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RGIJN -> mid-war - phase 3 (4/23/2009 9:32:25 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: RGIJN
Anyway, at the end of 1942 my position was still OK, but I had thrown some power thru the window here and there, and The Empire started to operate always on the very limit of its strenght.
Two things were symptomatical for that...
First, I tried to suppress Port Moresby by constant air & naval bombardment. While Betties aren´t that effective and suffer decent losses (ops & CAP) and you have to use them really carefully, almost reluctant - you get much better results with the hammering blast of 8", 14", 16" and even 18" guns of IJN battleships and heavy cruisers. So I visited PM as often as possible, but after a while I had to watch out for sys wear damage (which I would rate too tough in UV) and lack of escort vessels (DDs). So I was forced to thin out the actions against that base. What in return led to increased allied LBA from there. After November 1942 the possibility to mount major operations against the Allies in southern PNG was virtually gone. Nonetheless, I made a last heavy shelling with BBs even as late as in March 1943!
Second, my adventure in the Hebrides got endangered more and more. From September on, I was aware of the threat to my autovictory base Luganville and I was patrolling in the distant NNW to the Hebrides with KB and some other naval units. This kept my opponent away from the Islands, at least for a while. But he was smart enough to chose the very moment when I had to retreat for fuel and so he could take back Espiritu Santo in October 42. There was no real opportunity for the Empire to interfere with at least some chances of success.
Of course the Empire had some bright days here and there, still sinking a decent number of allied ships with subs and A/C. But the submarines got wiped out not long after that and my airpower I had to preserve for another battle to come.
He began a very smart heavy bomber offensive, always on the right occasion aiming to the right spot. Combined with my very own goofiness to dock precious ships (sometimes even CVs) at exposed places like the Shortlands he delivered some hurting blows to me. Though no ship sunk from these attacks, I lost a good number since I had to send them back to Japan. Some of these vessel would never return into theathre...
All these things led into some embarrassing scenario for me. Though I was still strong and all my assets well prepared and defended, I was passive now. The war of attrition made us both sit back for some weeks. Not too bad, but still I felt uneasy with that.
But "the great war" was a little bit on standby for a while ... until he decided to invade Irau[:D]
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