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Originally Posted by mac_bolan00
without hardly any naval aviation and battleships to oppose them, the japanese could have consolidated their hold on the islands and even invade australia.
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If they do the above then how can they do this:
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given the luxury of at least two years before the US can launch a counter-offensive, could japan have stockpiled enough petroleum,
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Especially when they are doing this:
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built enough capital and support ships, and most importantly, modernized its air arm to a point that it can take on third fleet when the time came?
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Take a look at this article to see what kind of problems the Japanese were having with oil. Operating more vessels and planes isn't going to help.
Oil and Japanese Strategy in the Solomons: A Postulate
Also look at this page
http://www.combinedfleet.com/economic.htm
Note that in 1942 the US produce 18 carriers of various flavors compared to the Japanese producing 17 for the entire war. Note also that in 43 the US produced 65.