Searching for a moving battle fleet introduces delay that the historical fixed-target raid did not require. That extra time might allow Japan's diplomatic note declaring war to arrive before aircraft attack the ships. The warning could still fail to reach Kimmel quickly enough while he was commanding at sea, so the operational surprise might remain even if the diplomatic sequence changed. The distinction separates national warning from tactical warning and shows how communications timing could reshape the political meaning of the battle without preventing it.
Notable Point · 1:09:15-1:10:09
A fleet hunt might delay Japan's opening blow
Finding a moving Pacific Fleet could take long enough for Japan's delayed declaration message to reach Washington before the first strike, though not necessarily Kimmel at sea.