Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:00:24-2:02:42

Sending a carrier task force to ABDA Command

A carrier could have aided ABDA, but damage, modernization, and competing raids constrained the available American force.

ABDA CommandCarrier Task ForceDutch East Indies CampaignForce AllocationSaratoga
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

What if one American carrier task force had supported ABDA Command while the others conducted raids?

Short answer

It was possible, but scarce carriers, Saratoga's damage, and the value of her modernization made the allocation difficult.

Notes

Dividing Yorktown and Lexington between raiding and support for ABDA Command is considered a viable possibility. The number of carriers available remained the constraint. Saratoga had been damaged and went for permanent repairs in February 1942, with anti-torpedo protection and anti-aircraft armament upgraded during the yard period. She emerged by 22 May. Repairing her without the additional modernization could have returned another full-size carrier to service earlier, at the cost of delaying those improvements.