Sardaukar
Posts: 9847
Joined: 11/28/2001 From: Finland/Israel Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rustysi quote:
The US fleet in Hawaii, if not sufficiently damaged, could quite seriously cause problems to the Japanese expansion plans in Asia.... Wrong. The only vessels that could and did hinder Japan were not even at home (Pearl) when the Japanese came a knockin'. The CV's were not there, the old BB's that were there were not going to have much influence. Rustysi is right. For that reason, some people even switch PH attack to hit Manila and it's considerable submarine fleet. Those old BBs in PH would not cause any harm to IJN as long as Kido Butai is intact. Sinking those BBs is good points-wise, but strategically they become important only after USN has air superiority and is starting to do amphibious assaults. Then those old slow BBs become great both in Bombardment TFs and in Amphibious TF soaking up Japanese coastal defence fire. Main disadvantage of those old BBs is the speed. They just cannot keep up with CVs, which need at least 28 knot capable BB. Thus I like to save Prince of Wales and use it as "flak ship", best in that role before No/SoDak fast BBs arrive.
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"To meaningless French Idealism, Liberty, Fraternity and Equality...we answer with German Realism, Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery" -Prince von Bülov, 1870-
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