British Blunders on the Pacific War

Ah, but Force Z was attacked by a load of land-based bombers. A carrier escort would have been a great help there. The Japanese landing fleet would have been carved up - located by carrier aircraft, sunk by battleship (I doubt they would have organised a carrier strike). The Japanese would then have diverted a battle group to deal with the British force, would overwhelm them with escorted carrier-borne bombers, and the outcome would be the same. Except for the loss of the Japanese troop convoy invading Malaysia.
Would Singapore then have been able to stand?
Less Japanese in Malaysia = slower withdrawl to Singapore (if there even was one)
this means more time to effectively form a defense.

Or am I just kidding myself?

 

There was supposed to be a carrier with Force Z one of the armoured decked carriers however it ran aground on route and was receiving repairs when Force Z was sunk.

I've heard opinions stating that the carrier would have saved Force Z and others saying it wold have been taken out as well. Personally I think it would have given Force Z more of a fighting chance but the odds would still be against them.

In 1941 we were still trying to cover three oceans with a navy that was no longer quiet up to it.

 

Quite right! I believe it was the new aircraft carrier Indomitable, and that it should have joined the Prince of Wales en route to Capetown, but my memory is a bit hazy about this. I think she was a redesigned Illustrious-Class carrier with, eh, some 40-50 planes? The planes were a few Sea Hurricanes, some Fairey Fulmars and mostly Albacores, if again I'm not quite mistaken! Neither the Hurricanes or the Fulmars were any real match for the Japanese fighters, but against an unescorted bomber attack they might have proven the difference between OTL defat and an ATL vitory!

Sadly, that's true enough...

Best regards and all that!

- Mr.Bluenote.

 

Your facts are correct, Mr. Bluenote. And I agree, the naval fighters would have slaughtered the unescorted Japanese bombers.