The primary rule in warfare is "concentration of force." Any failure to mass forces is the actual problem. So the "eggs in one basket" thing doesn't apply. Spreading out your principal combatants increases their chance of being destroyed in detail.
Look at the Midway attack. Yamamoto spread his attack for into 3 groups incapable of mutual support (no, the Alaska operation doesn't count, it was planned before Midway and while useful as a possible distraction, it was not intended as a distraction). The mind boggles. Had the "Main Body" (the very title of the BB group tells volumes of the IJN's failure to recognize the lesson they taught the world December 7th) sailed with the CVs they could ahve at least added to the volume of AAA fire, and might possibly have sucked up some of the attacks from the air. It also would have given them a better chance to try and force a surface engagement, somethig that was impossible with the Main Body so far behind the CVs.
tater
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