If HMS Indomitable was present?

HJ Tulp

Donor
Fantastic post PMN1! Reading the Dutch accounts of late 1941 - begin 1942 it seems the European empires marched to their death knowingly.
 
Fantastic post PMN1! Reading the Dutch accounts of late 1941 - begin 1942 it seems the European empires marched to their death knowingly.

I think 1 Big Rich sums it up perfectly...Force Z was doomed whatever it did down to decisions made at home and Philips not being around to defend himself made it so much easier to divert attention from those who sent him there in the first place. It is interesting that Churchill suggested withdrawing the force but at too late a time for it to be useful.........shades of the Greek fiasco.
 

HJ Tulp

Donor
I agree but I was thinking more about the men and officers on the ground in Asia. Often the Europeans in this theater are described as arrogant and racist, overestimating themselves and underestimating the Japanese. However you see in the snippets from the personal accounts in your post that many (high) officers knew that they were on a deathride. You see the same with the efforts of the ABDA Fleet in the Java. The commanders and practically the entire Dutch Navy knew that they wouldn't return to port.
 
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