The Yamato class of battleships were designed with one aim the destruction of the USA's Pacific fleet at range. In all 5 ships were to be built three were completed the Yamato,Musashi and the Shinano the latter was converted to a large aircraft carrier but was sunk on its maiden voyage. The other two ships 4 & 5 one had its keel laid down but it was broken up and the other never got started.

With there 18 inch guns the Japanese knew they outgunned the 16 inch guns of the American Pacific fleet and could start firing 5 miles before the american guns could come to bear so as long as they maintained there distance they could destroy the american battleships at will.

Of course this plan was devised before it became clear that air power and aircraft carriers made the battleship redundant due to there inability to defend themselves from such attacks.

That said both the Yamato and Musashi took multiple torpedo and bomb hits to sink where most ships would sink after a single torpedo hit making there design superior to most ships at that time.

The reality was any concentrated attack by air would sink anything afloat and ultimately caused the demise of the big gun battleships.