World War II cast an immense shadow across the globe, a conflict that tested nations and navies to their very core. For the United States, the period from October 31, 1941, to December 31, 1946, saw an unprecedented scale of naval engagements, resulting in both triumph and tragedy. Amidst the vast expanse of ships that served, a significant number faced destruction, some succumbing to enemy action, others to the unforgiving forces of nature, or even unforeseen accidents. This era of intense maritime warfare forged a legacy of sacrifice and resilience, forever etching the names of fallen vessels into the annals of American military history.
The sheer scale of losses encompassed every class of vessel, from mighty battleships and aircraft carriers to nimble destroyers and silent submarines. Each loss represented not just a hull number and a tonnage, but a profound human cost and a strategic blow that rippled through the war effort. Understanding these devastating moments offers a critical perspective on the challenges faced by the United States Navy and Coast Guard during a period of relentless global conflict. It allows us to appreciate the stakes involved and the immense dedication required to ultimately achieve victory against formidable adversaries.
In this in-depth exploration, we delve into a selection of the most devastating naval losses suffered by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Our journey begins with the early, seismic shocks that tested the nation’s resolve, focusing on the powerful capital ships whose destruction sent shockwaves across the Pacific. These initial casualties, often occurring in pivotal battles, underscored the brutal realities of modern naval warfare and served as stark reminders of the price of freedom and the high cost of defending it.
1. **USS Arizona (BB-39)**
The name USS Arizona is synonymous with the attack on Pearl Harbor, a day that indeed lives in infamy. On December 7, 1941, this Pennsylvania-class battleship lay at anchor, a formidable symbol of American naval power, when it became a primary target in the surprise Japanese assault. The attack, launched without warning, marked the United States’ dramatic entry into World War II, and the Arizona’s fate instantly became a poignant emblem of that sudden, brutal awakening for the entire nation.
The devastation wrought upon the USS Arizona was swift and catastrophic, occurring in the early minutes of the assault. Japanese bombers, specifically from the aircraft carrier Hiryū, delivered the fatal blows that sealed her fate. One particular bomb, believed to have pierced the deck and ignited the forward ammunition magazine, triggered a massive explosion that ripped through the ship from within. The resulting conflagration engulfed the battleship, turning it into a twisted inferno within mere moments.
The sheer force of the explosion lifted the immense ship out of the water, breaking her keel and causing her to sink rapidly. Over a thousand crewmen were killed, many instantly, transforming the battleship into their watery tomb. The USS Arizona was thus sunk by these bombers, becoming one of the most visible and heart-wrenching casualties of the Pearl Harbor attack. Her hull remains at the bottom of Pearl Harbor, a sacred memorial to those who perished on that fateful morning, a permanent testament to the profound sacrifices made.
The loss of the Arizona underscored the vulnerability of even the largest warships to concentrated aerial assault, especially when caught unawares. It became a powerful symbol of American resolve and a rallying cry for the war effort. For decades, her sunken form has served as a poignant reminder of the nation’s entry into the greatest conflict in human history, her flag still flying from a mast that rises above the water.
