Japan's striking force combined four carriers, two Kongos, two heavy cruisers, a light cruiser, destroyers, and oilers. Twelve destroyers and one light cruiser had to support thirteen high-value or vulnerable vessels once the five oilers were included. Destroyers had to defend carrier aviation, capital ships, scouting cruisers, and replenishment vessels against air and submarine threats, yet a single destroyer guarded the entire tanker group. The force also relied on heavily used Kongos dating from 1913 and other ships Japan could not readily replace. Its size could not compensate for a protective screen stretched across too many irreplaceable assets.
Chapter · 31:10-37:51
Japan's carrier force had too few escorts
The Kido Butai carried four carriers, capital ships, cruisers, and oilers, but its destroyer screen had too many high-value ships to protect.