Force G, consisting of the modern battleship
Prince of Wales, the
First World War era battlecruiser
Repulse, and the four destroyers HMS
Electra,
Express,
Encounter and
Jupiter, arrived at Singapore on 2 December 1941. They were then re-designated Force Z.
The new aircraft carrier HMS
Indomitable was allocated to Force G, but whilst working up off Jamaica, she had run aground in the entrance to
Kingston harbour on 3 November 1941.
[16] Indomitable required 12 days of
dry dock repairs in
Norfolk, Virginia, and was not able to take part in the action.
Indomitable carried one squadron each of
Fairey Fulmars and
Hawker Sea Hurricanes. Another aircraft carrier,
HMS Hermes (which was with
Prince of Wales at Cape Town), was on passage to Singapore to join Force Z, but was not deployed due to lack of speed.
[17]
On 1 December, it was announced that
Sir Tom Phillips had been promoted to full admiral and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the
Eastern Fleet. A few days later,
Repulse left for Australia with
HMAS Vampire and
HMS Tenedos, but the force was recalled to Singapore to assemble for possible operations against the Japanese.
[18]
Also at Singapore were the
light cruisers HMS
Durban,
Danae,
Dragon and
Mauritius, and the destroyers
HMS Stronghold,
Encounter and
Jupiter. The
heavy cruiser HMS Exeter, Dutch light cruiser
HNLMS Java, two more British destroyers (
Scout and
Thanet), and four
United States Navy destroyers (
Whipple,
John D. Edwards,
Edsall and
Alden) would be there within three days.
[19]
Although
Durban and
Stronghold were available, Admiral Phillips decided to leave them at Singapore because they were not as fast as the other units. Additionally,
Danae,
Dragon,
Mauritius,
Encounter and
Jupiter were also at Singapore, but were under repair and not ready to sail.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_Prince_of_Wales_and_Repulse
