The trans-Pacific and Atlantic supply flows become strategic targets once American production begins sustaining Britain, France, and Singapore. Their importance resembles that of Spanish treasure convoys because destroying the shipping could interrupt the material base of the Allied war. Germany might gamble that attacking nominally neutral American vessels would frighten Washington away rather than provoke intervention. That gamble could backfire by settling the American neutrality debate against Germany.
Notable Point · 42:14-42:46
American supply convoys create a German strategic dilemma
German planners would need to stop American-backed Allied supply convoys without turning a benevolently neutral United States into a full belligerent.