Some of this thread has devolved to the position that that Japanese were equal or superior to the British in technical matters in the late 30s and early 40s and we have veered off into tank land to try to prove it. In the area of anti-tank guns the Japanese were introducing the 47mm in the Spring of 1942. They had captured a few Russian 45mm AT guns in the late 30s (1939?) and had basically copied them with the change from 45mm to 47mm because the Japanese already had 47mm barrel making and shell/projectile making machinery from old navy guns.
In April of 1942 the British were making 1500 6pdrs a month and increasing production.
In fact the first production 17pdrs were built in April of 1942. but production of carriages was slow.
The 6pdr had been designed in 1938-39 but had to wait for financing and factory space.
I can't seem to find the Japanese superiority.
Maybe not 'superiority' - that has never been my argument all along. My argument is that I don't see "inferiority".
My point on the tanks, as just one of many convolutions of this argument, is that the Japanese were not such pushovers in this area compared to the British. In Malaya, the British had some tanks but they didn't think tanks could operate in the jungle. The Japanese proved them wrong. So it's not just the (obvious, glaring) liability and failure in tank design by the British by not making HE shells for their guns, (in
spite of it being a major problem for them in the Western Desert and costing tens of thousands of British and Commonwealth lives). The Japanese seem to have been well ahead of the British in tank warfare in Malaya, beat the American tanks in the Philippines, and their land army in general owned the British in Burma as well.
But lets take this moment to back up a little and review.
Carrier War
Japanese fighters (A6M) are
significantly more effective than the British carrier fighters (Fulmars, Rocs, Sea Hurricanes) and significantly out-range them.
Japanese have seaplane fighters (A6M2-N) which are also (probably) superior to British carrier fighters
Japanese carrier strike aircraft are also vastly superior (D3A and B5N vs Skua and Swordfish) And better (?) air-launched torpedoes (?)
Japanese aircraft carriers carry more aircraft (60-70 vs 40-50)
Japanese land based strike aircraft have long range and can sink enemy ships in daylight
British have radar and some aircraft that can fly strikes at night with radar (Swordfish) albeit at very short range
British have Wellingtons which can also drop torpedoes at night and have very long range
British carriers have armored decks
British have Spitfire to protect airfields and Beaufighter to harass shipping
British ships have more AA and have radar guided AA and / or air search radar
Surface Sea War
Japanese have the largest and most powerful battleshps in the world (Yamato and Musashi)
Japanese have (arguably) more modern battleships and battle cruisers, and better cruisers
Japanese light cruisers are very effective torpedo platforms
Japanese have seaplane tenders and seaplane cruisers
Japanese ship-launched torpedoes with twice the range of the British and much greater speed
Japanese have superior night training and optics
British have King George the Fifth BB
British have radar
British torpedoes work (unlike the American ones)
British have less-flash powder (unlike the Americans)
British have more ships overall, especially CL and DE / E
Submarine War
Japanese probably better sub-launched torpedoes (I actually haven't checked this)
Japanese submarines have longer range
British have particularly good submarine crews
British have superior ASW on their ships
British have more ASW via aircraft
British have radar
Land War
Japanese tanks have HE capability
Japanese Army is unusually fanatical and creative
Japanese resoundingly beat the British in land battles in 1942 (in the real world)
British tanks have better AT capability
British have better small arms
British have more artillery
Extra Factors
Japanese have extra highly trained pilots in the beginning
Japanese have ultra high disciplined troops who don't surrender etc.
Japanese are grossly underestimated by all the Western powers
British have much better encryption / cipher / decipher capability
British have more air sea rescue etc. capability
British probably get at least some help from the US, and probably also French and Dutch
British for sure have a lot of help from the Australians
