It went to Guadalcanal and sunk an awful lot of American and Australian ships. Midway seriously damaged Japan’s strategic capabilities, but during those early surface engagements in 1942 they were a competent and deadly foe. Especially at night fighting.
Check out the Battle of Savo Island.
The Japanese get to Pearl Harbor and they think,
“Crap! The carriers aren’t here! Let’s shoot up some stuff since we’re here and head back to our carriers.”
Then what?
They have to consider American submarines, but they always had to consider American submarines.
I can see a tactical move to confuse the submarines, but where did they go?