Aggression became dangerous when it outran formation control

Matsuji Ijuin served as an aide to Fleet Admiral Prince Fushimi, a politically powerful naval officer whose patronage offered opportunities for advancement. Ijuin later commanded Destroyer Squadron 3 from Sendai, survived her sinking, and was killed when his patrol-boat flagship was torpedoed north of Saipan. Morikazu Osugi's career included naval marksmanship work, command of Maya and the modernized Kongo, staff duties in China, and a later trial for wartime crimes. The criticism of Osugi's conduct at Empress Augusta Bay centers on aggression that outran his awareness of the formation. American and British destroyer officers were also expected to be aggressive, but their professional selection and training demanded that they temper it with judgment. On this reading, Osugi's failure to control that aggression contributed to the tactical losses.