Falling back to Singapore offers a defensive alternative to seeking an immediate decisive battle. The base allows fast and slow units, submarines, land-based air cover, and fixed defenses to concentrate. Withdrawal would also shorten British lines of communication and force the attackers to approach a prepared position. Strategic concentration might offset the numerical weight of a combined American and Japanese challenge.
Chapter · 21:56-23:41
Singapore as a concentrated defensive position
If the U.S. enters before Japan is defeated, the proposed British answer is to fall back on Singapore, shorten supply lines, combine fleets, and concentrate air and submarine defenses.