User blog comment:40kfan/IG Colab: For real this time/@comment-5112067-20140820220853/@comment-2253300-20140821044657

The reason for the hesitation when engaging in void battles is for two reasons. The first being that the Imperium really hates to lose ships. It takes ludicrous amounts of time and resources to make nay Imperial Warship, and they always have to worry about losing ships in Warp Transit anyway. The other reason is that if the Imperial Forces lose their Warship their screwed. Even if they end up beating their opponent they end up stranded and cut off from support. Woe betide if the enemy is still kicking and has a functional warship. So The nAvy doesn't engage unless they're sure they will win, or it's absolutely necesary.