Japan would probably still take the Philippines and Borneo in this scenario. Further expansion is less certain, although an advance toward Papua New Guinea remains possible. A raid on Darwin is still conceivable, but the more likely carrier mission would be to strike Singapore and destroy the fleet operating there. The surviving base therefore changes both the obstacles facing Japan's southern advance and the targets competing for its carriers.
Notable Point · 1:08:30-1:09:39
Singapore could become Japan's next major carrier target
A surviving Singapore fleet could limit Japan's southern advance and draw a carrier strike toward the base.