Not Kelly, she was sunk off Crete in May 41. Mountbatten was her CO.Another three destroyers under repair were HMS Ilex in Durban and HMS Nubian in Bombay and HMS Kelly (I think) also in Bombay.
Not Kelly, she was sunk off Crete in May 41. Mountbatten was her CO.Another three destroyers under repair were HMS Ilex in Durban and HMS Nubian in Bombay and HMS Kelly (I think) also in Bombay.
@Fatboy Coxy a formation for Force Z would be two lines of ships with destroyers leading. In real time, the only two modern cruisers available were heavy cruiser HMS Exeter and HMS Mauritius. HMS Exeter was covering a convoy to Singapore but could have arrived by December 6, while HMS Mauritius was in Singapore getting repairs on her engine. Other cruisers were available but in order to be with Force Z, they had to be in good shape. HMS Glasgow was in the Bay of Bengals but she had her after turrets X and Y out of service due to damages she had in the Mediterranean. HMS Danae and HMS Durban were in Singapore but had poor anti-aircraft protection and were no use for Admiral Phillip. HMS Dragon was patrolling off the Adamans Islands and was in the same case as her two other sisters.
Now destroyers were available but some were in repairs. HMS Encounter, HMS Jupiter, HMS Iris were in repairs in Singapore, which could have join Force Z. Another three destroyers under repair were HMS Ilex in Durban and HMS Nubian in Bombay and HMS Kelly (I think) also in Bombay. Now having this six destroyers ready with Force Z and the three modern cruisers, Force Z would be a battle fleet. Also add the 4 American destroyers and USS Marblehead and then you got yourself a scout and battle fleet.
Any reasonably modern fighters would have allowed Force Z to survive on December 10, the Japanese bombers had no fighter escort. How long it could have survived after that in the South China Sea without a carrier in support is debatable.Still the force Z would be outmatched severely, as the general threat would still be airpower, against which the added ships and AA could not make much difference, as long as the ony real protection in the form of (capable) fighter aircraft was missing.
Not Kelly, she was sunk off Crete in May 41. Mountbatten was her CO.
Any reasonably modern fighters would have allowed Force Z to survive on December 10, the Japanese bombers had no fighter escort.
Any reasonably modern fighters would have allowed Force Z to survive on December 10, the Japanese bombers had no fighter escort. How long it could have survived after that in the South China Sea without a carrier in support is debatable.
How could they really know if land based fighters who be trying to fly CAP (as they did to late on)? Was it not more that the IJN did not have sufficient Zeros to escort and provide CAP over the landing ships at such a range from its own base?IIRC the bombers had no fighter escort because they knew Force Z had no fighter escort, and that Zeroes were on call if there had been a fighter escort of Force Z.
How could they really know if land based fighters who be trying to fly CAP (as they did to late on)? Was it not more that the IJN did not have sufficient Zeros to escort and provide CAP over the landing ships at such a range from its own base?