British ships and commanders available in 1939

Hood and Repulse are immediately available as fast capital ships, while Renown remains in refit and the King George V-class battleships and armored carriers are still under construction. Warspite is the available modernized Queen Elizabeth-class battleship; Valiant and Queen Elizabeth are also in refit. Japan's proximity to the fighting would let it return refitted ships to operations quickly, whereas Britain's larger initial fleet would give it more room to work ships up before deployment. Wartime urgency would probably accelerate Renown, Valiant, and new construction, although the case for accelerating Queen Elizabeth is less certain. Tribal-class destroyers and T-class submarines would also reinforce the fleet as construction finished. Cunningham could command the operational fleet, with Keyes as a possible senior coalition commander and Percy Noble already in the Far East. Early American entry would favor a joint staff and separate British and American theaters, while later entry would require integration with an established British-led command.