I believe the British "Z" Force was trying to intercept a reported invasion force heading for
Singapore.
But before they could get close, land based planes took them out.
Even though Pearl Harbor had just happened anti-aircraft weapons were grossly insufficient...and fighter cover wasn't used yet...(and i doubt they would have been able to get it anyway)
They sortied because they were threatened by invasion and force Z was the only force they had to counter it. It was a huge risk for them to try and avoid being observed and intercept the enemy force. To bad they were spotted...i wonder what would have happened if they made it?

[ 01 July 2002, 01:35 PM: Message edited by: Ron ]

__________________
Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events. -- Sir Winston Churchill