Spruance and Mitscher considered sending Lee's seven fast battleships against the Japanese surface force, but Lee did not trust the formation's recent night training and coordination. Individual ships could shoot at night, yet a multi-ship action risked misidentification, friendly fire, and torpedo surprise - especially when the Americans' numerical advantage crowded the battlespace. Japan had concentrated Yamato, Musashi, Kongo, and Haruna in its van, while American fire-control radar capabilities still varied from ship to ship. Japanese surface crews retained substantial prewar night-fighting experience, making refusal a risk judgment rather than simple timidity.
Chapter · 2:30:39-2:43:58
Why Willis Lee declined a night battleship action
The unfought surface battle is examined through Lee's concern that a powerful but unworked-up American battle line could become disordered at night.