Contacts developed through aircraft overhaul work helped ShinMaywa's advocates secure US Navy support for a Japanese flying boat. An ally could supply a useful specialist capability even when the United States preferred aircraft suited to large production runs. France's Dunkerque class supplies the historical analogy: fast capital ships could help fill a shortage in Britain's battle line. In this interpretation, contributing those ships gave a smaller allied navy more influence over the course of events. Japan's flying boats offered a similar argument for retaining a small fleet with capabilities an ally valued.
Notable Point · 6:17-7:41
Why allies value a small fleet with a specialist role
Japanese flying boats and French fast capital ships illustrate how a smaller allied fleet can contribute a specialist capability that strengthens its larger partner's fleet.