A Pacific Fleet demonstration in the South China Sea

A deployment to Midway would demonstrate little, whereas moving the fleet toward the Philippines and South China Sea would place American sea power beside the dispute over French Indochina. The force could potentially exercise with the Royal Navy's Force Z, draw on British fuel at Singapore, and use allied cooperation to offset its shortage of cruisers. Its arrival would also place Kimmel's main fleet near the smaller US Asiatic Fleet without transferring command of the Pacific Fleet to that organization. From the perspective available before the attacks of December 1941, the movement could look like a viable show of strength rather than a march into a known disaster. The scenario assumes orders after a short wait for Japan's response, preparations on 5 December, and departure on 6 December. The fleet's ability to cross the Pacific becomes part of the diplomatic message without requiring an American first strike.