William Halsey's account describes a Pacific Fleet inferior in key categories and unable to sustain a full long-range patrol screen. Hawaii needed an 800-mile, all-around search supported by patrol aircraft, submarines, and fast surface vessels, but Kimmel lacked all three in sufficient strength. Trained patrol crews were also being transferred away as quickly as the fleet could prepare them. The operational choice was between exhausting scarce aircraft before war began and conserving them while leaving most approaches uncovered.
Notable Point · 10:42-12:27
The patrol-aircraft constraint at Pearl Harbor
The case against simple blame begins with the Pacific Fleet's shortage of patrol aircraft, trained crews, and sustainable search coverage.