US Navy Aircraft Carriers 1922–45

On the next day, both sides struck the other’s carriers. Lexington’s strike of 36 aircraft, combined with 39 from Yorktown, pounded the fleet carrier Shokaku with three bombs, but the Japanese carrier did not sink. In return, despite the fact that US radar picked up the Japanese strike force at 68 miles and the carriers were defended by 20 fighters and 23 Dauntlesses on anti-torpedo plane patrol, the Japanese attack force of 69 aircraft inflicted heavy damage on Lexington, scoring two torpedo hits on her port side and three bomb hits. However, in less than two hours, damage control personnel had extinguished all fires and corrected a seven-degree list. Just as it looked as if Lexington would survive, a massive explosion took place, sparked by leaking gas vapors as a result of aviation gas tanks being ruptured from the effects of battle damage. This time the flames could not be controlled and, after a second massive explosion, the ship was abandoned. The coup de grâce was delivered by two torpedoes from an escorting destroyer.