The United States could theoretically have concentrated Saratoga, Lexington, Enterprise, Yorktown, Hornet, Ranger, and Wasp for an early attack. Doing so would have consumed nearly every available oiler and left cruisers and destroyers as the principal surface protection. The Yorktown class offered excellent endurance, while the faster Lexington class needed more frequent refueling because of its machinery arrangement. A January strike would also have asked unseasoned air groups to fly at maximum range against defenses still alert for retaliation. The raids that actually preceded Coral Sea and Midway provided combat experience without exposing the entire carrier force in one extreme gamble.
Chapter · 34:28-41:34
Why an early massed strike on Tokyo was too risky
The available American carriers could theoretically have attacked Tokyo early in 1942, but fuel demands, short aircraft range, Japanese defenses, and inexperienced aircrews made the gamble extreme.