Military equipment: USS Arizona
ShipImage: Arizona (BB39) Port Bow, Underway – NARA – 5900075 – 1930.jpg
ShipCaption: Arizona during the 1920s
ShipCountry: United States
ShipFlag: [object Object]
ShipName: Arizona
ShipNamesake: Arizona
ShipOrdered: 4 March 1913
ShipBuilder: Brooklyn Navy Yard
ShipLaidDown: 16 March 1914
ShipLaunched: 19 June 1915
ShipCommissioned: 17 October 1916
ShipDecommissioned: 29 December 1941
ShipStruck: 1 December 1942
ShipIdentification: Hull number
ShipFate: attack on Pearl Harbor
ShipStatus: USS Arizona Memorial
HeaderCaption: (as completed)
ShipClass: sclass
ShipDisplacement: 29158 LT
Lk: in
ShipLength: 608 ft
Abbr: on
ShipBeam: 97 ft
ShipDraft: 29 ft
ShipPower: Babcock & Wilcox boiler
ShipPropulsion: steam turbine
ShipSpeed: 21 kn
ShipRange: 8000 nmi
ShipComplement: 1,087 (1,358 in 1931)
ShipArmament: 14″/45 caliber gun
ShipArmor: convert
Categories: 1915 ships, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2020, Articles with short description, Attack on Pearl Harbor
Summary: USS Arizona was a standard-type battleship built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. Named in honor of the 48th state, she was the second and last ship in the Pennsylvania class. After being commissioned in 1916, Arizona remained stateside during World War I but escorted President Woodrow Wilson to the subsequent Paris Peace Conference. The ship was deployed abroad again in 1919 to represent American interests during the Greco-Turkish War. Two years later, she was transferred to the Pacific Fleet, under which the ship would remain for the rest of her career.
The 1920s and 1930s saw Arizona regularly deployed for training exercises, including the annual Fleet Problems, excluding a comprehensive modernization between 1929 and 1931. The ship supported relief efforts in the wake of a 1933 earthquake near Long Beach, California, and was later filmed for a role in the 1934 James Cagney film Here Comes the Navy before budget cuts led to significant periods in port from 1936 to 1938. In April 1940, the Pacific Fleet’s home port was moved from California to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as a deterrent to Japanese imperialism.
On 7 December 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and Arizona was hit by several air-dropped armor-piercing bombs. One detonated an explosive-filled magazine, sinking the battleship and killing 1,177 of its officers and crewmen. Unlike many of the other ships attacked that day, Arizona was so irreparably damaged that it was not repaired for service in World War II. The shipwreck still lies at the bottom of Pearl Harbor beneath the USS Arizona Memorial. Dedicated to all those who died during the attack, the memorial is built across the ship’s remains.
Get more information about: USS Arizona
2. **USS Oklahoma (BB-37)**
Another tragic casualty of the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, was the Nevada-class battleship USS Oklahoma. Moored alongside the USS Maryland, the Oklahoma was subjected to a ferocious assault by Japanese torpedo bombers launched from the aircraft carriers Akagi and Kaga. These early waves of attack focused with deadly precision on battleships, aiming to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet at its moorings, and the Oklahoma bore the brunt of this initial fury.
The Oklahoma took multiple torpedo hits in quick succession, causing it to list severely and rapidly. The damage inflicted by these underwater weapons was so extensive that the ship quickly capsized, rolling over within minutes. This horrifying event trapped many crew members inside its inverted hull, a truly desperate situation. The scene was one of chaos and desperate heroism as rescue efforts commenced even amidst the ongoing attack, with brave individuals attempting to cut through the hull to save those trapped within.
The capsizing of such a massive vessel was a shocking sight, signifying the overwhelming and unexpected force of the Japanese attack. The immediate aftermath was marked by incredible acts of courage, as sailors used blowtorches to cut holes in the Oklahoma’s exposed bottom, rescuing 32 men who had managed to survive the initial deluge and explosions. These dramatic rescue operations continued for days, highlighting the human toll and the bravery exhibited in the face of unimaginable disaster.
While the USS Oklahoma was capsized during the attack, its story did not end there. It was subsequently raised in 1943, a testament to the immense salvage and engineering efforts undertaken at Pearl Harbor. However, the damage was deemed too extensive for economical repair, and the battleship was never returned to service. Tragically, it sank on May 17, 1947, in a storm while being towed to San Francisco for scrapping, a final, unceremonious end for a ship that had endured so much, a post-war casualty of its earlier wounds.
