Should Japan have announced the Yamato class or spent its resources elsewhere?
Short answerA deterrent has to be visible to influence an opponent, so revealing the ships once launched could have disrupted Allied planning even though it would also trigger faster British and American construction.
NotesAnnouncing the ships during fitting out would reveal that existing American battleships faced a much heavier opponent and could force public and congressional debate. Britain might accelerate all six Lions, while the United States might complete the Montana class and reconsider later high-speed variants. The Royal Navy could also increase long-range T-class submarine production as another answer to the Japanese capital ships. The larger lesson is that deterrence exists in the adversary's mind: an unknown capability cannot set a clear boundary, while ambiguity about nuclear and conventional weapons can make every launch appear escalatory rather than reassuring.