AHTL: The far Eastern fleet or the rise of the carrier

[hms malta]

June 1941

With the loss of the Dutch East Indies to the Nazis and with the threat of Japanese invasion of the British colonies. The decision to send the battleship PoW and the battlecruiser Repulse to Singapore was overruled by the admiralty. The admiralty proposed to send a fast task force comprising the Aircraft carriers HMS Formidable and Ark Royal , The battleship PoW, the battlecruiser Repulse, the two heavy cruisers Cornwall and Dorsetshire and eight destroyers. Sailing along with the task force would be several merchantmen including fast oilers and 20,000 men and tanks for the defence of Singapore.

 

[Cryhavoc101]

Ark Royal was built for Duties in the South China sea and that area of the World.

Perhaps the Ark, Indomitable (would require an earlier commisioning date) and if you can get her completed earlier as well Unicorn as a Aircraft Maintenace ship / Spare deck and Hanger to form the core of the fleet with POW and Revenge and several Crusiers riding shotgun.

This would give the group a much larger and affective airgroup with an imediate reserve and the ability to also transport a larger number of Hurricane IIs to Singerpore.

 

[hms malta]

With the Aircraft maintenance carrier HMS unicorn nearing completion it's hoped that she will be ready to sail with the fleet.

 

[Zheng He]

I started this thread awhile back, you may find it useful:

https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/wi-the-admiraltys-fleet-at-singapore.385068/

 

[Zheng He]

How were the DEI lost to the Nazis and how do they defend them against the British who control the sea lanes or is this more of a Vichy sort of arrangement?

Also, what is the US view of Nazi control of the DEI. Given US interests in that part of the world, I can see FDR being very concerned.

 

[Cryhavoc101]

Perhaps the Dutch go semi-Quisling/Vichi?

Obviously the Germans won't be able to do anything with it but with the place not being pro Allied???

 

[calvinhobbesliker]

Ark Royal was built for Duties in the South China sea and that area of the World.

Perhaps the Ark, Indomitable (would require an earlier commisioning date) and if you can get her completed earlier as well Unicorn as a Aircraft Maintenace ship / Spare deck and Hanger to form the core of the fleet with POW and Revenge and several Crusiers riding shotgun.

This would give the group a much larger and affective airgroup with an imediate reserve and the ability to also transport a larger number of Hurricane IIs to Singerpore.

If the Ark Royal goes to the Pacific, will she be able to handle more than the 54 she carried in European waters?

 

[Cryhavoc101]

If the Ark Royal goes to the Pacific, will she be able to handle more than the 54 she carried in European waters?

My understanding was that she never operated a full strength air group during her Career - had she been sent to the ends of the earth then I suspect that she would be carrying extra planes - not quite a late war Enterprise/Essex class deck park but still very likely in the high 60s especially if outriggers are used.

 

[Barry Bull]

The problem is, can the RN afford to send such a large fleet to the Far East? It needed to face the significant naval threat in both the Med and North Sea.

 

[Zheng He]

The problem is, can the RN afford to send such a large fleet to the Far East? It needed to face the significant naval threat in both the Med and North Sea.

They did in 1942. On paper the Eastern Fleet that was assembled in April 1942 was the largest they had put together up to that point in war. Granted a lot of the ships were old (like four Rs and most of the cruisers) but the EF still had two modern carriers and HMS Warspite. For most of the summer of 42 the EF had three modern fleet carriers.

 

[Barry Bull]

They did in 1942. On paper the Eastern Fleet that was assembled in April 1942 was the largest they had put together up to that point in war. Granted a lot of the ships were old (like four Rs and most of the cruisers) but the EF still had two modern carriers and HMS Warspite. For most of the summer of 42 the EF had three modern fleet carriers.

Situation in June 1941 was different from 1942. The KM was easier to contain in the North Sea after the dash across the Channel which result in the heavier assets of the KM self-restricting its range. The Regia Marina did engage in surface action in OTL 1942, but a large portion of the battle in the Med was carried out by Axis air forces. While the Battle of Atlantic was still raging, the heavier asset of RN can be redeployed in 1942. Before December 1941, the RN was stretched very thin on the ground and I have reservations whether the RN can deploy a fleet like the OTL Eastern Fleet in June 1941.