Can anyone shed some light on US naval thinking with regards to how they would go about engaging a KM lone raider prior to Pearl Harbor? The OOB I've found for the Atlantic Squadron has 4 BBs (none of which could catch a raider), 5 CAs, and about 30 destroyers, plus Ranger and some rather old aircraft.
Presumably, one or both of the Twins would require the intervention of a similar number of battleships - presumably after a successful TBD or destroyer torpedo attack, as they are too slow otherwise.
For a single panzerschiff or Hipper-class, though, was it thought by the US that a treaty cruiser like Wichita would be a clear victor in a duel, or would the cruisers run in pairs or threes despite the lower likelihood of actually engaging the enemy? Did that thinking change after the River Plate?
Whatever the thinking, how do we (with the benefit of hindsight) think such a duel would have gone?
Presumably, one or both of the Twins would require the intervention of a similar number of battleships - presumably after a successful TBD or destroyer torpedo attack, as they are too slow otherwise.
For a single panzerschiff or Hipper-class, though, was it thought by the US that a treaty cruiser like Wichita would be a clear victor in a duel, or would the cruisers run in pairs or threes despite the lower likelihood of actually engaging the enemy? Did that thinking change after the River Plate?
Whatever the thinking, how do we (with the benefit of hindsight) think such a duel would have gone?