This is standard history fact. Nothing new or different. About all I could add is that the Japanese basically shared the same idealized mental pictures of a short conflict as did the Germans.

In Eastern Europe or backwards Asia it wasn't necessary to technologically overwhelm your enemy since almost no one was devoting money to raising standing military forces. No one had much more than a token self defense force militarilly speaking. Countries without resources had no justification to throw money at that and let their economies languish.

The Germans and the Japanese may have had some aircraft that were obsolescent by the beginning of WW II but we have to remember they had been developed much earlier with larger numbers in service than anybody else had in the 1930s. And again, they were quite able to perform the roles they were designed for.

In reality both the US and GB had an advantage because they had puny air forces in the 30s. They could start with a blank sheet as it were, and forge what they needed to counter the obvious threats. Until the production lines caught up the planes they had which were more obsolescent than their opponents whould somehow be made to fill the gap.

If we look at the Zero and the Bf 109 appearing first the Allies' designs would naturally eclipse them in many regards because they were far newer. The rate that aero engines were increaseing power output was literaly monthly. And other aspects of design thinking was already fast changing. It was The Japanese and Germans responses in round 2 that showed aviation warfare tech was rolling.

We must remember that both the Germans and the Japanese had not projected large scale hostilities with richer or technologically savvy neighbors Like GB or the US. At any rate the machines they came up with were ample in every sense. Fw 190s and N1K1s plus the many more too numerous to name, all Axis aircraft were following the natural trend of the war with larger more complex aircraft with heavier weaponry. If Japan had the industrial capabilities their designs and products would have been as good an anyones.

While we reville in the stories of the enemy being oafs and not being able to field weapons and aircraft due to lack of supplies it wasn't universally a logistics problem and it wasn't unique to the enemy. During most of 1942 the Americans had no guaranteed system of supply. Bases' personnel learned to make do and not expect the next shipment.

Supply is and has always been a primary target goal of opposing armies. We must note that while the Americans called for "unrestricted warfare" on Japanese shipping they Japs felt it was more important to attack warships and that it was beneath the "code" to shoot at unarmed transports. It wasn't sport in their logic.

So as when any supply line stretches far it has interdictions by opposing forces as did thos of Japan. There is no doubt that they were actively trying to supply their far flung bases. If they allegedly didn't plan for it we must wonder why they were the only nation to produce submarines specifically designed as transport vessels besdies the others.

The real reason why the Japs weren't getting stuff is because it was being interdicted by American forces. And while they may not have had a group like the Seabees somebody built servicable airfields on all those Japanese-held islands.

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