How to array CV BGs was a learning experience for BOTH navies.
There was debate regarding concentration of forces, dispersion for deception, as well as sea room for evasive maneuvers. The IJN box was partially to allow independent movement of CVs under attack (flank speed, evasive circles, combing torpedo attacks, etc).
The USN had similar debates. At Midway, Yorktown was far enough away from Enterprise and Hornet that they could not really provide mutual support, for example. On the plus side, IJN snooper planes confused sighting s of the separate groups. The same happened at Coral Sea.
Concentration ultimately proved the right way to go.
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