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Which returns us to my question above, how did Australia benefit from its connections to Britain in the interwar and WW2 years?you have to remember that Britain still controlled most of Australias foreign affairs and tax and finance...Churchill was draining the Aus treasury to buy goods for Britain.
Fascinating info, thank you for sharing. It's interesting how reticent Britain was in recognizing Manchukuo when it was so quick to recognize and sign-off on Germany's annexation of Austria and Sudetenland in 1938. There is some precedent, as Britain refused to recognize Italy's annexation of Ethiopia in 1936, but clearly, the threat of Japan to Australia and Britain's empire in the east, including India was not taken seriously by London.
A Pacific security pact that included recognition of Manchukuo as described in the article above may well have given Japan its face-saving exit from the rest of China. This means the end of the US oil embargo and no invasions of DEI, FIC, etc. I expect the Thais to still go to war against an otherwise defeated Vichy France. And eventually the beast that is China will recover and want to fight on. But imagine the sight of the Kido Butai peacefully entering Singapore before sailing up the Red Sea to Suez to join the fight.
During WW1 it was Japan and Australia that seized Germany's territory in the Pacific, Britain didn't appear to lift a finger.
Proof?you have to remember that Britain still controlled most of Australias foreign affairs and tax and finance and Aus had to beg for money to make non-British purchases - and pay import duty to Britain on them.
Churchill was draining the Aus treasury to buy goods for Britain.
The Ki-27 would have been an interesting opponent in RAAF hands in the MTO. Beyond the Gladiators and Falcos were there were any fixed undercarriage fighters in active combat?The Ki-27 was definitely a major improvement over the RAAFs front line fighter on Dec 7, 1941
The IJN used the A5M. They shot down some USN SBDs in 1942.The Ki-27 would have been an interesting opponent in RAAF hands in the MTO. Beyond the Gladiators and Falcos were there were any fixed undercarriage fighters in active combat?
The book 1940: Myth and Reality by Clive Ponting.Proof?
One thing for certain, once HM QE2 dies Canberra will be pushing for a Republic Australia.
If it wasn't for the constitutional, regional, linguistic, indigenous and ethno-nationalist sh#tstorm it would ignite in Canada we'd do the same.For what it's worth this American reads the cards the same way.
If it wasn't for the constitutional, regional, linguistic, indigenous and ethno-nationalist sh#tstorm it would ignite in Canada we'd do the same.
Mmmm, Ark Royals defending the I/PTO from operating bases in presumably Trincomalee & Fremantle? Sounds like fun. Might be an idea to make those ships a bit larger (and more expensive, and fewer) to get better range.Mind you, the £60 million cost of the Singapore base could have paid for more than a dozen fully equipped Ark Royals (£3 million each, plus CAG). Treaties and shipbuilding capacity won't allow this, but you can see how much was wasted on that base that could have gone to I/PTO defence.
I only use the carriers to provide a comparative cost to the Singapore base. Treaties, shipyards, etc. won't allow it. But if some of the £60 spent on the base at Singapore can be reduced they're may be money for different defence initiatives. Can we get a drydock and base in Singapore for less?Mmmm, Ark Royals defending the I/PTO from operating bases in presumably Trincomalee & Fremantle? Sounds like fun.
Thing is the construction of the Esquimalt Graving Dock had nothing to do with the Royal Navy or its capital ships.Good points Ewen. It's a curiousity that the Empire's sole battleship sized drydock in the Pacific was at Victoria, BC, shown below with HMCS Ontario in front, a smaller vessel behind.
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Sydney, Australia makes more sense to me if a Pacific dock is wanted.
It is a wonder had Percival fought on how the DEI and Philippines would have been impacted.If your forces in Singapore managed to keep the Japanese from seizing the NEI, the Japanese are in a far worse situation.