Why were more Royal Navy forces not based in the Indian Ocean during peacetime?
Short answerMediterranean and Home Fleet concentration kept scarce ships flexible, while a large force at Singapore could overcommit support and make deterrence look like provocation.
NotesPeacetime basing was a political as well as an operational calculation. The Mediterranean gave Britain a central position against Italy and routes eastward, while the Home Fleet guarded Britain and the North Atlantic. A major force at Singapore or in the Indian Ocean would have sent a sharper signal to Japan but also tied ships to distant support facilities. The desired balance was a forward tripwire and deterrent backed by forces able to deploy when a crisis required them.