Narrative

1. Narrative • Current Operational Environment: By mid 1942, we have expanded a defensive perimeter eastward to the Marshall Islands, south to the Solomon Islands, northwest to Manchuria, and southwest to Burma. Siam is not a threat due to a previously signed treaty. These conditions give us access to strategic resources, a buffer against the British and United States, and denial of re-supply to China. Our forces (air, land, and sea) are superior to British and American forces. • Desired Operational Environment:Exploiting strategic resources increases our logistics capability, increasing the strength of our forces to conduct operations elsewhere. By defending Burma, we severely restrict British logistics, thus reducing their capabilities and creating the conditions necessary to protect territorial gains. A strong defense of Burma also creates further problems for China by delaying and restricting resupply efforts by the British and Americans. • Problem Statement:How do we (Japan) defend Burma in order to maintain access to strategic resources (oil, rubber, food), create a buffer against British and American forces operating in India, and isolate China from re-supply via Burma Road. • Operational Approach: The end state of our operations in Burma is to defend Burma, exploit strategic resources, British forces are fixed in India, and the Burmese population is controlled and does not impede our military operations in Burma. In order to achieve the desired end state, we will pursue three lines of effort/operations: 1. exploit resources, 2. control population, 3. defend Burma.