Logistics and carrier lessons at sea

Operating thousands of miles from Europe makes refuelling and replenishment central to the scenario. Royal Navy oilers give the coalition a practical way to sustain forces whose own support arrangements were not designed for a shared Pacific campaign. German and Italian crews would also gain a close view of British and American carrier practice. A Battle of Britain comparison shows how misleading shared organizational labels can be: an RAF squadron might hold 24 aircraft to keep 12 serviceable, while a German squadron began with 12 and could have only a few ready. Close cooperation would expose the difference between nominal establishments and usable strength. That experience could give both states stronger reasons to invest in carriers and a better understanding of how allied naval systems work together.