Japan's reduced fleet and worn-down infrastructure forced it to assemble mixed forces from the ships available, while American yards supplied new Clevelands and Fletchers. Standardization made it easier for the American ships to work together. Familiarity and trust within the destroyer divisions mattered especially because they undertook the closest fighting. The cruiser and destroyer squadrons did not need the same long history of operating together if each understood its role. Cruisers stayed farther back to provide a base of fire while destroyers entered the melee, withdrew to reorganize, and attacked again. Their mutual support allowed repeated attacks while retaining more control of the formation.
Notable Point · 1:11:51-1:14:16
Standardized ships and practiced divisions sustained repeated attacks
New standardized ships helped American divisions coordinate, while clear gunfire and torpedo roles let cruisers support repeated destroyer attacks.