Nippon Kaigun (Superpowers)

The Nippon Kaigun (Japanese Navy) is the naval branch of the Japanese Armed Forces. It is curently the worlds largest navy, being larger than that of its two closest rivals combined (The Roman Navy & The Mongul Navy). It holds a unique posistion in the eyes of the Japanese population and it is a symbol of great honour to be accepted into the officer ranks of the navy.

Foundation
The modern Japanese Navy can trace its roots back to the begining of Japans isolation in 1425. Following the end of comunication with the outside world the navy became part of a vital series of defences that would prevent the monguls from ever landing on Japan's shore again. Throughout its early history the navy relied on thousands of small craft that could be based at one of japans two major ports; Yokosuka and Kure, these ships could then be dispatched to deal with any potential invasion by the moguls and from 1425-1462 provided Japan with an almost invincible sea wall. Armed with cannons and fast moving these ships presented a threat to any group trying to land on Japans shores.

The only major change in the structure of the navy between 1425 and the end of Japans isolation was the development of the naval mine in 1462. This changed the navies role from that of protecting the home islands on their own to one of instead maintaining the naval mine blockade that prevented all ships unaware of the safe pasages from entering the waters neer the island.

After Isolation to WW2
Following the end of Japan's isolation the navy went through a period of extreem modernisation to bring its technology up to the standards of the Roman Empire, most noticibly through the conversion from wind & sail power to elektrikly powered Ironclads. Armed with cannons and Polybolum's these formed the backbone of the Japanese navy for the next nine years untill Japanese & Roman naval strategists realised the potential of all gun Battleships and Destroyers.

The Japanese and Romans both raced to develop these ships first but the Romans launched theres first in 1730 & 1737. The Japanese navy then went on to recreate there structure so that they could now dominate the seas and control the international trade routes in adition to protecting the home islands. To achive this goal the Japanese navy took a diferent branch to the romans, while the Romans continued to build larger but slower ships wheras the Japanese chose to build ships that were heavily armed but could reach any ships in the trade routes within an hour. These ships were lightly armered but fast and could outrun any capital ship in the world (Similar to OTL Battlecruisers).

Between 1737 and the second world war in 1929 the Nippon Kaigun grew from the several thousand small ships that had made up Isolationist japans navy to the strongest navy in the world. At the start of WW2 Japan had 300 Battleships, 500 Battlecruisers, 1400 Destroyers, 800 Light Cruisers, 650 Heavy Cruisers and 4 Aircraft Carriers (Only a novelty at the time).

WW2
The Japanese Navy formed the backbone of the Global Powers naval forces in the Second World War. It had its finest hour in 1930 when it held off no less than three invasions by the monguls. However it also sufered its worse defeat in the same war as the Incan navy caused distractions to the Japanese Navy while the monguls made a landing on the Japanese mainland. However the Japanese soon bounced back by totaly cripling the Mongul navy and developing tactics to deal with the Incan submarines.

Later in the war the Japanese navy led an assualt on the Kor'na Yasse, while the Japanese Navy suffered large losses in the attack it did convince them of the value of massive airports that could act as a base for aircraft and ships. This would later lead to the creation of the Peninsula-Class Carriers which achived a similar role in a much smaller package.

Carrier Revolution
The Global War convinced the Japanese naval command that they were still the worlds best navy but increasingly, younger members of the establishment urged a change in naval doctrine that would allow them to control the worlds shipping without the need for countless numbers of Battlecruisers. Led by the reformist Iwakura Isoroku these men & women urged a change in doctrine but they were heavily oposed by the Old Guard. Still the reformists struck a compremise with the old guard which would revolutionise Japanese naval doctrine. The Current Battlecruiser & Battleship force would be maintained and upgraded but the High Command autherised the creation of three massive artifical islands (Kame or Turtles) in the major oceans in which japan didn't have a port. These would be suplemented by several hundred raiding flotilas made of cruisers and destroyers as well as carrier task forces based on the islands that would allow the Nippon kaigun kōkū-tai (Japanese Naval Air Arm) to project power across the worlds oceans.

With the aquisition of Cuba one of the three Islands was canceled and razed by Japanese forces as it provided them with a stable base in the atlantic. The final stage of the carrier revolution came with the construction of the 30 Peninsula-Class Carriers which allowed Japan to project power across the worlds oceans and allowed the Raiding flotilas to refule and repair without ever having to make land.

