Their prime objective was to overtake and destroy the American flight decks before they could launch planes to attack their pursuers. The tactical circumstances called for making an all-out chase—and also, if possible, maneuvering to windward of the quarry so that they could not conduct flight operations while running away. Kurita ordered “General pursuit,” which meant that each Japanese ship was to give chase at its best individual speed, not bothering to remain in fleet cruising formation.
