WI: No Pearl Harbor

This has probably been done before, but lemme give it a shot...

WI no Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese in 1941?
The Japanese leadership decides to dismiss the operation, deciding it would be too risky and their valuable carriers would be exposed to early detection by US subs. So instead of doing a Pearl Harbor attack they rather strengthen their forces assaulting in South East Asia with those resources.
The Wake island attack plan is also scrapped.

So what happens now?
Do the Americans try to assemble their entire fleet and rescue the Phillipines? Will that be the perfect trap, with the Japanese being able to lure them in and sink their man units in waters they cannot recover them from?
 
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Japan does worse in WW2, seeing as the US will inevitably enter with it's pacific fleet completely intact.
 

Bearcat

Banned
I'm sure its been done before.

Net, this is a negative for the US. Carrier admirals still tied to the battle line a little longer. More thorough isolation of the Philippines and Malaysia. Maybe MacArthur doesn't get out? (Okay, that may be a positive for the US)

Yamamoto will be dissatisfied as this leaves the US fleet intact. He will either resign or push for a major offensive to draw out the Americans after the NEI falls. If he quits, his successor likely pursues the same "Big Battle" strategy.

The US will NOT attempt to run the gauntlet to the PI, even with the battlewagons intact, even though the media in the US will lambaste them. The US Admirals are not stupid, and realize its a trap.
 
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