Military equipment: USS Oklahoma (BB-37)
ShipImage: USS Oklahoma BB-37.jpg
ShipCaption: USS Oklahoma (BB-37) at anchor
ShipCountry: United States
ShipFlag: [object Object]
ShipName: Oklahoma
ShipNamesake: Oklahoma
ShipOrdered: 4 March 1911
ShipBuilder: New York Shipbuilding Corporation,Camden, New Jersey
ShipLaidDown: 26 October 1912
ShipLaunched: 23 March 1914
ShipCommissioned: 2 May 1916
ShipDecommissioned: 1 September 1944
ShipFate: attack on Pearl Harbor
ShipClass: sclass
ShipDisplacement: cvt
ShipLength: cvt,length overall
ShipBeam: cvt
ShipDraft: cvt
ShipPower: Babcock & Wilcox boiler
ShipPropulsion: Drive shaft#Marine drive shafts
ShipSpeed: 20.5 kn
Lk: in
ShipRange: 10 kn
ShipComplement: As built:,864 officers and crewmen,From 1929:,1,398
ShipArmament: As built:,14″/45 caliber gun,5″/51 caliber gun,3″/50 caliber gun,Bliss-Leavitt Mark 3 torpedo,After 1927–1929 refit:,12 × single 5 in/51 cal. guns,5″/25 caliber gun
ShipArmor: Belt armor,Bulkhead (partition),Barbette,Gun turret,Deck (ship),Conning tower
Abbr: on
ShipAircraft: as built:,floatplane,Aircraft catapult,1941:,2 × floatplanes,1 × catapult
Categories: 1914 ships, All articles with dead external links, Articles with dead external links from October 2023, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with short description
Summary: USS Oklahoma (BB-37) was a Nevada-class battleship built by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation for the United States Navy, notable for being the first American class of oil-burning dreadnoughts. Commissioned in 1916, the ship served in World War I as a part of Battleship Division Six, protecting Allied convoys on their way across the Atlantic. After the war, she served in both the United States Battle Fleet and Scouting Fleet. Oklahoma was modernized between 1927 and 1929. In 1936, she rescued American citizens and refugees from the Spanish Civil War. On returning to the West Coast in August of the same year, Oklahoma spent the rest of her service in the Pacific.
On 7 December 1941, during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, several torpedoes from torpedo bombers hit the Oklahoma’s hull and the ship capsized. A total of 429 crew died; survivors jumped off the ship 50 feet (15 m) into burning oil on water or crawled across mooring lines that connected Oklahoma and Maryland. Some sailors inside escaped when rescuers drilled holes and opened hatches to rescue them. The ship was salvaged in 1943. Unlike most of the other battleships that were recovered following Pearl Harbor, Oklahoma was too damaged to return to duty. Her wreck was eventually stripped of her remaining armament and superstructure before being sold for scrap in 1946. The hulk sank in a storm while being towed from Oahu, Hawaii, to a breakers yard in San Francisco Bay in 1947.
Get more information about: USS Oklahoma (BB-37)
3. **USS Lexington (CV-2)**
Moving beyond Pearl Harbor, the Pacific Theater continued to exact a heavy toll on the U.S. Navy, particularly its aircraft carriers, which quickly emerged as the new capital ships of naval warfare. The USS Lexington, a pioneering ship of its class, faced its demise during the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 8, 1942. This engagement was historically significant as the first naval battle in which opposing forces never sighted each other, with all combat conducted exclusively by carrier-based aircraft.
The Battle of the Coral Sea was a brutal slugfest, setting a new precedent for naval warfare. Both sides suffered heavy losses in aircraft and ships, demonstrating the destructive potential of this new form of combat. The Lexington, a vital component of the American task force, was subjected to relentless attacks by aircraft launched from the Japanese carriers Shōkaku and Zuikaku. Despite determined resistance from its defensive armament and escorting ships, the carrier sustained severe damage from multiple bombs and torpedoes.
