Peshawar Lancers Redux: Asia

[chris N]

The Chinese and the Japanese diplomatic group met in Hong Kong where the British and Hawaiians attempted to reach some agreements that might lead to a wider peace agreement between the parties. China wanted Hainan Island back and a total withdrawal of all Japanese from the southern region.
The British and Hawaiians had dispatched military groups to any area where conflicts would break out in order to stop the fighting.

 

[chris N]

Japan withdrew forces fron the Chinese mainland opposite Hainan Island and also removed any Japanese citizens from that area. The Chinese welcomed the move as they said that it was a move in the right direction.

 

[chris N]

Japan had reached an agreement with the Republic of China. It agreed to a withdrawal from Hainan Island over the next 10 years. Once it withdrew it would cease Naval Patrol in that area.
Japan was beginning product of an improved tank and Self Propelled Gun

 

[chris N]

Retired General Douglas MacArthur was in the Philippines overseeing the re-equipping of that country's military. President Roosevelt had not recalled the General to Federal service as he felt that he was a pain to have to deal with. The General was toying with the idea of returning home and running for President. The Nationalist-Republicans were cool to the idea and the Democrats were only likely to support him if they thought he was the only chance to win.

 

[chris N]

General George S Patton was lent by the US Government to establish the Chinese Armored School. With American advisors he was to train the Chinese Army in armored warfare.

 

[chris N]

General Patton during his visit to Manchuria was quite frank in pointing out the faults with Japanese armor. He did find that the newer vehicles were better than the older ones but frankly the armor and the guns were inferior to the Russians.
His 1 year stay in China saw the creation of a Nationalist Chinese tank force that was capable. He recommended more Medium tanks and armored infantry.

 

[chris N]

Britain was reorganizing the Garrison in the Royal Crown Colony of Hong Kong. Currently there were 2 Infantry Brigades of Regulars consisting each of two Battalions of British Infantry and 1 of Gurkha with a Battalion of field artillery attached. The force also had 1 Tank Regt equipped with Comets, 1 Medium Field Artillery Rgt, 1 Antitank Artillery Bn and an under-strength Engineer Bn. There was the First Royal Hong Kong Infantry Brigade which had 1 full strength Battalion of British-Chinese Infantry and 2 Territorial Battalions of British Chinese at cadre strength. the Second Royal Hong Kong Infantry Brigade had 3 Cadre strength infantry Bns and 1 Cadre strength artillery bn.
There was also the 2nd Hong Kong Hussars equipped with Cromwell tanks There was the RAF Medium AA Artillery Rgt and the Royal Hong Kong RAF Lt AA Artillery Rgt
A third Royal Hong Kong Infantry Brigade had been deactivated but was going to be reactivated to a cadre strength Brigade.

 

[chris N]

Japan approached Germany in late 1945 for assistance in developing a better tank and jet aircraft. The Germans were working on the Me-262 although the aircraft would not actually enter production until 1946. The Japanese developed the Nakajima Kikka as a result and it entered production in 1946 as a result of the growing Russian threat

 

[chris N]

With rising tensions with Russia the government of Japan was seeking help in replacing its armored force. It had reached an agreement wit the Skoda Armament works of the Austrian Empire. The tank would be built in the Czech factory for the first 120 vehicles but Japan would be allowed to produce the vehicle in Japan. The Automatic 75mm gun would be shipped to Japan for the Japanese built tank.

 

[chris N]

The Republic of China purchased every Sherman tank that it could lay its hands on in the US and Canada. It even bought vehicles that were nonoperational. The result was that 498 tanks were purchased and shipped to China. On arrival in China the non operational tanks were taken apart and rebuilt. China also bought every M-10 and M-18 tank destroyer that it could find. The M-18s were rearmed with the Jackson M-36 turrets and sent to China.

