One explanation for Nagumo's appointment is a compromise between the Naval General Staff and the Combined Fleet. Ozawa better matched the fleet's emerging ideas, while Nagumo embodied doctrine favored by the General Staff. Sending Ozawa to the Naval War College and Nagumo into the Combined Fleet would give each institutional camp influence over the other's officers. This offers a reason to select a qualified senior commander beyond seniority alone. Both men came primarily from destroyer backgrounds, although Ozawa had commanded a carrier division and helped develop aviation doctrine.
Notable Point · 40:41-43:38
Why Nagumo received the Kidō Butai
A possible exchange of doctrinal influence between staff and fleet helps explain Nagumo's selection over Jisaburō Ozawa.