Enemy Taskforces - Intercept or avoid?

Originally Posted by Tessa

Realism has nothing to do with the decision to hunt TF's or let them pass through; unless you had legitimate reason to avoid one (like lack of fuel or only 1 eel left) and you were in interception range you could have consequences waiting for you when you arrived home. Since long range flight was just beginning to take root with B-17's where one could fly from New York to London non-stop travel by ship was still the primary method of travel. During his several visits to the US Churchill made most via boat (King George V); had a u-boat been alerted to the Task Force's presence and attacked it (not knowing the invaluable cargo it had) a single torpedo could have drastically changed the way events unfolded.

Logistically hunting and damaging large warships was an enormous benefit that wasn't realized until after the war and the German's were able to see all the allied records of damaged ships. The time and materials a BB would take to repair (and usually monopolize a dry dock for at least several weeks-months) was enormous. Had warships been the primary target (like in WWI) if nothing more than to put them out of commission it would have had a measurable effect (granted the outcome would have likely been the same, getting there would have been much more difficult).

The IJN shared your views, and failed miserably.