Battleships remain useful in this 1940 scenario, but waiting until 1941 to surge construction is judged too late. The proposed answer is to convert suitable hulls into carriers and build simple escorts for anti-aircraft and anti-submarine work. National pride should not prevent Japan from buying Bofors 40 mm manufacturing equipment from neutral Sweden. With fighting against the Soviet Union over and Germany aligned with Moscow, the machinery could travel through Soviet territory to Vladivostok and then by ship to Japan. Sweden is the practical supplier because Britain is already at war and is unlikely to transfer equivalent pom-pom production equipment.
Chapter · 4:50-7:56
A 1940 Japanese carrier and escort construction surge
The proposed Japanese program accelerates shipbuilding, converts suitable hulls into carriers, builds escorts, and licenses Sweden's 40 mm Bofors gun.