Jamie recalls reports that US liaison officers criticized Philip Vian for treating British Pacific Fleet carriers somewhat separately from the main body. The complaint concerned the British failure to maintain the rigid, coordinated formation expected by the Americans. Alex connects that looser handling with a willingness to expose carriers in order to use their air power. In his comparison, British carriers' protection went together with a readiness to risk them close to Japan.
Notable Point · 1:12:01-1:13:39
Philip Vian's carrier formations and US liaison criticism
Jamie's recollection of US liaison complaints raises a question about how independently Philip Vian handled British Pacific Fleet carriers.