"Gear Krieg: A Japanese V-2 rocket?" Topic

OK, so I'm apparently on a Gear Krieg run for the moment, and I have a particular idea I've been tinkering with and a question to ask.

Would there be a reason why the Japanese would employ a V-2 rocket? The home islands are isolated enough to where it wouldn't do any harm to any Allied countries, but judging by a map, it could quite possibly carry out terror strikes against occupied Korea and the eastern coast of China. And since there's a modicum of "superscience" involved, it's possible that before the end of hostilities in 1946 they could develop a rocket that might have the capability to reach the northern parts of the Philippines.

So, any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions on this? Thanks!

Attacks on US fleets/beachheads but it would need to be more accurate than it was historically.

I believe the German were working on a system to launch rockets from submarines.

I am sure they would have to surface and have some setup time, but that would scare your West coast population pretty well.

The japanese used some clever hot air balloon incendiary weapons against the Pacific Northwest. The general thought was huge raging forest fires would pull men and resources away from the fight and potentially disrupt industry and transport.

Unfortunately for them, the Northwest is perpetually rain and wet, so the big fires didn't start. Probably the first example of a inter continental weapon though.

link

V-1's would be more cost effective. They could be piloted. And the IJN had subs that had hangars for seaplanes. V-2's may incinerate a bio-warhead on impact I would think.
GearWalkers would be best for anti-invasion tactics. The IJA would pursue their development more than tank/tankette design.

Give them better ASW and adopt convoy tactics, a better pilot replacement/training system, more Imperial control over various factions, oil fields in Manchuria and they have a better shot.

They do need a good submachinegun, though. Should be something different from everyone else's.

You got me rambling-my Space:1939 uses Gearkrieg, sorry.

Attacks on US fleets/beachheads but it would need to be more accurate than it was historically.

That's an idea. Since there was a lot of Allied "island-hopping" on the way to Japan, maybe those particular bases could be the primary targets.

I believe the German were working on a system to launch rockets from submarines.

I am sure they would have to surface and have some setup time, but that would scare your West coast population pretty well.

Interesting thought. And the Japanese Navy had partially developed the I-400-class submarines that were essentially submersible aircraft carriers. On the surface, there doesn't appear to be a problem with one of those carrying either a V-1 or V-2 to the American West Coast.

The japanese used some clever hot air balloon incendiary weapons against the Pacific Northwest.

Yes, and although they were generally a failure, one unfortunately killed a pregnant woman and five children on an outing in 1945.

V-1's would be more cost effective.

They would, but toward the end they'd also employ the Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka manned suicide jet.

Just a note:

The Germans had plans for a manned version of the V-2 as well.
Most often called the A9. I suspect Japan could have used the fine guidance of the pilot to target even ships at sea.

astronautix.com/lvs/a4b.htm

Another front to consider is Australia. The Japanese invasion started in 1943, but there isn't much information (Axis Sourcebook and Gear Krieg Banzai! ). Presumably they would have landed in either the Northern Territory, Queensland or Western Australia. Rocketry could have a use here, they might even be able to reach the Brisbane Line with them.

Launching V1s from the I400 subcarriers would work, the US basically did the same thing with Regulus cruise missiles until the Polaris SLBMs were sorted out.

Can't really see V2s working from a Japanese need unless you stuck a kamikaze pilot in them. Then they'd be devastating, as no ship is capable of surviving that kind of impact.

I thought the Okha was essentially an air launched manned V1…maybe wierd Japanese tech would be a V2 that launches several Okha type suicide rockets at US Capitol ships or high value targets.

IIRC there was a surface-to-air version of the V-2. The Japanese could certainly have made use of that if they had had it available.

The Japanese balloons did reach the US and cause fires. Unlike in the modern world, the press shut up about them. The Japanese, discouraged at hearing about no results of the balloons gave up launching them.

It seems that one balloon exploded on, or near, a power line heading to the Hanford reactor. The result of this was the first scram of an atomic reactor. The control rod design worked as intended.

Reference:
ww2pacific.com/fugos.html

The astronautix site is so dangerous! I've never gone to it and gotten out without browsing for at least an hour, usually over cancelled projects and interesting early plans, such as going to the moon via Gemini.