Talk:Iroh (United Forces general)/@comment-5724735-20121208200220/@comment-1416077-20121209014703

1) There is no other way to get to the city but through the harbour when your task force is primarily naval-oriented. Furthermore, given the state of radio communication, it is likely he had no real idea of what his force would be facing. 2) Two things to be considered; first is the entrance to the harbour, where the depth might now allow for a spread-out formation and second, the standard military doctrine based on experience: ships support each other through courtains of mostly short-ranged (by our modern standards) fire. They also have no experience with fast aircraft, having trained to combat relatively slow dirigible airships. 3) Most of his heavy forces were rendered useless before they even landed; he may well have had the ability to easily deal with tanks, but lost it with the bulk of his force. 4) When all hell is breaking loose and you need every living soul to fight the enemy and save your ships, rescue, particularly in the tight confines of a harbour with multiple warships maneuvering for position and survival.