Sending more carriers would also require a larger escort. In a hypothetical ten-carrier force, that could mean all four Kongo-class ships, four heavy cruisers, and roughly two destroyer squadrons. The much larger formation would probably exceed the logistical support prepared for the actual raid. Limited investment in support assets is also used to infer that earlier planning had envisaged smaller attacks, perhaps by a single carrier. A longstanding commitment to a larger strike would be expected to produce more investment in logistics. That planning history remains an interpretation of the force and its supporting infrastructure.
Notable Point · 1:07:21-1:09:28
The logistical cost of taking more carriers to Pearl Harbor
A larger strike would need more escorts and support, while Japan's limited logistical preparation suggests an earlier emphasis on smaller raids.