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Found this article from the New York Times in March 1939 about the OTL expansion programme of the Royal Navy. It is clearly propaganda and has some "pumped" details like 70 planes on an Illustrious class carrier, but AFAIK the general claims about budget, number of ships etc. are actually what the British planned before France fell and everything had to be focused on fighting U-boats.

But now, what if, say Hitler strokes in his Apple pie in November 1939 and a peace agreement is found - for this purpose never mind the details in Europe - but the RN continue the pre-war expansion programme.

What will the consequences be, not at least in the Far East?

I find it quite interesting how clearly the Far Eastern intentions of the expansion were expressed and says something like: "If we can keep things going until 1942, the Japanese won't have a chance after that!"

What will the Japanese do in this ATL?
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