Japan might pulse carriers south to interfere with British reinforcement of Singapore. The Japanese force must scout without revealing itself, pass the Philippines and Hong Kong, and enter waters watched by flying boats, submarines, radar, and land-based aircraft. HMS Hermes adds the possibility of a Swordfish night strike before the main British carriers arrive, while the Japanese carriers are optimized for daylight operations. Even a tactical success could therefore be strategically poor if Japan trades away carriers and trained crews that Britain can replace faster.
Notable Point · 2:22:22-2:28:58
The race to Singapore is a carrier gamble
A possible Japanese carrier dash toward Singapore runs into scouting, British radar, flying boats, submarines, Hermes, and the cost of losing irreplaceable carriers.