I doubt the correct reporting and evaluation of the radar contact at Pearl would have made any significant difference, even if we assume the US could have launched a number of aircraft before the japanese attack commenced.
#1 Attacking planes were escorted by Zero fighters, a lot of Zero fighters
#2 The Zero was at that time better than any US fighter
#3 Japanese pilots had a significant experience advantage over US pilots. We know from the EU theatore as well as the later pacific theatre how important pilot experience was
#4 1hr or so of early warning still would have left the US BBs sitting ducks in a row. It takes much longer than that to get pressure on the boilers and turbines. Even if they would have managed to move (like Nevada did) they would have been hit, just like Nevada was, there wasnt much room to maneuver.
Overall i´d expect the result not to be any fundamentally different.
#1 Attacking planes were escorted by Zero fighters, a lot of Zero fighters
#2 The Zero was at that time better than any US fighter
#3 Japanese pilots had a significant experience advantage over US pilots. We know from the EU theatore as well as the later pacific theatre how important pilot experience was
#4 1hr or so of early warning still would have left the US BBs sitting ducks in a row. It takes much longer than that to get pressure on the boilers and turbines. Even if they would have managed to move (like Nevada did) they would have been hit, just like Nevada was, there wasnt much room to maneuver.
Overall i´d expect the result not to be any fundamentally different.
Cetero censeo religionem delendam esse