Critically wounded and on fire, the situation aboard the “Lady Lex” became untenable as secondary explosions began to rip through her. Efforts to control the raging fires and subsequent detonations proved futile, and the order to abandon ship was eventually given as the situation grew increasingly perilous for the surviving crew. The USS Lexington was ultimately sunk by its own escorts to prevent its capture by the Japanese, a somber but necessary act to ensure her secrets did not fall into enemy hands.
Her loss, while devastating and a significant blow to the limited U.S. carrier force, marked a pivotal moment in the war. The battle prevented a Japanese invasion of Port Moresby, halting a crucial thrust towards Australia and proving the strategic value of carrier groups in the defense of vital objectives. The sacrifice of the Lexington and her crew directly contributed to this strategic victory, solidifying the role of aircraft carriers as the dominant force in naval strategy.
Military equipment: USS Lexington (CV-2)
ShipImage: USS Lexington (CV-2) leaving San Diego on 14 October 1941.jpg
ShipCaption: An aerial view of Lexington on 14 October 1941
ShipCountry: United States
ShipFlag: [object Object]
ShipName: Lexington
ShipNamesake: Battle of Lexington
ShipOrdered: 1922 (as aircraft carrier)
ShipBuilder: Fore River Shipyard,Quincy, Massachusetts
ShipLaidDown: 8 January 1921
ShipLaunched: 3 October 1925
ShipCommissioned: 14 December 1927
ShipReclassified: As aircraft carrier, 1 July 1922
ShipStruck: 24 June 1942
ShipIdentification: Hull number
ShipNickname: “Lady Lex”, “Gray Lady”
ShipFate: Scuttled
HeaderCaption: (as built)
ShipClass: sclass
ShipDisplacement: 36000 LT
Lk: in
ShipLength: 888 ft
Abbr: Bulkhead (partition)
ShipBeam: 107 ft
ShipDraft: 32 ft
ShipPower: Yarrow boiler
ShipPropulsion: turbo-electric
ShipSpeed: 33.25 kn
ShipRange: 10000 nmi
ShipComplement: 2,791 (including aviation personnel) in 1942
ShipArmament: 8″/55 caliber gun
ShipArmor: convert
ShipAircraft: 78
ShipAircraftFacilities: Aircraft catapult
Categories: 1925 ships, Aircraft carriers sunk by aircraft, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with short description, CS1: long volume value
Summary: USS Lexington (CV-2), nicknamed “Lady Lex”, was the name ship of her class of two aircraft carriers built for the United States Navy during the 1920s. Originally designed as a Lexington-class battlecruiser, she was converted into one of the Navy’s first aircraft carriers during construction to comply with the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, which essentially terminated all new battleship and battlecruiser construction. The ship entered service in 1928 and was assigned to the Pacific Fleet for her entire career. Lexington and her sister ship, Saratoga, were used to develop and refine carrier tactics in a series of annual exercises before World War II. On more than one occasion these included successfully staged surprise attacks on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The ship’s turbo-electric propulsion system allowed her to supplement the electrical supply of Tacoma, Washington, during a drought in late 1929 to early 1930. She also delivered medical personnel and relief supplies to Managua, Nicaragua, after an earthquake in 1931.
Lexington was at sea when the Pacific War began on 7 December 1941, ferrying fighter aircraft to Midway Island. Her mission was canceled and she returned to Pearl Harbor a week later. After a few days, she was sent to create a diversion from the force en route to relieve the besieged Wake Island garrison by attacking Japanese installations in the Marshall Islands. The island surrendered before the relief force got close enough, and the mission was canceled. A planned attack on Wake Island in January 1942 had to be canceled when a submarine sank the oiler required to supply the fuel for the return trip. Lexington was sent to the Coral Sea the following month to block any Japanese advances into the area. The ship was spotted by Japanese search aircraft while approaching Rabaul, New Britain, but her aircraft shot down most of the Japanese bombers that attacked her. Together with the carrier Yorktown, she successfully attacked Japanese shipping off the east coast of New Guinea in early March.
