American Aircraft Carrier USS Yorktown History and Specs.

American Aircraft Carrier USS Yorktown

The American Aircraft Carrier USS Yorktown was the lead ship in her class, which included sister ships USS Enterprise and USS Hornet. The USS Yorktown was one of the most modern carriers when WW2 began. These carriers could carry a complement of between 80 and 100 aircraft, which included fighters, dive bombers and torpedo bombers. The USS Yorktown carried eight five inch guns and a complement of over 2100 officers and men. The USS Yorktown participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 where the US Navy suffered the loss of the USS Lexington. However, planes from the Lexington and Yorktown resulted in the sinking of the Japanese Light carrier Shoho, the damaging of the Japanese Fleet Carrier Shokaku and the destruction of many planes from the Zuikaku. This prevented both the Shokaku and Zuikaku from participating in the critical Battle of Midway in June 1942. After the Battle of the Coral Sea the USS Yorktown limped into Pearl Harbor and despite needing months of repairs was put again to see after 48 hours in order to assist in the Battle of Midway. While planes from the USS Yorktown put the Japanese carrier Soryu out of the war, her sister carrier Hiryu's planes hit the Yorktown with two torpedoes and three bombs which badly damaged her. Despite attempts to save her, the USS Yorktown was sunk by the Japanese submarine I-168 two days later.