Ulithi's floating docks offered more operational leverage than another attempt to hit individual carriers. A damaged carrier could be replaced or returned to service, while destroying scarce repair capacity would force damaged ships to travel much farther. That delay would reduce the number of carriers available on station. Maintenance infrastructure could therefore matter more than a prestigious platform.
Notable Point · 1:17:40-1:18:07
Floating docks offered a higher-value target
Attacking Ulithi's floating repair docks could have constrained carrier availability more effectively than chasing individual hulls.