Weihaiwei was too close to Japan to be a defensible initial base, while Hong Kong lacked the strategic depth needed to survive without fortification on an even greater scale than Singapore. That left Singapore as the main secure hub, but not as the fleet's only source of support. Rangoon, Bombay, Darwin, Townsville, Sydney, and other Indian and Australian facilities formed a dispersed rear network for the theatre. Their distance meant older tankers and additional forward movement still had to carry fuel and supplies toward the fleet's operating area.
Chapter · 16:05-17:28
Defensible bases for a China Station war
The vulnerability of Weihaiwei and Hong Kong forced planners to support China Station operations from a much wider base network.