Lexington was quickly refitted in Pearl Harbor at the end of the month and rendezvoused with Yorktown in the Coral Sea in early May. A few days later the Japanese began Operation Mo, the invasion of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and the two American carriers attempted to stop the invasion forces. They sank the light aircraft carrier Shōhō on 7 May during the Battle of the Coral Sea, but did not encounter the main Japanese force of the carriers Shōkaku and Zuikaku until the next day. Aircraft from Lexington and Yorktown badly damaged Shōkaku, but the Japanese aircraft crippled Lexington. A mixture of air and aviation gasoline in her improperly drained aircraft fueling trunk lines (which ran from the keel tanks to her hangar deck) ignited, causing a series of explosions and fires that could not be controlled. Lexington was scuttled by an American destroyer during the evening of 8 May to prevent her capture. The ship’s wreck was located on 4 March 2018 by RV Petrel, which was part of an expedition funded by Paul Allen.
Get more information about: USS Lexington (CV-2)
Read more about: Quincy, Massachusetts: A Storied Legacy of Presidents, Pioneers, and Enduring American Spirit
4. **USS Yorktown (CV-5)**
Just weeks after the loss of the Lexington, the U.S. Navy faced another momentous challenge at the Battle of Midway in June 1942, an engagement that would define the course of the Pacific War. The USS Yorktown, a Yorktown-class carrier, played an extraordinarily critical role in this decisive engagement, an epic struggle that dramatically shifted the balance of power. Despite having sustained considerable damage in the Coral Sea, heroic repair efforts enabled her to participate, a decision that proved immensely vital.
Engineers and shipfitters worked around the clock in Pearl Harbor, achieving what was thought impossible by patching her up enough for combat within days. During the intense fighting at Midway on June 4, the Yorktown, though still recovering, was repeatedly targeted by Japanese aircraft. She absorbed bomb hits and torpedoes, first by planes from the aircraft carrier Hiryū, displaying incredible resilience and determination to stay in the fight against overwhelming odds. Her crew fought valiantly to save her, and for a time, it seemed possible that she might survive.
The resolve shown by her crew was immense, battling both the enemy and the damage inflicted upon their ship. However, the Japanese were equally determined to eliminate this persistent threat. While salvage efforts were underway to save the stricken carrier, making slow but steady progress, she was ultimately finished off by torpedoes from the Japanese submarine I-168 on June 7, 1942. This final blow came after days of struggle, extinguishing any hope of her return to service.
The loss of the USS Yorktown, though tragic and deeply felt, occurred within the context of a monumental American victory at Midway, which saw the destruction of four Japanese fleet carriers. Her sacrifice, and the efforts of her crew, contributed directly to a turning point in the Pacific War, crippling Japan’s offensive capabilities. Her demise remains a stark reminder of the ferocity of carrier warfare and the thin line between survival and destruction in the crucible of battle.
Military equipment: USS Yorktown (CV-5)
ShipImage: USS Yorktown (CV-5) Jul1937.jpg
ShipCaption: Yorktown in July 1937
ShipCountry: United States
ShipFlag: [object Object]
ShipName: USS Yorktown
ShipNamesake: Siege of Yorktown (1781)
ShipOrdered: 3 August 1933
ShipBuilder: Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.,Newport News, Virginia
ShipLaidDown: 21 May 1934
ShipLaunched: 4 April 1936
ShipSponsor: Eleanor Roosevelt
ShipCommissioned: 30 September 1937
ShipStruck: 2 October 1942
ShipIdentification: CV-5
ShipFate: Japanese submarine I-168,Battle of Midway
ShipHonors: File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
ShipClass: sclass
ShipDisplacement: full load
ShipLength: 770 ft
Abbr: on
ShipBeam: 83 ft
ShipDraft: 26 ft
ShipPropulsion: steam turbine
ShipSpeed: 32.5 kn
Lk: 15 kn
ShipRange: 12500 nmi
ShipPower: Babcock & Wilcox boiler
ShipComplement: 2,217 officers and men (1941)
ShipSensors: CXAM radar
ShipArmament: 5″/38 caliber gun,1.1″/75 caliber gun,M2 Browning machine gun,From February 1942:,8 × single 5″/38 caliber guns,4 × quad 1.1″/75 caliber guns,20mm Oerlikon,24 × .50 caliber machine guns
ShipArmor: convert
ShipAircraft: 90 aircraft
ShipAircraftFacilities: Elevator#Aircraft elevators
Categories: 1936 ships, 1998 archaeological discoveries, Articles with hAudio microformats, Articles with short description, Coordinates on Wikidata
Summary: USS Yorktown (CV-5) was an aircraft carrier that served in the United States Navy during World War II. Named after the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, she was commissioned in 1937. Yorktown was the lead ship of the Yorktown class, which was designed on the basis of lessons learned from operations with the converted battlecruisers of the Lexington class and the smaller purpose-built USS Ranger.
