An ABDA headquarters ashore needs a separate fleet commander

Phillips is the proposed alternative to Wavell as head of ABDA, although that appointment is a counterfactual judgment. Coordinating land and air forces would probably require him to take his headquarters ashore in Singapore, following the comparison with Cunningham's Mediterranean command. A vice admiral could then lead the fleet at sea, with that rank also fitting the senior American naval appointments. Neville Syfret is the likely candidate in this assessment, supported by his operational experience and later assignments to Ironclad and Pedestal. Wavell's possible technical seniority is acknowledged, while Phillips's forward position and the Navy's expected burden favor him in this scenario.