Why did the U.S. Navy not emphasize trade warfare in cruiser roles as strongly as the Royal Navy?
Short answerA Pacific war offered limited Japanese commerce to attack, while Britain was likely to join and handle much of the trade-protection mission.
NotesA Pacific war offered the U.S. Navy relatively little Japanese commerce to attack because much of Japan's overseas trade involved the United States and its likely allies. Once war began, those commercial flows would largely disappear. American planners could therefore emphasize reaching and winning the decisive fleet contest. They could also expect the Royal Navy to join the conflict and carry much of the less glamorous trade-protection mission.