USN Pacific Fleet deploys to Singapore, Nov 1941

AIUI, Churchill had hoped FDR would deploy the USN PacFleet to Singapore, not permanently of course, but as a deterrent to Japanese aggressive that Britain was unable (or unwilling) to deploy itself.

Is there any political way FDR can pull this off? Does this put the USA at greater risk of attack by IJN/IJA forces? Does the move shake the confidence of the Japan war leaders, leading them to delay (or advance) their attack on the USN? Four USN carriers, six or more battleships and many other warships would not stay forever in Singapore of course, and would have to return to Pearl.
 

Deleted member 9338

I wonder if it is best to deploy the fleet to Singapore or spread it out to Singapore, Subic and Manilia Bay.
 
Doubtful. At this point, the US was still neutral, though definitely pro-Allies. However, if the public found out that a US fleet was sent to Singapore to help out the British, they wouldn't be too happy.

After all, it's basically telling Japan "Hey, screw you and your imperialism. We're with the Brits now." This might actually help the anti-war movement and can lead to an America split on the issue of war (as the anti-war coalition can claim that the FDR administration purposely provoked the Japanese to attack).
 

TFSmith121

Banned
AIUI, Churchill had hoped FDR would deploy the USN PacFleet to Singapore, not permanently of course, but as a deterrent to Japanese aggressive that Britain was unable (or unwilling) to deploy itself.

Is there any political way FDR can pull this off? Does this put the USA at greater risk of attack by IJN/IJA forces? Does the move shake the confidence of the Japan war leaders, leading them to delay (or advance) their attack on the USN? Four USN carriers, six or more battleships and many other warships would not stay forever in Singapore of course, and would have to return to Pearl.

Politically and logistically, this is pretty much a non-starter.

An option would have been to shift Hart's Asiatic Fleet from the base at Cavite (Luzon, PI) to Singapore; as it was, most of the fleet was at sea or at anchor in NEI ports on 12/8/41, but it is worth noting the entire AF amounted to three cruisers, 13 destroyers, 29 submarines, nine escorts/minesweepers, and various auxiliaries and small craft, along with ~30 PBYs. Even that would have required several weeks of planning and movements to get the ships and supplies shifted; given the strategy to build up the defenses of the PI at this time and/or the NEI, however, it would have required a decision no later than the summer of 1941, if not before.

Best,
 
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