Predictions that ABDA would collapse into national self-preservation underestimate what its crews actually did. British, American, Dutch, and Australian ships historically fought and died alongside one another. Their effort was weakened because mixed forces operated in scattered penny packets without the staff, communications, and flagships needed for coordination. Force Z's survival changes the structure supporting cooperation rather than inventing the willingness to cooperate.
Notable Point · 1:14:20-1:15:19
ABDA crews cooperated better than its staff system
The mixed navies historically fought together; concentration and communications, not courage, were the missing ingredients.