Manila offers a forward location but remains vulnerable, especially for ships in port, even before capital ships at sea are widely considered vulnerable to air attack. Singapore offers a less exposed place to concentrate before moving into the South China Sea. The final choice depends on how quickly the crisis escalates and when the United States actually enters the war. The scenario allows two or three months for mobilisation before the fleets collide.
Chapter · 16:19-17:40
Manila, Singapore, and the delay before battle
The coalition must decide whether to assemble at Singapore or operate from the exposed Philippines, while both sides spend months building forces for a decisive battle.