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The "decisive battle" was Japan's tactic for dealing with the expected American push across the Pacific as detailed in the American's Plan Orange (strategic plan to fight Japan based on if Japan invaded the Philippines). When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and crippled the old battleship fleet, Plan Orange went out the window along with some of the old school admirals.
The new American fast battleships didn't start arriving in the Pacific until after Midway. By that time, the main weapon was to be the aircraft carrier, so the battleship was detailed to escort them, or at least be nearby. USS Washington and USS South Dakota engaged Kirishima in the Solomons. They would have engaged Hiei as well, but she had been sunk the a day or two before after fighting US cruisers and destroyers.
The older US battleships (what few were functional before Midway) were used to defend the American West Coast in case the Japanese managed to get past Hawaii. After Midway they were regrouped as more and more were repaired and sent on shore bombardment missions as the Americans island hopped towards Japan, rather that the big push the Japanese expected from Plan Orange.
The older ships in action would the the remaining Nevada-class (USS Nevada), remaining Pennsylvania-class (USS Pennsylvania), the New Mexico-class (USS New Mexico, USS Mississippi, and USS Idaho), and Tennessee-class (USS Tennessee and USS California), and the Colorado-class (three of the Big Seven: USS Colorado, USS Maryland, and USS West Virginia) The other three active old battleships were usually in the Atlantic until late in the war. The one remaining combat active Wyoming-class (USS Arkansas), and the New York-class (USS New York and USS Texas). USS Wyoming was a training ship during the war.
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