Yorktown was at port in Norfolk during the attack on Pearl Harbor, having just completed a patrol of the Atlantic Ocean. She then sailed to San Diego in late December 1941 and was incorporated as the flagship of Task Force 17. Together with the carrier Lexington, she successfully attacked Japanese shipping off the east coast of New Guinea in early March 1942. Her aircraft sank or damaged several warships supporting the invasion of Tulagi in early May. Yorktown rendezvoused with Lexington in the Coral Sea and attempted to stop the invasion of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. They sank the light aircraft carrier Shōhō on 7 May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea, but did not encounter the main Japanese force of the carriers Shōkaku and Zuikaku until the next day. Aircraft from Lexington and Yorktown badly damaged Shōkaku, but the Japanese aircraft critically damaged Lexington, which was later scuttled, and severely damaged Yorktown.
Despite the damage suffered, Yorktown was able to return to Hawaii. Although estimates were that the damage would take two weeks to repair, Yorktown put to sea only 72 hours after entering drydock at Pearl Harbor, which meant that she was available for the next confrontation with the Japanese. Yorktown played an important part in the Battle of Midway in early June. Yorktown’s aircraft played crucial roles in crippling two Japanese fleet carriers. Yorktown also absorbed both Japanese aerial counterattacks at Midway which otherwise would have been directed at the carriers USS Enterprise and Hornet. On 4 June, during the battle, Japanese aircraft from the aircraft carrier Hiryu crippled Yorktown after two attacks. She lost all power and developed a 23-degree list to port. Salvage efforts on Yorktown were encouraging, and she was taken in tow by USS Vireo. On 6 June, the Japanese submarine I-168 fired a salvo of torpedoes, two of which struck Yorktown, and a third sinking the destroyer USS Hammann, which had been providing auxiliary power to Yorktown. With further salvage efforts deemed hopeless, the remaining repair crews were evacuated from Yorktown, which sank on 7 June. The wreck of Yorktown was located by oceanographer Robert Ballard in 1998.
Get more information about: USS Yorktown (CV-5)
5. **USS Wasp (CV-7)**
The critical naval campaigns in the Solomon Islands during 1942 saw continuous, brutal fighting for control of strategic islands like Guadalcanal. In this fiercely contested environment, the U.S. Navy suffered further grievous losses, highlighting the constant threat posed by skilled and determined Japanese submarine forces operating in the region. The USS Wasp, a Wasp-class carrier known for its smaller, distinctive design variant, was operating in this dangerous theater, providing vital air cover.
On September 15, 1942, while operating southeast of Guadalcanal, the USS Wasp became the victim of a devastating submarine attack. She was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-19, a particularly skilled and aggressive boat, which launched a spread of six torpedoes. These torpedoes not only struck the Wasp but also impacted other ships in the task force, demonstrating the lethal efficiency and widespread danger of coordinated submarine attacks in convoy situations.
