Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto launched the battle. He wanted to meet and destroy the remaining ships in the American fleet before the United States could recover from the destruction at Pearl Harbor.

日本海军上将山本一郎发动了这场战斗，他想在美军从珍珠港遭遇破坏的事件中恢复过来之前，能遇到并摧毁美国舰队中剩余的船只。

From 1941-1943, the Yamato was  the flagship of fleet commander Isoroku Yamamoto and upon Yamamoto's death in 1943, she was  resigned to defensive duties near Truk.

从 1941 年到 1943 年，大和号是舰队司令山本五十六的旗舰，山本于 1943 年去世后，她辞去了特鲁克附近的防御职责。