USS Arkansas is too slow for the fast fleet

Would sending USS Arkansas around Africa help the surviving Force Z?

Not with the fast fleet; she is too slow, though she could serve with the older shore-bombardment battleships.

The Wyoming-class battleship's roughly 20.5-knot speed makes her unsuitable for operations with Force Z's fast ships. Sending her around Africa would not solve that incompatibility. Her heavy guns could still add value in the slower bombardment group supporting the Malayan defense. The distinction shows why nominal battleship strength is less important than matching a ship to the fleet's operational speed and mission.