Not to mention the fact that Guam is American Territory as well.
South Bank of the Phum Duang River, Thailand 0000 January 10, 1943
His army had won and would eventually finish pocketing 140,000 Japanese soldiers, but those Japanese bastards almost never surrendered so clearing the battlefield after a victory took far more time here than it ever would in Libya, Tunisia or hopefully France again.
So having read that Saipan only supported 1 airfield for B29s and Guam and Tinian 2 fields each. It would seem easier and less costly to bypass Saipan after bombarding it to uselessness and then keep it down using 8" artillery from Tinian and occasional bombardments by escorting cruisers as they drop off convoys.
This victory is as significant and almost as strategically important as the Allied naval victory at the Battle of Makassar. The destruction of nearly the entire Japanese army in S.E. Asia. The casualties for the IJA will be much worse than what they suffered at OTL Imphal and Kohima. Plus the loss of all military equipment heavier than what can be carried by a starving infantryman. Some IJA troops may infiltrate/break out with what they can carry on their backs but most will not.
So what do the Allies, in particular the British and Commonwealth forces, do with the door to French Indochina kicked wide open in front of them? I would guess the French may have some suggestions.
Another thing that pops into mind: even though the Bengal Famine will be reduced as a by-product of the events of this TL, sufficient food will still be problematic for millions in the region. Soon, the Commonwealth will be adding 140,000+/- Japanese mouths to the ration list. Who would be making those top level rationing decisions? Does that fall on Wavell?
Driftless, do you really think there would be 140,000 Japanese surrenders?
Driftless, do you really think there would be 140,000 Japanese surrenders?
Another thing that pops into mind: even though the Bengal Famine will be reduced as a by-product of the events of this TL, sufficient food will still be problematic for millions in the region. Soon, the Commonwealth will be adding 140,000+/- Japanese mouths to the ration list. Who would be making those top level rationing decisions? Does that fall on Wavell?
Has B-29 development been accelerated in this timeline? In OTL wasn't engine development an issue?Based on a quick perusing of wiki.
Wake is 1,900 from Tokyo & Guam is 1,500 (round numbers). Both are within the range of the B-29’s. The current airfield there is 9,850 ft. long.
Given that, I can see
-the US setting up an airbase on Wake for the 1st B-29’s (this’l be less costly & more effective than Operation Matterhorn),
-skip the Gilberts as there is no need ITTL
-the USN seizing the Marshall Islands or some other islands for airbases as needed
-once the Mariana Islands are available, the B-29’s move there and increase the pressure on the Japanese.
As far as the question of invading or blockading Japan goes, no one is invading Japan until after Germany is finished. It will, obviously be blockaded & bombarded (& mined & shelled) all of which would be a preliminary steps to an invasion anyhow.
I don’t know much about Formosa/Taiwan, but I can see the Allies landing on mainland China if it means opening a direct line of supply to Chiang (more effective than either the “Hump” or the Burma Road). But this won’t happen, if it does, until after the PI cleared.
There are a lot of decadent adults following this story (and another writing it).@fester bakes the cakes and the participants add the icing.
B-29 development ttl is OTL +/- a littleHas B-29 development been accelerated in this timeline? In OTL wasn't engine development an issue?
The civilian population caught in the Japanese pockets aren't Allied civilians with very rare exceptions ( sex slaves taken North from Malaya during the initial winter 42 offensive.No real clue - I was just using the maximum possible level. There are some tough calculations that the region's top commanders would make that would impact that final number. How hard do they press the pockets? What are the trade offs between keeping a large containment force for an indeterminate time to let the Japanese wither away, or reducing those pockets soon, so the Commonwealth forces can be redeployed elsewhere, or some of both choices? Depending on the size of the pockets, there are probably significant civilian populations who are caught between the proverbial rock-and-a-hard-spot: die by starvation or warfare?...
Failure to accept surrender always reduces this total. IJA actions aren’t too different to historical to change this relationship.I would be surprised if there were hundreds of prisoners at the most.