wi:Britain sells oil to Japan pre ww2

nbcman

Donor
There is also the not minor reality that the U.S. would be ill-disposed to sell those extra six million barrels to the UK if London has just given DC a giant flaming FU by breaking the embargo.

The only period where the UK might consider to sell oil is after the Fall of France (pre-Embargo) which was also the time where the UK voluntarily closed the Burma Road from July - Sep 1940 because of Japanese pressure. There is no chance that the UK or the Dutch by proxy would circumvent the US oil embargo of July 1941.
 
Ja. Seriously, the Japanese were idiots (strategically).

A far more rational scheme would have been to build dozens of oil tankers and light escort vessels (probably destroyers) to carry oil and protect SLoC. Then, when the war in Europe breaks out, they can ramp up production further, SELL tankers, maybe even destroyers, to the WAllies to pay for the DEI oil.

The Brits were DESPERATE for escort vessels (see the bases for destroyers deal just to get a few WWI short-legged obsolete destroyers). And everyone was short of tankers.
 

trurle

Banned
Ja. Seriously, the Japanese were idiots (strategically).

A far more rational scheme would have been to build dozens of oil tankers and light escort vessels (probably destroyers) to carry oil and protect SLoC. Then, when the war in Europe breaks out, they can ramp up production further, SELL tankers, maybe even destroyers, to the WAllies to pay for the DEI oil.

The Brits were DESPERATE for escort vessels (see the bases for destroyers deal just to get a few WWI short-legged obsolete destroyers). And everyone was short of tankers.

Partially incorrect. The British were actually over-supplied with oil (and tankers) since June 1940, because major export to France has been halted.
What`s why they founded Petroleum Warfare Department.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_Warfare_Department

Therefore, the export of oil from British to Japan was possible from the technical and economical perspective. The major obstacle was the political relations. Do not forget - British was the last colonial power to abandon Chinese colonies (Hong Kong in 1997). Back in 1940, they seen Japanese as market rivals, not partners. Fixing it would require may be internationally-recognized partition of China in the 1911-1939 interval. Clean separation of markets will lead to less rivalry and more cooperation between British and Japan, may be even in oil sales.

In this case, the entire Pacific War is butterflied away. British-contested (southern) China make a barrier to weapons import to Japanese-contested (northern) China, therefore the rationale to attack French Indochina, Malaya and DEI disappears. "Strike North" strategy (attacking Soviet Union) still may be implemented though. (cannot estimate the likelihood - too much deviation from standard history)
 
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