Phillips's background as a destroyer officer points to a different gamble. He might have left Prince of Wales and Repulse behind, concentrated all available destroyers, and attacked with them. This remains a possibility for later analysis rather than a proven solution. It shifts the counterfactual from adding unavailable ships to reorganizing the force already in theatre.
Notable Point · 27:37-27:53
A destroyer concentration offered another gamble
Phillips might have left the capital ships behind and massed every available destroyer for a close attack.