The scale of the Pacific theatre and experience of naval wargaming support the case for Nimitz commanding from shore. Hawaii provided access to codebreakers and a central position within the American theatre organization. Subordinate admirals needed room to direct their own fleets without the senior commander aboard their flagship. A separate counterfactual has Kimmel taking his entire fleet to sea after advance warning of the Japanese carriers. Commanding that assembled force personally would differ from coordinating widely dispersed wartime fleets.
Notable Point · 8:41:49-8:43:42
Why Nimitz commanded the Pacific from shore
Theatre scale, intelligence access, and delegation explain the case for Nimitz commanding from Hawaii.