What if the Japanese amphibious force heading for Wake Island were discovered?
Short answerLexington might divert toward Wake and join Enterprise, but assembling enough aircraft and arriving in time would be a very close-run operation.
NotesDiscovering the amphibious force approaching Wake Island would create a different problem from finding Kido Butai. Lexington could be diverted toward Wake while Enterprise remained in the area with the aircraft she still carried. Lexington might bring additional aircraft so the two task groups could combine. The timing would be extremely tight, producing a localized carrier and reinforcement problem rather than the Pearl Harbor ambush developed in the main scenario.