Yorktown-class aircraft carrier
The Yorktown-class Carriers were built during the inter war period between the Great War and World War II. The ships were built in response to the restrictions on the construction of Battleships and Battlecruisers from the Washington Arms Treaty. Originally laid down as Battlecruisers these ships had legendary survivability in combat.
History
During the mid 1930's, the United States along with other naval powers were building up a heavy fleet of new Battleships and Battlecruisers. As a response to the Washington Arms Treaty, the US Navy converted the construction of their already under construction Yorktown-class Battlecruisers from warships over to aircraft carriers. Since the hulls of these vessels was less complete then the Lexington-class ships they were able to design them into a fully purpose built carriers. Because of their original layout as Battlecruisers these ships had excellent torpedo and armor.
All three ships of this class were heavily involved in the Pacific Theater of WWII. The Yorktown was reported sunk by the Japanese on more then one occasion but due to the technical prowess and skill of the US Navy damage control crews they were able to bring the ship back to operation status much to the surprise of Japanese Navy. Despite being heavily damaged during the Battle of Coral Sea the US Navy was able to repair if in order for the ship to be fully operational in the Battle of Midway. In fact during the Battle Of Midway the ship was reported sunk twice, once as itself and then again assumed to be the Enterprise. The ship was sunk by the Japanese submarine I-168 during an attempt to salvage the ship after the battle.
The USS Hornet fought hard during the war as well. Like her sister ship Yorktown, she also was able to handle massive battle damage. The most famous operation involving the Hornet was the Doolittle Raid. Supported by the Enterprise, the Hornet launched 16 B-25 Light Bombers for an attack on the Japanese capital of Tokyo. The impact of this attack lead to the Japanese Navy escalating the plans for their Operation-MI leading to the Americans ambushing and destroying their carrier force supporting the attack on Midway Island. The Hornet was heavily engaged with the Japanese Navy until battle damage during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands where the ship was forced to be abandoned. Despite repeated attempts to scuttle the ship she refused to sink until torpedoed by several Japanese Destroyers.
The USS Enterprise was the only ship of the class to survive the war and was heavily involved with nearly every battle in the Pacific War. During the war she served heavily and even at one point was the only operational carrier in the Pacific after both her sister ships were lost in combat. She served in the Pacific War until the ship was struck directly on her forward elevator by a Japanese Kamikaze aircraft taking her out of action requiring extensive repairs. Those repairs were complete in time for the ship to be present at the Japanese Surrender on board the USS Missouri. The ship was scrapped following the end of war.
Ships in the class
- USS Yorktown CV-5
- USS Enterprise CV-6
- USS Hornet CV-8