The assessment separates technical capability from deterrence. A superweapon that opponents do not know exists cannot alter their decisions, while a visible and credible force can make politicians reconsider escalation. In this interpretation, Yamato and Musashi might at least have forced the United States to pause and accelerate an answer had their scale been publicly demonstrated. Specialists could compare them with Iowa- or King George V-class battleships on detailed performance, but political audiences were more likely to react to their enormous hulls and 18-inch guns. Fuel consumption then shows how logistics could still undermine the class's practical utility for Japan.
Notable Point · 19:44-23:46
Why secrecy weakened Yamato's deterrent value
Yamato's size and combat potential created presence, but keeping the ships secret prevented that presence from shaping an opponent's political calculations.