[InABunkerUnderSF]

I agree. Also worth noting is the fact that the leadership of the US Navy at the beginning of WWII was abysmal. We hadn't fought a fleet action in over 50 years, our own commanders didn't know how their ships, weapons or men would perform in combat and above all, our officers were too cautious.

Note the non-relief of Wake Island, the performance of the ABDA command in Indonesian waters and the torpedo problem our submarines faced.

No way the US Nave of 1941 would have cut through to the Philippines.

[Wiggins]

I agree with you also. Admiral Pie recalled the Wake Island relief force and also was over cautious during the battle of Midway. About your point regarding the U.S. Navy not being ready or able to cut through to the Philippines I agree with you on that point too. Look also at the U.S. Navy losses in the Solomon Islands in 1942. There were several American Naval blunders that almost ended that campaign in the Japanese favor. One of the biggest blunders resulted in five us cruisers being sunk in one battle. The biggest blunder though belonged to Japanese Admiral Mikawa who could have ended the campaign but withdrew for out of fear of other US forces that weren’t even in the area.

[southland]

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