antarmike Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 (edited) The US aricraft carrier Hornet is sunk. A second Aircraft carrier the Enterprise is badly damaged. Hornet will always be remembered for the totally unexpected raid on Japan when on 18th April 1942 Doolittle's B-25 Mitchell medium bombers took off from her decks. The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands took place 26 October 1942 without contact between surface ships of the opposing forces. That morning Enterprise planes bombed carrier Zuihō. Planes from Hornet severely damaged carrier Shōkaku, and cruiser Chikuma. Two other cruisers were also attacked by Hornet aircraft. Meanwhile, Hornet was attacked by a coordinated dive bombing and torpedo plane attack. In a 15-minute period, Hornet took three bomb hits from Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers, another bomb hit (followed by the Val itself crashing into the deck), two torpedo hits from Nakajima B5N "Kate"s, and one more Val crashing into the deck. Rear Admiral Murray ordered USS Northampton to tow the damaged Hornet. Since the Japanese were attacking Enterprise, it allowed Northampton to tow at about 5 knots. Hornet, while under tow, came under attack again from another wave of torpedo bombers later in the day. One more Kate scored a torpedo hit, and "abandon ship" was ordered. Captain Charles P. Mason, the last man on board, climbed over the side, and survivors were soon picked up by destroyers. U.S. forces then attempted to scuttle the abandoned Hornet, which stubbornly absorbed nine torpedoes and more than 400 5 in rounds from destroyers USS Mustin and USS Anderson. Mustin and Anderson moved off when Japanese naval forces appeared in the area. Japanese destroyers then finished the Hornet with four 24-inch torpedoes. At 01:35, 27 October 1942, the gallant carrier finally sank. Edited October 26, 2008 by antarmike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 (edited) The loss of the Hornet, following the loss of Wasp on 15th August, leaves the US with only one Carrier in the Pacific fleet, yet the US and the Australians muster 16 Aircraft carriers against Japan's 4 at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The Allies win the Battle of Leyte Gulf precisely one year after the Hornet is lost. 26th August 1943. Edited October 26, 2008 by antarmike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.