How would the Royal Navy sustain major operations in the Indian and Pacific oceans?
Short answerIt would operate along imperial bases from Suez, India, Ceylon, Singapore, Canada, and the Caribbean, choosing objectives that forced opponents to the end of their own supply lines.
NotesCeylon, India, Diego Garcia, Singapore, and other bases form the structure supporting Indian Ocean operations. Against the United States, Britain could operate from Canadian and Caribbean positions rather than automatically crossing the central Pacific. In the Far East it might seize the Philippines and force the US fleet to travel to the end of its supply line, while any attempt on Pearl Harbor would be a separate major operation. The lesson is that navies choose routes and objectives around logistics rather than fighting wherever a map appears empty.