Markus Becker wrote:Why not also use the Blenheim IF?
Baltasar wrote:Did the British have the 'fighter' version of the Bristol Blenheim available down there?
Yes, there was the RAF 27 Squadron with 10-12(depending on source) Bristol Blenheim Mk 1f's stationed at Sungai Petani, but that is up on the west coast near the Thai border, that's a good 250-300 miles away.
As to the question of providing a "continuous" CAP over the fleet, with only 1 squadron(453 squadron), there would likely be too few aircraft over the fleet at any given time. Even, as Tim Smith wrote, 2 squadrons would be hard put to provide a "continuous" CAP over the fleet. I also disagree with Carl Schwamberger's comparison to the USS Lexington action, CAP operating from a carrier is far different than relying on land-based air cover. For instance, look at what the British set aside for their air cover for the POW and Repulse, 11 fighters. Then look at what the Germans used for their "Operation Cerberus" aka "The Channel Dash", some 250 fighters. I don't think the British had that many fighters in all of Malaysia.