Cash-Loaded Fleet

MODIFIED CIRCLE 5 PLAN | Chapter 32

Change in Plans

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In the Battle of the Marshall Islands where the main fleets of Japan and the United States clashed, the Combined Fleet emerged victorious against its long-standing rival, the Pacific Fleet. The First Fleet, centered around battleships, along with the 2nd and 3rd Air Fleets, which relied on aircraft as their main force, consistently overwhelmed the Pacific Fleet. They managed to sink all American ships that participated in the battle, achieving a perfect game with zero sinking of their own. They annihilated a total of 58 ships, comprising 3 aircraft carriers, 8 battleships, 13 cruisers, and 34 destroyers. The number of enemy aircraft shot down also far exceeded 200. Normally, military achievements tend to be overestimated, but the high credibility of the victory could be confirmed through the accounts of numerous captured prisoners.

This was an unprecedented and extraordinary achievement that far surpassed the Battle of Tsushima. Despite the fact that it was just before the New Year, Japan was celebrating victory all across the country. In the midst of this, Binta Satsutaba was summoned to the Navy Ministry by the Minister of the Navy. In the room he was shown to, he found Admiral Kōichi Shiozawa, the Minister of the Navy, and Vice Admiral Yorio Sawamoto, the Vice-Minister.

In his past interactions with then-Navy Minister Mitsumasa Yonai and Vice-Minister Isoroku Yamamoto, Binta had felt the necessity to ascertain the mindset of the top ranks of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Specifically, he wanted to know who among them was in favor of going to war, who was in favor of avoiding it, and who had pro-German or pro-American leanings. From what Binta had researched, both Minister Shiozawa and Vice-Minister Sawamoto were against the Japan-US war, so for now, they could be ranked in the middle among the upper, middle, and lower tiers.

"As you may already be aware, the Imperial Navy was able to achieve victory over the Pacific Fleet in the recent Battle of the Marshall Islands. The primary reason for this success was your support in assembling a significant number of aircraft carriers before the war. Admiral Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, has also expressed his gratitude for your assistance."

According to the original plan, the Imperial Navy would have had only six medium and large regular aircraft carriers at the start of the war: the large Akagi and Kaga, the Shōkaku and Zuikaku, and the medium-sized Hiryū and Sōryū. However, Binta's financial assistance allowed the addition of two more Shōkaku-class carriers, Kamikaku and Amakaku, under the Circle 3 Plan. Furthermore, when then-Minister Yonai and Vice-Minister Yamamoto requested financial support for armored carriers under the Circle 4 Plan, Binta proposed the construction of war emergency-type carriers and the associated gambling. Vice-Minister Yamamoto surprisingly accepted Binta's provocative proposal, allowing for the deployment of three carriers based on the design of the Hiryū: Unryū, Hakuryū, and Sekiryū, before the war. As a result, the Imperial Navy could deploy Akagi and Kaga to the Philippines while still having nine regular aircraft carriers in the Pacific Theater.

If hypothetically, without Binta's support and Vice-Minister Yamamoto's decision, the Battle of the Marshall Islands would have likely involved only four ships: Shōkaku, Zuikaku, Hiryū, and Sōryū, facing off against Enterprise, Saratoga, and Lexington. In such a scenario, given the disparity in strength between the two sides, it would have been a close and hard-fought battle, possibly even resulting in mutual destruction, with a high probability of losing several aircraft carriers.

"That was something that could be called the culmination of the blood and sweat of the soldiers who fought on the front lines to protect our country, or the technicians and workers who created the weapons they used. I merely contributed a small portion of the necessary funds; it's not that big of a deal."

In response to Binta's modesty, Minister Shiozawa promptly cut short the social pleasantries and shifted to the main topic. He was aware that Binta preferred straightforward conversations based on the handover from former Minister Yonai and Yamamoto.

"Do you recall the Circle 5 Plan, Satsutaba-san?"

In response to Minister Shiozawa's question, Binta mentally accessed his memory. The Circle 5 Plan was the last pre-war military reinforcement plan. Similar to the Circle 2 Plan, Circle 3 Plan, and Circle 4 Plan, it sought financial support. The Circle 5 Plan consisted of three battleships, two large surface strike ships called "super-armored cruisers," and five cruisers to serve as destroyer leaders, a plan that could be likened to a dream for gunnery and torpedo enthusiasts. Of course, it also included three aircraft carriers. However, these were large armored carriers, and it was certain they would not be completed until at least the year 1945.

Upon seeing the terrible content of the Circle 5 Plan, Binta refused to provide financial assistance for these vessels. He remembered the surprising response, which left the then-Minister of the Navy, Admiral Mitsuhiro Oikawa, visibly pale. However, he also recalled that he had provided funds for educational institutions, research facilities, and the expansion of construction and production facilities to make up for the absence of contributions to ship construction. He had also offered to assist with the construction costs if they were willing to switch the three armored carriers in the Circle 5 Plan to wartime emergency-type carriers in the Circle 4 Plan. On the other hand, Oikawa, who was practically empty-handed in terms of funding for ship construction, jumped at the chance as if he would accept anything if it came for free. As a result, the Imperial Navy initiated the construction of the fourth, fifth, and sixth vessels of the Unryū-class.

"I remember it very well. The content was quite shocking, to say the least."

Despite Binta's response, dripping with sarcasm, Minister Shiozawa continued the conversation.

"The Circle 5 Plan has been significantly revised and reworked into the Modified Circle 5 Plan. Please take a look at this."

Saying that, Minister Shiozawa signaled to Vice-Minister Sawamoto, who handed several papers to Binta. They were marked with the official military seal. Binta quickly read and memorized the text and numbers presented there.

Compared to the dismal Circle 5 Plan, the Modified Circle 5 Plan was somewhat more acceptable. The construction of large surface strike vessels like battleships and super-armored cruisers had been entirely canceled. Given the undeniable reality that battleships could not withstand aircraft in battles like the Battle off Malaya and the Battle of the Marshall Islands, this decision seemed justified. In contrast, the expansion of coastal defense ships had increased from four to thirty-four. Perhaps there was a growing awareness within the organization of the importance of protecting sea lanes.

Contrary to battleships, the increase in aircraft carriers was significant. Five armored carriers were planned, and thirteen wartime emergency-type carriers were scheduled for construction. Whether Japan's industrial capacity could handle this was a question that even Binta found doubtful. Nevertheless, it was better to avoid getting too deeply involved in these matters. The fact that there was a shift away from big guns and massive artillery toward airpower should be considered a positive development.

Perhaps sensing a subtle change in Binta's limited expression, Minister Shiozawa seized the opportunity to continue.