Attrition doctrine and Kantai Kessen

Japanese plans called for reducing the advancing US fleet before committing to Kantai Kessen, the decisive fleet engagement. The sequence faced a severe timing problem. A badly damaged American force could withdraw, rebuild through a much larger industrial base, and return before Japan replaced its own losses. Yamato's heavy battery was meant to bring the decisive phase forward by engaging two Standard-type battleships at once, keeping one occupied with the aft turret while the forward guns attacked another. The strategy remains doubtful, but the design reveals the doctrinal problem Japan expected the ship to solve.