Plans on 1 January 1942

One immediate benefit of active American involvement was that American air power could be immediately deployed to the Mediterranean theater. As we have mentioned, the grand strategy adopted in mid-December 1941 was to hold on in the Pacific in a defensive posture while a more vigorous offensive was mounted against Germany and Italy in Europe. Defeating Germany meant landing a great army and defeating German forces in the field. Still, more forces were immediately needed in the Far East. The plan was to send six infantry divisions, a single light tank squadron, and an armoured brigade (the 7th). The divisions would include the 18th British, 17th Indian, 6th Australian, 7th Australian, and two more divisions from either Iraq or India. This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Official History.