An up-gunned Matilda might fit Japanese requirements better than a German heavy tank. Its armor would aid a defensive force, while its smaller form and relatively modest fuel demands suited difficult roads and limited supplies. Much Japanese industry also lay near the coast, exposing the production base to an invasion supported from the sea. Terrain, fuel, and industrial geography shape a useful tank more than headline gun size alone.
Notable Point · 3:00:07-3:00:58
Why an up-gunned Matilda might suit Japan
The counterfactual favors a compact, well-armored, economical vehicle over a heavy tank unsuited to Japan's roads and fuel position.