage in battles in the Pacific region. We must maintain amicable relations with Japan for the time being."

Additionally, to avoid the threat of submarines, Britain was prepared to cooperate with Germany, however humiliating it might be.

"The remaining question is when to disclose this truth."

A global panic was inevitable. From Britain's insular perspective, it was preferable for Germany to dominate Europe in the meantime. Once the truth became known, there would be mass emigration, with people flooding into British colonies and Commonwealth nations. If Germany suppressed information, restricted migration, or even killed those attempting to leave, it would be advantageous for Britain.

This underhanded British strategy caused delays in response from the Dutch, who, despite holding a colony in Indonesia, were occupied under German control. Moreover, even if many Dutch emigrated to the Dutch East Indies, where the climate was turning unbearably hot in contrast to Europe, there was no guarantee they would survive the extreme conditions.

As Germany and the Soviet Union, both regimes of strict information control, remained locked in a frozen battlefield, unable to extract themselves, Britain sought to establish its survival zone by cleverly leveraging Japan.

Churchill declared, "Through this Arctic expedition and through Matsuoka, integrate Japan into our camp and stabilize the situation for now. If, in the future, he can be made Prime Minister and steer Japan in our favor, all the better. Make him a collaborator. If possible, facilitate his rise in rank."

The trajectory of Seijūrō Matsuoka's life was being altered in unexpected ways. Whether this was something he desired... was another question entirely.

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Thank you for your time.

Four chapters will be uploaded on the 25th, which is the last day of the four-day holiday. The next update is scheduled for the 25th at 15:00.

- ほうこうおんち