In only forty year since Japan was destroyed in the Second World War,
Japan has rebuilt itself from the ashes of Hiroshima
and Nagasaki into an industrial and technological powerhouse.
The island is famous for its lack of natural resources.
Do you think the Axis could have won if the island of Japan possessed
rich oil fields?
How in your opinion, would this factor affect Japanese battle plans?
Any comments and contributions welcome.
Further reading:
http://www.naval-history.net/WW20StartPac.htm
Allied and Japanese naval forces - Before Pearl Harbor attack ( Nov1941 ):
ROYAL NAVIES
Battleships 2 Carriers 0 Cruisers 10 Destroyers 13 Submarines 0
DUTCH NAVY
Battleships 0, Carriers 0 Cruisers 3 Destroyers 7 Submarines 15
US ASIATIC FLEET
Battleships 0 Carriers 0 Cruisers 3 Destroyers 13 Submarines 29
US PACIFIC FLEET
Battleships 8 Carriers 3 Cruisers 21 Destroyers 67 Submarines 27
JAPANESE NAVY
Battleships 10 Carriers 11 Cruisers 40 Destroyers 112 Submarines 63
VS.
ALLIED TOTALS
Battleships 10 Carriers 3 Cruisers 37 Destroyers 100 Submarines 71
Allied and Japanese naval forces are about balanced in numbers.
There the comparison ends .....
The Imperial Japanese Navy has far more carriers, its surface task forces are well trained, especially in night-fighting, and they have no command or language difficulties. They also introduce the Allies to a secret and powerful weapon in the 24in Long lance torpedo. In contrast, the Allied ships are scattered and have no central command. Their main bases at Singapore and Pearl Harbor are 6,000 miles apart, and most of the strength is concentrated with the US Pacific Fleet.
For its conquests, the Japanese Army fields only slightly more troops, but these are usually better trained, and also experienced in amphibious operations. They have air superiority both overall and locally. Only the US Pacific Fleet poses an immediate danger to Japanese plans.