Organisation
The Japanese Navy is headed by the Kaigun saikō shirei (Naval High Command) which is chosen by the Emperor. The Navy is then devided into five Eriakomando (Area Commands) which are a council made up of Furītoadomiraruzu (Fleet Admirals) and headed by a Eriakomandā (Area Commander) who is chosen by the High Command, The Area Commander then choses the fleet admirals from within each task group. Beneath the Fleet Admirals are the Sentai shirei-kan (Squadron Commanders) which vary in number between 7 and 8. Each Squadron Commander heads a squadron made up of one Suppercarier and escorts and they are chosen purely on merit. Below them are Kyaputenzu (Captains) who each command a flotila of 12. Within the flotilas each ship is commanded by a Fuku sōjū-shi (First Officer) and subservient to him are the Sōda-shu (Helmsman), Hōjutsu shōkō (Gunnery Officer), Furaito yakuin (Flight Officer) and various Shōi (Ensigns). Bellow them are Midshipmen, Petty Officers, Able Seamen and Sailors.

Outside this ranking structure are the commanders of the raiding flotilas that patrol the worlds oceans. These are commanded by Raidingu yakuin (Raiding Officers) while the remainder of the flotilas are manned by an all volunteer force who have the rank of Meiyo sērāzu (Honoured Sailor)

{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="center" width="100%" !colspan=12| Ranks of the Japanese Navy

Fleet Structure
The Japanese Navy has the following fleet structure;
 * Flagship (Fleet Admirals Flagship)
 * Command Squadron (Area Commanders Flagship & Escorts)
 * Squadron (Capital Ships & Escorts)
 * Command Flotila (Squadron Commanders Flagship + Excorts)
 * Flotila (1 Capital Ship + Escorts)
 * Individal Ships


 * Raiding Flotila
 * Individual Ships

Logistics
The Complement of the Japanese Navy is as follows;


 * Home Fleet; 500 Battleships + Escorts
 * Experditionary Fleet; 500 Battlecruisers + Escorts
 * Pacific Fleet; 8 Supercarriers, 38 Carriers + Escorts
 * Atlantic Fleet/Cuban Force; 8 Supercarriers, 38 Carriers + Escorts
 * North Sea; 7 Supercarriers, 37 Carriers + Escorts
 * Indian Ocean; 7 Supercarriers, 37 Carriers + Escorts
 * Raiding Flotilas; 200 Battlecruisers, 900 Heavy & Light Cruisers + Escorts

Traditions
As the Japanese navy is the second oldest in the world and is regarded in the best of the world they have a unique set of traditions and ideas. Noticibly the Japanese Navy's sailors are the most disciplined in the world and are increadibly confident in thier own abilitys, however they are not arogent and this self confidence is well founded as the Japanese Navy has only ever lost one battle.

Ships badges
The Japanese Nvy assigns badges to every ship, submarine, squadron and shore establishment. Prior to the age of ironclas, ships were identified by the symbols on thier sails. With the removal of the figurehead, ships badges and mottoes were created to graphically represent the ships. The Naval Crown adorns the top of all the badges. The frame is gold rope. Originally, different classes of ships had different shapes, but currently all ships and submarines have a circular design. Shore establishments have an offset square design.

Fleet reviews
The Fleet Review is an irregular tradition of assembling the fleet before the Emperor. For example, at the most recent Review on February 17 2005 to mark 75 years after the battle of the chanal in which the Japanese Home Fleet held the entire mongul navy at bay, 1356 ships of the JN, and 2 other nations (Rome and the Khmer Empire), were present.

Salutes
Originally subordinates would uncover (remove their headgear) to a superior. But the daughter of Emperor Iyo Hito comented that she disliked seeing the mens heads uncovered and they Navy adapted a hand salute instead.

The personal salute with the hand is borrowed from the military salute of the Army, and there are various theories concerning its origin. There is the traditional theory that it has been the custom from time immemorial for a junior to uncover to a superior, and even today men on entrance of the officers acadamy remove their hats. In this theory, the naval salute is merely the first motion of removing one's head dress.

Toasts
The Toasts of the Japanese Navy are a set of traditional drinking toasts.

The words in brackets are understood but unspoken, though often those not toasting will say them in response. By tradition, these toasts were proposed immediately after the loyal toast, on the relevant day of the week.

While most of these toasts are self-explanatory, "a bloody war or a sickly season" refers to the desire and likelihood of being promoted when many people die: during war or sickness. The Navy traditionally makes the loyal toast seated, due to the evident danger of low deckheads on wooden sailing ships.

Affiliation
Ships will engage in a number of affiliations with cities (e.g., ENS (Emperors Navy Ship) Tokyo with Tokyo), elements of the other forces (e.g. ENS Korea with the Korean Air Regiment), schools, cadet units and charities.