The hits to the USS Wasp ignited fuel tanks and ammunition magazines, leading to uncontrollable fires and a series of secondary explosions that ripped through her internal structure. The carrier was fatally wounded, and despite valiant efforts by her crew to save her, the damage was too severe and the inferno too widespread. The order to abandon ship was given as the situation grew hopeless, and like the Lexington before her, the Wasp was scuttled by her escorts to prevent her falling into enemy hands or becoming a navigation hazard.
Her loss was a significant setback for the U.S. Navy, further depleting its carrier strength in the critical early stages of the Solomons campaign, where every ship was invaluable. The Wasp’s demise served as a grim reminder of the ever-present danger posed by enemy submarines and the swift, devastating consequences of their successful attacks in the vast and unforgiving Pacific battleground. The cost of protecting the Guadalcanal landings was indeed very high.
Military equipment: USS Wasp (CV-7)
ShipImage: USS Wasp (CV-7).jpg
ShipCaption: Hampton Roads
Name: Wasp class
Operators: [object Object]
ClassBefore: [object Object]
ClassAfter: [object Object]
BuiltRange: 1936–1940
InCommissionRange: 1940–1942
TotalShipsPlanned: 1
TotalShipsCompleted: 1
TotalShipsLost: 1
ShipFlag: [object Object]
ShipCountry: United States
ShipName: Wasp
ShipNamesake: Wasp
ShipOrdered: 19 September 1935
ShipBuilder: Fore River Shipyard
ShipLaidDown: 1 April 1936
ShipLaunched: 4 April 1939
ShipSponsor: Mrs. Charles Edison
ShipCommissioned: 25 April 1940
ShipStruck: 15 September 1942
ShipHonors: American Defense Service Medal
ShipFate: Japanese submarine I-19
HeaderCaption: (as built)
ShipType: Aircraft carrier
ShipDisplacement: 14700 LT
Lk: in
ShipLength: 688 ft
Abbr: 15 kn
ShipBeam: 80 ft
ShipDraft: 20 ft
ShipPower: 70000 shp
ShipPropulsion: steam turbine
ShipSpeed: 29.5 kn
ShipRange: 12000 nmi
ShipComplement: 2,167 (wartime)
ShipSensors: CXAM radar
ShipArmament: 5-inch/38-caliber gun
ShipArmor: cvt,conning tower
ShipAircraft: Up to 100
ShipAircraftFacilities: 4 × hydraulic catapults (2 flight deck, 2 hangar deck)
Categories: 1939 ships, 2019 archaeological discoveries, Aircraft carriers of the United States Navy, Articles with short description, CS1: long volume value
Summary: USS Wasp (CV-7) was a United States Navy aircraft carrier commissioned in 1940 and lost in action in 1942. She was the eighth ship named USS Wasp, and the sole ship of a class built to use up the remaining tonnage allowed to the U.S. for aircraft carriers under the treaties of the time. As a reduced-size version of the Yorktown-class aircraft carrier hull, Wasp was more vulnerable than other United States aircraft carriers available at the opening of hostilities. Wasp was initially employed in the Atlantic campaign, where Axis naval forces were perceived as less capable of inflicting decisive damage. After supporting the occupation of Iceland in 1941, Wasp joined the British Home Fleet in April 1942 and twice ferried British fighter aircraft to Malta.
Wasp was then transferred to the Pacific in June 1942 to replace losses at the battles of Coral Sea and Midway. After supporting the invasion of Guadalcanal, Wasp was hit by three torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-19 on 15 September 1942. The resulting damage set off several explosions, destroyed her water-mains and knocked out the ship’s power. As a result, her damage-control teams were unable to contain the ensuing fires that blazed out of control. Of the 2,139 people aboard, 193 were killed and 366 injured; 46 of her 71 aircraft were lost. She was abandoned and scuttled by torpedoes fired from USS Lansdowne later that evening. Her wreck was found in early 2019.
