Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
Trouble is that Queen Wilhelmina had set up a government in exile in England in May of 1940. There was no equivalent to the French Vichy government to give permission or agreementIf Japan were to enter the Dutch East Indies as in French Indochina (possibly with the consent of the Dutch government under the tutelage of Germany without war
Japan may give up? No war?The situation for Germany in both North Africa and Russia by June 1942 isn't looking good. Japan's embassies in Berlin and Moscow can clearly see.
No one wants to posit on the IJN of June 1942? For example, we have two Hiyō-class aircraft carriers entering service by this date.
The Hiyo's are converted ocean liners. They are slow, poorly compartmented below decks, and can hold 50+ aircraft each. Better than 30 plane carriers but in this scenario the US has no losses from Coral Sea or Midway or torpedo damage to the Saratoga.No one wants to posit on the IJN of June 1942? For example, we have two Hiyō-class aircraft carriers entering service by this date.
The completion, or completion of conversion, of IJN ships would run pretty much as historical due to pressure on Japanese industry. However, when in Nov 1941 the decision was taken to go to war, some ships under construction were halted to later be broken up on the slips. So delay war for 6 months and they are a bit further along, but not enough to change anything in 1942. For exampleNo one wants to posit on the IJN of June 1942? For example, we have two Hiyō-class aircraft carriers entering service by this date.
If much of what was historically sent instead goes to the Middle East and North Africa, it sounds like Britain's land and air forces in Malaya might be worse off, not better with the six month reprieve. The RN has gained HMS Indomitable, Anson and Howe, though the final KGV class commissions just as the PacWar kicks off in June 1942, so she'll need another few months of working up. Does the RN gain any submarines to make up for losses to date? A half dozen placed off FIC with effective ROE would be useful.As for British reinforcement of Malaya, forget the historical. So much changed with the Japanese invasion. For example the 18th Div was destined for the Middle East until diverted. The Hurricanes that ended up in the DEI and India/Ceylon from Jan 1942 were intended for Middle East. Australia only requested the withdrawal of its 3 Divs from the ME in late Dec / early Jan (Churchill persuaded them to leave the 9th). Britain had decided the ME should have priority over the FE.
Back to Japan. On Dec 5, 1941, the Red Army launched their counteroffensive along the entire front near Moscow, pushing the Germans back 150-300 km from the capital. The battle for Moscow is considered one of the turning points in the Second World War. Do reports that Germany is struggling against an increasingly strengthening USSR force Togo's government to challenge its assumptions and consider alternative directions? Not that Japan had many options. Negotiate with Mao and the communists against the KWT, but to what end? Declare a break from Germany (and Italy) and offer to send destroyers to help Britain - with no Germany DoW against the US, might Britain welcome the help?
In Dec 1940 trials it was found that Hosho couldn't operate Zeros, Vals or Kates (Warship 2008 article). Combined Fleet has her CAG in Sept 1941 as 11 A5M Claude fighters & 6 biplane B4Y1 Jean torpedo bombers. By Midway is was the Jeans for ASW work only.Due to new ships entering service, would some of the IJN's older vessels go into reserve or training status? For example, Hōshō's CAG goes to the Hiyos?
They will certainly not be better off but probably no worse off than historical on 8 Dec 1941 in material terms. 18th Div for example historically wasn't diverted to Singapore until it reached South Africa on 9 Dec 1941 and it was into Jan before it arrived in Singapore. Indomitable lifted the first Hurricanes to Java at the end of Jan 1942.If much of what was historically sent instead goes to the Middle East and North Africa, it sounds like Britain's land and air forces in Malaya might be worse off, not better with the six month reprieve.
Anson didn't complete her work up until the beginning of Sept 1942 and Howe until Feb 1943 (although she was considered ready to deploy to intercept any attempted German breakout from Nov 1942).The RN has gained HMS Indomitable, Anson and Howe, though the final KGV class commissions just as the PacWar kicks off in June 1942, so she'll need another few months of working up. Does the RN gain any submarines to make up for losses to date? A half dozen placed off FIC with effective ROE would be useful.
I don't follow you. Bethpage switched from F4F to F6F production between Sept 1942 & May 1943. TBF production went on until the end of 1943.If there is cash available, might Grumman be persuaded to keep Bethpage running? I could see the USN appreciating that.