The Americans held a five-to-three carrier advantage, seven battleships to five, far more light cruisers and destroyers, more submarines, and roughly 900 carrier aircraft. Japan's only numerical edge was three additional heavy cruisers, while its land-based and carrier air were split between commands and lacked a comparable veteran-newcomer mix. The escort disparity mattered twice: American carriers were more numerous and also sat inside denser defensive screens.
Chapter · 1:54:25-1:59:46
Why the force balance never reached Kantai Kessen parity
A force comparison shows Japan entering its planned decisive battle without the parity its doctrine assumed preliminary attrition would create.