[varmint]

the first big essex class carrier did not reach the pacific til may of 43. and the bad guys had there own new ships under construction.

the japanese could have easily taken some of the hawaiian islands. and made a run at oahu. retaking them would have been a nightmare. image the nightmare naval battles around guadalcanal off waikiki beach. or okinawa with american civilians in the cross fire.

the japanese strategy was to take as much territory as possible, and then negotiate a peace. with the german threat much more real in FDR's mind, and his advisors talking about a pacific war stretching into 1947, it might have made sense.