 

[chris N]

Both China and Japan were uncertain as to the direction that the new President would take. In the House of Representatives he had served on the Armed Serves Committee and had been Chairman of the subcommittee which had overseen weapons development. He had also served on the Foreign Relations Committee and had been deputy Majority leader.

 

[chris N]

Japan was eager to repair its relations with the west. It was also prepare to see most of the Han Dependency end up as part of the Republic of China. Japan saw Russia as a rising threat and it needed to free itself from having to worry about a war with China.
China knew that the recent treaty had resulted in sizeable gain. It only had to worry about the Han Government and military causing problems and the other big problem was Russia.

 

[chris N]

China was continuing to buy old tank destroyers from the US. It was rearming them with Chinese made 90mm guns. It had also rearmed some M-24 with 90mm guns and had begun a process which would rearm at least 100 M-4 Shermans with 90mm guns.

 

[chris N]

In a border clash with the Russians the Chinese managed to capture 2 T-54 tanks intact. The tanks were then studied and a study was conducted to see if China could reproduce the tanks.The Chinese sought help from American companies in coming up with an engine that they could produce in China.

 

[chris N]

Two Years latter the first of 4 prototype T-59 tanks rolled out of the Nationalist Armament works Plant. The tanks were equipped with a Chinese copy of a GM Diesel Engine. Electronic suite was an improvement and the 100mm gun was a Chinese modified design..
In 1951 The Nationalist Armament Works Plant began production of the Chinese T-59A with an order for 260 tanks. Production was set at 10 tanks per month and in 1953 a further 320 T-59A1 were ordered. Production would continue until 1956 when the design Bureau would study changes and in 1959 two Improved T-59A2 would be tested.

 

[chris N]

The Han Government and Military were resisting any move to join the republic of China in 1950 tensions between the two Chinese states resulted in a series of border clashes. The Han Chinese army and air force were equipped with a lot of old Japanese made weapons. Its tanks were inferior to the Nationalist and only the late models of the Zero were modern in any way. Japan reinserted troops into the Han territory to end the fighting and restore peace. The Japanese weeded out the Han trouble makers and as soon as order was restored removed most of its forces

 

[chris N]

The Japanese Foreign Minister met with the Chinese Foreign Minister in Hong Kong and discussed the entire problem with the Han Dependency. Japan clearly drew a line on the map indicating that it would not do anything below that line. It made it clear to the Han government and military that this time Japan would not move to save the Han Regime..
The Han Army had expanded so that it now had 2 Armored Brigades, 6 SP Tank Destroyer Battalions, 2 Cavalry Divisions, 2 Cavalry Brigades(party Mechanized),2 Mechanized Brigades,12 Infantry Divisions and 12 air defense Battalions.

 

[chris N]

What wasn't known was that Russia was secretly supplying the Han Government with RPGs, 76.2mm ATGs, T-34/85 and AK47 rifles. It had also supplied 37mm and 85mm AA weapons. The armored Brigades were re-equipped with T-34/85. Tank Hulls from the old Japanese tanks were converted to sp guns. All of the air defense Bns were re-equippeded and the Mechanized troops were now armed with Russian made AK-47> The Russians were willing to supply more stuff including better aircraft.

 

[chris N]

The Han Government was quite happy to deal with the Russian Government. Arms and equipment continued to flow into the country. The Russian Government knew that by strengthening the Han it was preventing the Chinese from reuniting the country and as a bonus it was also undermining the relations between the Hans and Japan. With the exception of the small arms almost all of the tanks, artillery and aircraft were obsolete Russian army equipment but superior to anything that the Hans had.

 

[chris N]

It wasn't until 40 JSIII tanks appeared in the Han Guard Tank Brigade (a new formation) that the intelligence services of China, Japan, Britain,Hawaii, US and Australia became aware that the Russians had been rearming the Han Military. Russian Advisors were spotted in the Han Kingdom. Small Naval vessels equipped the Han Navy.Twelve Pt boats of Russian design were now part of the Han Navy.