US vs Japan all by themselves

Suppose that instead of World War II OTL as happened, the US and Japan faced off by themselves. The US is not committed to Europe, and Japan doesn't need huge forces spread out across an Asian empire, and each can focus on each other.

I know Japan probably still loses, but how does it go? How long does it last?
 
A lot less. Japan streached out its industrial production with loot from the European colonies. Absent all that Japans industry collapses in 1942 vs 1944.
 

ben0628

Banned
Need to be more specific.

-Whats going on in China?
-Whats year is it?
-If Japan isn't at war with Europe, can it still trade with them?
 
Japan would still have troops in China and maybe Indochina, while the U.S would only have troops in the Pacific. Overall the Japanese would be even more outnumbered. The U.S might see a few minor defeats on some small islands and butterflies but overall, the IJN is way screwed. Because the U.S has many more naval resources that were spent in the Atlantic. A number of Battleships and heavy cruisers of the Atlantic fleet that participated in Operation Torch would be free to fight in the Pacific. Which could easily make the difference between a few early OTL USN defeats. Overall it might be really over by 1943. The U.S can send all it's 'lend lease' that went to the Russians OTL to the Chang Kai-Shek's National Revolutionary Army. The Japanese Navy will be destroyed earlier, and the U.S can go after places like Taiwan earlier. Hopefully the Bomb will be developed before they start an invasion of the home islands.
 
Well things can vary depending on the exact circumstances of the War. Does it start over the Panay Incident? What year and are other countries taking sides? How deep in China would Japan be in?
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
Hmmm...

No oil coming in.

No metals coming in.

3% of global industrial potential vs 42% of global industrial potential.

Ya, that'll work out well.
 
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