Portal will try and give Park what he can. He knows Park was shoved out due to politics not a lack of talent and knows the man is top shelf (indeed, everything I said about about Portal, applies to Park)I love your enthusiasm, and such a lot of content. OK you mentioned Air Chief Marshal Portal, Chief of the Air Staff since October 1940, replacing Sir Cyril Newell. He, along with the rest of the Chiefs of Staff and Churchill, have their eyes firmly fixed on the war with Germany. Portal is trying hard to build the war winning Bomber Command, which will bring Germany to its knees, and win the war. He still has a eye on home defence, and the continued building up of Fighter Command. Distractions are Malta and North Africa, and he's only just avoided Coastal Command being completely removed from the RAF, and given to the Admiralty, accepting it be under the operational control of the Admiralty. That said, he's still goin to starve it of funds and aircraft, as more and more of Britain's resources are funnelled into the building of Bomber Command.
So what does he think of Malaya?, an irritant, but one that is going to be primarily defended by the RAF by the end of 1941. Park going out there is good, avoids any nastiness with Leigh-Mallory, Buffalo's, Battles and Vildebeest are all obsolescent over European skies. The other thing to remember, is it takes time to build an air force, with airfields, and other infrastructure needed as well as a lot of ground personnel. And Malaya is a long way from the UK by ship, which is how pretty much everything comes by.
Actually, I misspelled and meant Park, but indeed this applies to Portal as well. I don't see him turning down Park's requests for any other reasons but a genuine lack of resources. Egypt and Malta simply take priority right now, as does Britain, but what can be spared for Asia will be sent. Portal knows Park is top shelf, not an alarmist, was pushed out over political games, and if he says he needs something likely does. Portal seemed to have a nose for talent and getting good performance out of subordinates most of the time, no reason for it not happen now.I love your enthusiasm, and such a lot of content. OK you mentioned Air Chief Marshal Portal, Chief of the Air Staff since October 1940, replacing Sir Cyril Newell. He, along with the rest of the Chiefs of Staff and Churchill, have their eyes firmly fixed on the war with Germany. Portal is trying hard to build the war winning Bomber Command, which will bring Germany to its knees, and win the war. He still has a eye on home defence, and the continued building up of Fighter Command. Distractions are Malta and North Africa, and he's only just avoided Coastal Command being completely removed from the RAF, and given to the Admiralty, accepting it be under the operational control of the Admiralty. That said, he's still goin to starve it of funds and aircraft, as more and more of Britain's resources are funnelled into the building of Bomber Command.
So what does he think of Malaya?, an irritant, but one that is going to be primarily defended by the RAF by the end of 1941. Park going out there is good, avoids any nastiness with Leigh-Mallory, Buffalo's, Battles and Vildebeest are all obsolescent over European skies. The other thing to remember, is it takes time to build an air force, with airfields, and other infrastructure needed as well as a lot of ground personnel. And Malaya is a long way from the UK by ship, which is how pretty much everything comes by.
While yes things are a long ways away, by early 1941 Britain really isn't hurting anymore for supplies nor kit, but rather lacking in logistics as you say. The horrendous losses of 1939-40 in the Atlantic and in supplying Malta still were still being built back up and that made things more than a little tight (in 1942, America felt a similar pinch for similar reasons).
And I imagine hiring foreign shipping was a tad pricey!
Nonetheless, improvisation and local resources from Malaya and India can indeed fill in alot of the gaps if the Army and RAF engineers get creative. Lord knows the USMC ground crews often had too in the South Pacific. Again, don't make the perfect the enemy of the good enough. These airfields just have to function, not be luxurious Bomber Command facilities, after all.
And a side note: When conducting there operations in the Southwest Pacific and Philippines, the Japanese had a EXACT and limited number of transports, freighters, and oilers for ALL the operations to be carried out. This meant that when the USS Lexington did a raid on the fleet train carrying out operations in the SW Pacific in early-mid 1942, despite them calling it a minor success, the fact that Admiral Inyo had to send five of his seven freighters all the way back to Japan (as that's the ONLY place they can repair their ships people, don't forget that, and it's over a THOUSAND miles off) it actually crippled operations for months and may have been decisive in both the New Guinea and Guadalcanal campaigns, as the Japanese were unable to build up forces and facilities in the area as planned.
Again, the Japanese merchant marine and fleet train is VERY limited and what they have is ALL they have, and is going to be used for every operation from beginning to end. Attrition of this starts throwing a spanner in the works very quickly.
Same with their carrier air crews: They have a very limited pool, husband them carefully, and too many losses will quickly start hurting.
Problem for the Japanese is once they start their offensive, they must keep going, but can't afford too many losses or mistakes at any point. Ironically, if the allies plan well, dig in a layered defense, stockpile carefully, and plan an attentional defense that plays to their strengths they may actually grind the Japanese to a halt at some point. The Japanese Naval High Command is VERY aware and paranoid about the Americans, and can't ignore them, to them, that is the main threat their carriers and their battle fleet is to be aimed at, not the British or Dutch. They are to be dealt with once the Americans are countered.
Gort and company don't know this, of course but he is a WWI vet and knows how to dig in!
And yes, Japanese intelligence prewar was excellent, but once the war kicks off and the embassy is shut down, much of that intelligence will be cut off. Not all, but most. Especially since most Japnese citizens will be expelled or arrested.