Under the bare-bones coalition, Admiral Percy Noble would probably retain theatre command. A larger version of the war could bring a more senior commander such as Roger Keyes east. A separate admiral might then run Singapore in a manner comparable to the naval base command at Malta. In either arrangement, Singapore becomes the headquarters, repair, and support base connecting fleet operations with the infrastructure needed to sustain them. The fleet's staying power would depend on this command structure and on Singapore's repair and support capacity.
Chapter · 34:37-37:05
Singapore as the theatre command and logistics hub
The crisis would push command and infrastructure toward Singapore, where the Royal Navy could coordinate a growing Far Eastern theatre.