Japanese doctrine sought to cut down an approaching fleet until it became vulnerable to a decisive battle and a negotiated peace. That sequence depended on the opponent continuing forward through repeated attritional attacks. War Plan Orange allowed the Americans to seize positions, pause, rebuild, and wait for reinforcement when losses became excessive. British planning likewise advanced through staged objectives rather than one uninterrupted rush, undermining the timing assumptions behind Japan's cruiser-scouting and attrition system.
Notable Point · 1:17:29-1:21:29
Why Allied operational pauses frustrated Japan's attrition plan
Japan's plan required an advancing fleet to keep accepting losses, while both American and British plans allowed pauses, new bases, and reinforcement.