Andrew Cunningham is considered unlikely to have deployed to the Far East. Bruce Fraser was sent as the senior diplomatic figure, while other officers ran the British Pacific Fleet and fought its actions. Diplomatic representation and operational command at sea were separate responsibilities. A continued Pacific war could have brought an Italian squadron into those operations, although no particular chain of command is proposed.
Notable Point · 9:34-10:07
British Pacific Fleet command and an Italian squadron
The hypothetical Italian deployment is placed beside the actual British division of diplomatic and operational leadership in the Pacific Fleet.