alternatehistory.com

Crazy idea I've been thinking about for some time, but as you know, stranger things have happened, like the Zimmerman telegram, or Hitler's declaration of war on the US.
So, after Germany declares war on the US, the war in the Pacific goes as in OTL. In may 1942 after the fall of the Philipines, Japan realizing that Stalin can't be trusted and will stab them in the back with the first opportunity, declares war on USSR. However, they keep a defensive stance in Manchuria, don't try any ground offensive in Siberia and even stop offensive actions in China. Instead, they destroy with their navy every port facility of significance in the Russian far east and in the Indian Ocean. Are battleships, battlecruisers, cruisers and such, together with land-based aircrafts enough to level Vladivostock, maybe even a surprise amphibious landing? In the meantime, could some aircraft carriers go into the Indian Ocean and destroy the ports in Iran?
If you like you could also add a more significant collaboration between the axis powers, like Germany giving radar and sonar technology and receiving torpedoes and training in using the air-launched torpedo.
To isolate better Soviet Union from outside help, the germans should build and send more torpedo bombers to block Archangelsk and Murmansk.
Could the japanese use their subs as the germans did and not only in support of the fleet? Did they have in 1942 subs that could reach the US west coast?
Top