What if the battleship USS Texas had been sunk by a U-Boat on the 20/6/1941?

The RN may be able to conduct night carrier strikes, but in April 1942 they only had a handful of swordfish on their 3 carriers so probably would be able to hit more than a couple of ships, and not necessarily the big carriers. I doubt they could survive the counter-strike that Nagumo could launch in the morning. Sommervilles best chance to actually do something would be to attack where there are no IJN carriers, or perhaps join Fletcher in the Coral Sea.

Search Google Groups for "Battle of Addu Atoll".

The Swordfish had radar. They could attack the Japanese carriers by night. As Sir James put it, "Swordfish pilots are like whores, they come out and play at night."
 

Markus

Banned
The RN may be able to conduct night carrier strikes, but in April 1942 they only had a handful of swordfish on their 3 carriers so probably would be able to hit more than a couple of ships, and not necessarily the big carriers. I doubt they could survive the counter-strike that Nagumo could launch in the morning.

IIRC they were already having the radar equipped Albacores and they are only vulnerable to a counterstike if a) enough IJA CV survive and b) Sommerville is still around at dawn.

Taranto makes a) questionable and given Sommerville´s actual conduct b) can be ruled out.
 
Ressurecting slightly.

Imagine the horrendous situation that faces an unprepared carrier group that has taken several hits with no warning in the dark. Damage that would be non-fatal during daylight and when at battle stations would send ships to the bottom. Worse, even when attacked, the Japanese can't respond or launch a CAP, so the British tactic of launching in dribs and drabs isn't the tremendoud disadvantage it is in daylight actions, and the British, if not to far away, may be able to get away with multiple strikes.

The destruction could be particualrly bad if butterflies prevent HMS Indomitable being damaged, so there are many more Swordfish/Albacores.

It would be very interesting to see how such a tremendous victory/catastrophe would impact future naval aviation designs and doctrine.
 
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