In this counterfactual, Task Force 3 shifts from its historical gunnery exercise to an anti-submarine and surface-raider search exercise farther north. Indianapolis and the Brooklyn-class cruiser Phoenix together offer seven scout floatplanes, supported by converted Wickes- and Clemson-class destroyer-minesweepers. The minesweeper conversions make sense in an exercise built around locating and capturing merchant raiders rather than immediately attacking them with torpedoes. The cruisers' eight-inch and six-inch batteries also give the group credible force if a raider is found. Task Force 3 could not defeat the Japanese carriers, but it could be in the right area and produce a report senior commanders would trust.
Chapter · 28:13-33:02
Task Force 3 as the credible discovery force
Adding Phoenix to a Task Force 3 search exercise would provide seven cruiser floatplanes and officers whose sighting report senior commanders could trust.