Japanese pursuit of a "decisive battle" was carried out to such an extent it contributed to Japan's defeat in 1945. Japan's focus on its main battle fleet led to inadequate resources applied to the protection of its merchant fleet. The production of destroyers and escort vessels, crucial to protection of shipping, were put aside in favor of building large battleships that ended up seeing very limited service. The only reasonable explanation for Japanese neglect of the protection of their merchant fleet was that protection of merchant shipping could not contribute directly to the decisive battle.