The planned sequence began with attacks on forward American positions, then used submarines, shore-based aircraft, carrier aircraft, and an advanced cruiser-destroyer force to reduce the enemy before daylight battle. This gives a reason for cruisers optimized for offensive night fighting: they were expected to inflict damage during the approach to the main engagement. Their light protection emphasized offensive striking power on the assumption that close-range night hits would defeat armor anyway. In this account, the decisive battle was the final component of a wider attrition system, not the whole system itself.
Chapter · 26:36-30:17
Attrition before the decisive battle
Japanese planning paired the climactic battle with submarines, aircraft, night attacks, and cruisers meant to weaken an advancing American fleet.