In message ,
Mike1 writes
Carrier aircraft could have flown to land-based fields, refueled there,
then attacked the Jap carriers as they approached.

Consider how effective US aviation was against IJN forces in early 1942.
No chance of a Midway Moment (catching carriers in the midst of a
mission change), however bravely the USN crews try to press their
attacks.

Subs may have also have been able to intercept.

And if they get to fire, and hit, so what? They're at the start of the
learning curve of "why don't USN torpedoes work?" in December 1941.

--
When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.
W S Churchill

Paul J. Adam MainBoxatjrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk