If the Japanese carrier force were destroyed at Pearl Harbor, would the attack on Malaya still proceed and would Force Z face the same threat?
Short answerThe landings might still be attempted, but Japan would likely retain torpedo bombers for home defence and struggle to support the campaign after losing so much of its fleet.
NotesA failed raid on Hawaii would also affect Southeast Asia. Japan might still land troops in Malaya, but sustaining them becomes harder if its navy has lost six carriers, two Kongo-class ships, cruisers, destroyers, and supply vessels. Land-based torpedo bombers historically used against Prince of Wales and Repulse might instead remain near Japan or redeploy against an intact American fleet. That change could give Force Z and British forces in Malaya a different operational environment without guaranteeing that the invasion simply disappears. A carrier disaster would reshape simultaneous campaigns through aircraft allocation, escort strength, and logistics beyond the battle lost at Pearl Harbor.