Peak Petrol

[Gawdzilla Sama]

... and add to that the fact that the Japanese Navy, by its own estimates, had only enough oil reserves for about two years of normal operations, or eighteen months of combat ops. That put a hard deadline on their decision to go to war, as well as influencing which direction Japanese aggression would take.

[Fold]

They could have spooned it out by suspending most industrial production and limiting heating in private homes except at night, but they wouldn't have gained enough to realistically extend war activities to four years. This is why Yamamoto Isoruku said "I will run wild for a year and a half to two years. After that I promise nothing."

We had to prioritize as well.

1. National Reserve ( military fuel supply, including reserves)
2. US industry, especially arms and armament.
3. Great Britain.
4. US private consumers. (People gotta get to work.)
5. Others.