Tim L wrote:

>Naturally, it would have been quite stupid to get INDOMITABLE (you’re
>getting
>your carriers wrong :)) even within range of the Long Lance…40nm…

Not necessarily STUPID, but ignorant. Consider that the one carrier
(FORMIDABLE?) actually was at the rear and slightly behind the British
battle line during the night action at Cape Matapan – suppose the British
chose to keep INDOMITABLE close, but presumably safely behind the
so-called battle line that Force Z might form in a night surface action;
the CV might be at a hazard without the British realizing it due to
ignorance of the range and power of the Type 93 torpedo. It isn’t stupid
to take a risk when nothing has prepared you with the knowledge that the
risk even exists. It might be stupid to go without precautions on the
chance that Japanese torpedoes might be more capable that the British, but
the extent to which they were greater would have been a complete surprise
in December 1941 or January 1942.

-Brooks