usertron2020
Donor
tchizek
Garrison
Gannt the chartist
All VERY good points. Indeed, between the desperation of taking the DEI and answering the humiliation of the Doolittle Raid, it's hard to think of a compromise between the IJA and IJN. The navy may want a dramatic strike ala Midway but that is really beyond their means as long as the DEI remains in Allied hands or is too close to Allied air power to be exploited without the tanker traffic being interdicted and the refineries and oilfields being destroyed. Once a refinery is smashed in these circumstances, it stays smashed. Balikpapen isn't Ploesti, which could be heavily defended and materials railed in to quickly repair bomb damage.
Even with 20-20 hindsight, I can't see an answer for the Japanese.
EDIT: 1942 Kamikazes?
Garrison
Gannt the chartist
All VERY good points. Indeed, between the desperation of taking the DEI and answering the humiliation of the Doolittle Raid, it's hard to think of a compromise between the IJA and IJN. The navy may want a dramatic strike ala Midway but that is really beyond their means as long as the DEI remains in Allied hands or is too close to Allied air power to be exploited without the tanker traffic being interdicted and the refineries and oilfields being destroyed. Once a refinery is smashed in these circumstances, it stays smashed. Balikpapen isn't Ploesti, which could be heavily defended and materials railed in to quickly repair bomb damage.
Even with 20-20 hindsight, I can't see an answer for the Japanese.
EDIT: 1942 Kamikazes?
Last edited: