During this entire episode, the bulk of the British Eastern Fleet had either kept out of the way, or had tried rather feebly to track and attack Kido Butai. Given that the British fast striking force had only two full-sized carriers (Indomitable and Formidable) and a single fast battleship (Warspite) to Japan's five and four, respectively, it is probably just as well that they never made contact. All other factors being equal, their only likely fate would have been to be whomped on.
Raids into the Indian Ocean | Japan | Allied |
---|---|---|
Starting Forces |
x6 (later 5) x4 x2 x1 x11 x350 |
Force A (Fast) x2 x1 x2 x2 x6
Force B (Slow)
|
Losses |
roughly two dozen planes shot down, total |
x1 sunk (Hermes) x2 sunk (Cornwall, Dorsetshire) x2 sunk (Tenedos, Vampire) |
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