the imperial japanese navy was superior to the US navy in night engagements, that is until radar equipped the ships. The IJN had the long lance torpedo, with tremendous range, and very strong hitting power. Destroyers, Light and heavy cruisers all carried torpedo tubes. This proved critical, because these torpedoes were far superior to the US counterparts. The IJN also had night time training, and was more adapted to this type of warfare. Had the IJN truly realized its night time potential, they would have coupled early in the war theyre battleships, heavy cruisers and light cruisers, and even destroyers to make night time raids against the US fleets early on in the conflict. The IJN could have done some major damage, and then the carriers could have done the majority of the day light fighting. This could have prolonged the war. Had the US surface fleet been damaged severly, the war could have raged on. But then would have come the Iowa class, and other radar equipped ships, not to mention the carrier prodcution of the United states. The war may have went on a while longer, but that is very circumstantial, this was just a thought.