Quote:
Originally Posted by merc4ulfate
Up until December of 1941 German as well as Japanese merchant and military vessels could use the canal. In December 1941 the Panamanian government declared war on the forces of Japan and Germany.
|
In addition to the canal usage, prior to 1941, most of Japan's merchant ships were serviced in US and UK shipyards. This was in part due to the focus on warship production at home. However, as a result the instant the war started and those foreign shipyards were no longer available, Japan suddenly found they had an insolvable logistics problem on their hands. Maintaining their extant merchant fleet at a constant level of operational readiness and performance, along with all those damaged and building warships.