The Japanese fleet actually available in June 1940

The familiar 1941 carrier striking force was not available in June 1940. Hōshō could not operate the latest aircraft, while Akagi had completed her modernisation in 1938. Kaga remained in refit until November 1940, and Sōryū and Hiryū were still training or working up. The Shōkaku-class ships would not commission until 1941. Ryūjō had finished a refit, but her seakeeping and vulnerability made her an unattractive choice for the North Atlantic or sustained Mediterranean combat. Among the capital ships, the rebuilt Kongō class offered useful speed against German raiders, although individual readiness varied. Other battleships still needed refits and improvements, while Yamato and Musashi were far from operational. Any deployment therefore had to use the ships ready for service in 1940.