YORKTOWN  CV - 5

Sister ships:  ENTERPRISE, HORNET

Notes:  These were the first "modern" carriers built for the United States Navy, and were the forerunners to the ESSEX class.  Unlike the preceding RANGER, the YORKTOWN class were built with the experience of having operated both large (LEXINGTON class) and small (LANGLEY) carriers.  Under terms of naval treaties of the times, the USN had considered building two large (20,000+ tons) carriers and one small one; the original designs would have allowed for three of the YORKTOWN class to be built.  Various schemes were considered for armor, but to keep to the designed weight, protection was designed to defeat 6" gunfire at ranges of 10,000 - 20,000 yards.  There were three catapults; two on the flight deck, and one athwartships on the hangar deck.  

Following her shakedown cruise in the Caribbean in early 1938, YORKTOWN operated in the Atlantic through April, 1939, when she was transferred to the Pacific Fleet. As naval activity increased in the Atlantic, YORKTOWN was transferred back to the Atlantic Fleet in May, 1941. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, YORKTOWN had her anti-aircraft armament upgraded with several 20mm Oerlikon AA guns in a brief refit at Norfolk. She returned to the Pacific, arriving at San Diego on 30 December 1941, where she became Rear Admiral Fletcher's newly-formed Task Force 17. In early 1942, YORKTOWN took part in several raids in the Pacific. 

When the Japanese invaded Tulagi on 4 May 1942, YORKTOWN's aircraft attacked the Japanese landing forces and their attendant ships, sinking the destroyer KIKUZUKI and three minecraft. 

Three days later on 7 May 1942, Dauntless dive bombers from YORKTOWN and LEXINGTON sank the Japanese light aircraft carrier SHOHO at the Battle of the Coral Sea. (Reports indicate the SHOHO took seven torpedo and 13 bomb hits in a little under 25 minutes.) The next day, YORKTOWN's planes scored two bomb hits on the Japanese carrier SHOKAKU, putting her out of action. But the Japanese were able to score one bomb hit on YORKTOWN, which penetrated the flight deck and exploded below, putting her out of action as well. YORKTOWN returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs, which were expected to take up to three months. However, Allied intelligence believed the Japanese were preparing to strike at Midway. After arriving there on 27 May 1942, repair crews working around the clock had her ready to return to action in just over two days, and once again flying Rear Admiral Fletcher's flag, YORKTOWN departed Pearl Harbor on 30 May 1942. 

On 4 June 1942, American scout planes sighted the Japanese fleet approaching Midway, and airstrikes were launched. While her torpedo aircraft were decimated and scored no hits, YORKTOWN's dive bombers targeted the carrier SORYU and scored three hits with 1,000-pound bombs, turning the SORYU into a flaming wreck. (Damaged beyond repair, the SORYU was scuttled that evening.) Once again, however, the Japanese aviators found YORKTOWN, and scored three bomb hits on her as well. Her repair crews worked valiantly to return her to action, and YORKTOWN was able to launch a few Wildcat fighters in an effort to defend their ship against a second Japanese strike. However, YORKTOWN was hit again -- this time by two torpedoes on her port side. She lost power and was soon dead in the water, with an increasing list to port. Her commanding officer, Capt. Elliott Buckmaster, ordered her crew to abandon ship. Meanwhile, YORKTOWN's surviving aircraft had landed on the ENTERPRISE, and a "combined strike" later that afternoon scored four bomb hits on the carrier HIRYU, which sank early on the morning of 5 June 1942.

But YORKTOWN stubbornly remained afloat, despite the heavy list, and on the morning of 5 June 1942, damage control crews returned to the ship to try to save her. The destroyer HAMMANN came alongside to assist, furnishing pumps and electric power. On 6 June 1942, the tug VIREO attached a tow line in preparation to tow YORKTOWN to safety. But unseen by her screening forces, the Japanese submarine I-158 got into position and fired four torpedoes at the YORKTOWN; one missed, one hit the HAMMANN directly amidships, breaking her back and quickly sinking her; and two hit the YORKTOWN on her starboard side. Within a minute after HAMMANN's sinking, explosions in the water (thought to be HAMMANN's depth charges exploding) further damaged the YORKTOWN's hull and causing the auxiliary generator to fall over the ship's side and be lost. VIREO cut the tow line and came around to rescue survivors. A second salvage plan was made, but early on the morning of 7 June 1942, YORKTOWN rolled over on her port side and sank.

		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314
		Neptun 1314