With MacArthur out of the way,
Is he really? Has anyone ever done a timeline where he is running a PoW camp trying to build a railway through Thailand?
With MacArthur out of the way,
Is he really? Has anyone ever done a timeline where he is running a PoW camp trying to build a railway through Thailand?
A River Kwai scenario, ridiculous as it would be in reality, would play up his ability to dominate an environment and be a mirror of the occupation of Japan. All the Mac tropes in a situation where all the power is illusory.MacArthur could totally plan a way to escape and it will either be glorious or will go down in history as a bold but pointless gesture of defiance. Though...Mac could and would totally do that given that he was one hell of a soldier even if he wasn't so great in the leadership department.
and to make the humiliation complete - gets liberated by the british (or ANZAC troops).Is he really? Has anyone ever done a timeline where he is running a PoW camp trying to build a railway through Thailand?
We assume he is still sane if they have to rescue him, I may not like the man but the way the IJ treated their POWs no one deserves that.and to make the humiliation complete - gets liberated by the british (or ANZAC troops).
one thing will change though, he will think pretty different about the japanese.
especially if wife & child suffer/die during internment
True. However, it should be noted that the production capacity target for the US Synthetic Rubber program was raised to 400,000 tons immediately after Pearl Harbour, and before the fall of Singapore IOTL. Since Singapore seems pretty secure ITTL and rubber imports are likely proceeding it is possible that the increase to 600,000 tons in March and to 800,000 tons in April do not happen. For context the US imported over 800,000 tons from Southeast Asia in 1940 and over 1,000,000 in 1941. Though some of that was making up for a previous shortage.The British and Dutch will be much better-off financially in the post-war period as, not only have the lost a lot less, but they can start making it back sooner, including supplying rubber and other goods to the Americans.
We should also consider that the war probably wont last as long and that Britain has had to replace less loses which will (hopefully!) cut back the amount of money being spent each year - or at least have the money better spent to further shorten the warIt’s certainly helpful. But it should be remembered the scale of Britains balance of payments disparity. It averaged £719 million per year from 1939-1945 and totalled over £4,000 million.
It’s certainly helpful. But it should be remembered the scale of Britains balance of payments disparity. It averaged £719 million per year from 1939-1945 and totalled over £4,000 million.
True. However, it should be noted that the production capacity target for the US Synthetic Rubber program was raised to 400,000 tons immediately after Pearl Harbour, and before the fall of Singapore IOTL. Since Singapore seems pretty secure ITTL and rubber imports are likely proceeding it is possible that the increase to 600,000 tons in March and to 800,000 tons in April do not happen. For context the US imported over 800,000 tons from Southeast Asia in 1940 and over 1,000,000 in 1941. Though some of that was making up for a previous shortage.
Nonetheless some of the US’s expanded rubber consumption will likely be filled by synthetic rubber. Though this will only likely hit capacity in 1944 based on OTL numbers. Still, maintaining that over 1,000,000 tons of rubber imported from Southeast Asia, or even expanding it to 1.2-1.3 million tons, would help to alleviate the balance of payments issue somewhat. Based on the prices of the day that should account for approximately £112-146 million per year spread between the British Empire and DEI. Assuming this was a 60/40 split in favour of the British (I can’t find exact numbers but it is generally acknowledged that Malaya was the worlds largest producer and the British also had Ceylon) that would amount to around £250-350 million across the rest of the war, at a stretch as high as £500 million.
It’s certainly helpful. But it should be remembered the scale of Britains balance of payments disparity. It averaged £719 million per year from 1939-1945 and totalled over £4,000 million.
Those with more knowledge of the Dutch situation can comment on the scale of effect this would have.
Dear Sir,The question has arisen of the British from bases in China being able to bomb or mine Japan. Given that the British didn’t produce a bomber during the war,that had the range, or perfect inflight refuelling, to provide the range. To enable a bomber to conduct a round trip with a suitable safety margin, from ether the Hong Kong or Shanghai region. Only the American Boeing B-29, with its 3,250 miles range, nearly twice that of any British bomber, had the range and only from the Shanghai region, to complete such a mission. Note the first very costly B-29 missions were conducted from China, and once the Mariana Islands bases became available, all further raids against Japan were conducted from there. Unless the Americans decided to give the British B-29’s, unlikely, I for one seriously doubt that the British will until they are able to construct airfields in South Korea around Pusan, which itself is extremely unlikely, there will be no other than naval aviation British bombing missions against Japan. Side note one of my junior school teachers flew Sea Fires as escorts, over Japan when serving with the British Pacific Fleet.
RR.
I wasn’t trying to show an exhaustive accounting of rubber producing regions. However, at least as far as the US is concerned (which is the largest determinant in the effect of continued Rubber export on the post war economy) the Congo was a relatively minor source, and unlikely to be massively developed if supply from Southeast Asia is available:In addition you have missed another region that was a major rubber producer, the Belgium Congo
More focused development on a few key types, so some development was seriously accelerated while other areas were paused, some never to restart. But that is probably beyond the scope of this tank focused story.I understand the invasion scare of ‘40 delayed airplane development by a year.
Imperial Airways were doing IFR for trans-Atlantic trips pre-war - HP Harrows refuelling Shorts Empire flying boats. The tech and knowledge is there if the RAF want/need it.I think that had the RAF needed IFR, they could have managed it.
They got a Lancaster up to a 3,000 mile range by putting a fuel tank in the back, though it cut the bomb load to only 4,000lb. Between that and the IFR the RAF probably can put bombers over wherever they want in Japan, not a large force to start but growing.And while I don’t expect Lancasters to be “Black-Bucking” their way to Tokyo, I can definitely see HMG wanting to put more pressure and stretch the weak Japanese air defences fine all over the Far East.
More focused development on a few key types, so some development was seriously accelerated while other areas were paused, some never to restart. But that is probably beyond the scope of this tank focused story.
Imperial Airways were doing IFR for trans-Atlantic trips pre-war - HP Harrows refuelling Shorts Empire flying boats. The tech and knowledge is there if the RAF want/need it.
They got a Lancaster up to a 3,000 mile range by putting a fuel tank in the back, though it cut the bomb load to only 4,000lb. Between that and the IFR the RAF probably can put bombers over wherever they want in Japan, not a large force to start but growing.
Given wikipedia quotes the cost of an M3 Lee as $55,250, the fact that Britain has only ordered 300 instead of 3,000 means they've saved near on $150M right there, or ~3.73% of their OTL bill.It’s certainly helpful. But it should be remembered the scale of Britains balance of payments disparity. It averaged £719 million per year from 1939-1945 and totalled over £4,000 million.
Those with more knowledge of the Dutch situation can comment on the scale of effect this would have.