Japan's Eight-Eight Fleet Plan called for eight battleships and eight battlecruisers. The case for a separate battlecruiser force weakened when Japan could reach an opponent's distant trade routes only after defeating its battle fleet. Commerce raiding therefore offered less immediate value than an advantage in the main fleet action. Fast battleships could give the Japanese battle line greater speed than its opponents while serving that central purpose.
Notable Point · 1:02:09-1:02:47
The Eight-Eight Plan and fast-battleship logic
Japan's need to defeat enemy battle fleets before reaching distant trade routes strengthens the case for fast battleships.