Get more information about: USS Wasp (CV-7)
6. **USS Hornet (CV-8)**
The saga of U.S. carrier losses in 1942 continued with the USS Hornet, another Yorktown-class vessel, whose demise came during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on October 26, 1942. This battle, fought northeast of the Santa Cruz Islands, was yet another brutal carrier-versus-carrier engagement, part of the relentless struggle for control of Guadalcanal. The Hornet had previously distinguished herself by launching the Doolittle Raid against Japan, making her a ship of considerable symbolic and operational value to the American war effort.
During the intense aerial attacks of the battle, the Hornet was severely crippled by aircraft from the Japanese carriers Shōkaku and Zuikaku, the same carriers whose planes had wounded the Lexington months prior. She sustained multiple bomb and torpedo hits, which initiated massive fires and caused severe flooding throughout her compartments. Her flight deck became a wreck, and her engineering spaces were gravely damaged, leaving her dead in the water and a sitting target for further attacks.
Despite desperate attempts by her crew and assisting destroyers to save her, including tow attempts and heroic firefighting efforts, the Hornet was deemed beyond repair as the damage mounted and enemy air attacks continued. After a failed scuttling attempt by friendly forces, which involved over 400 rounds of 5-inch shellfire and nine torpedoes that remarkably failed to sink her, the still-floating hull was finally finished off by torpedoes from the Japanese destroyers Akigumo and Makigumo.
Her loss marked the last U.S. fleet carrier sunk in World War II, a testament to the brutal costs of the early Pacific War and the ferocity of Japanese air power. The resilience of the Hornet and the determination of her crew, even in her final hours, spoke volumes about the fighting spirit of the U.S. Navy during this perilous period. Her sinking underscored the immense challenges faced in protecting vital supply lines and strategic positions in the vast Pacific.
Military equipment: USS Hornet (CV-8)
ShipImage: USS Hornet (CV-8).jpg
ShipCaption: USS Hornet (CV-8) shortly after completion
ShipCountry: United States
ShipFlag: [object Object]
ShipName: Hornet
ShipNamesake: USS Hornet (1805)
ShipOrdered: 30 March 1939
ShipBuilder: Newport News Shipbuilding Company
ShipLaidDown: 25 September 1939
ShipLaunched: 14 December 1940
ShipSponsor: Annie Reid Knox
ShipCommissioned: 20 October 1941
ShipStruck: 13 January 1943
ShipNickname: “Happy Hornet”, and “Horny Maru”
ShipHonors: File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
ShipFate: Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
HeaderCaption: (as built)
ShipClass: Sclass
ShipDisplacement: 20000 LT
Abbr: on
ShipLength: 824 ft
ShipBeam: 83 ft
ShipDraft: 28 ft
ShipPower: Babcock & Wilcox boiler
ShipPropulsion: steam turbine
ShipSpeed: 32.5 kn
Lk: in (design)
ShipRange: 15 kn
ShipComplement: 2,919 officers and enlisted (wartime)
ShipArmament: 5-inch/38-caliber gun,dual-purpose gun
ShipArmor: cvt
ShipAircraft: 72 × aircraft
ShipAircraftFacilities: Elevator#Aircraft elevators
Categories: 1940 ships, 2019 archaeological discoveries, Articles with short description, Coordinates on Wikidata, Doolittle Raid
Summary: USS Hornet (CV-8), the seventh U.S. Navy vessel of that name, was a Yorktown-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy.
During World War II in the Pacific Theater, she launched the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo and participated in the Battle of Midway and the Buin-Faisi-Tonolai raid. In the Solomon Islands campaign, she was involved in the capture and defense of Guadalcanal and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, where she was irreparably damaged by enemy torpedo and dive bombers. Faced with an approaching Japanese surface force, Hornet was abandoned and later torpedoed and sunk by approaching Japanese destroyers. Hornet was in service for one year and six days, and was the last U.S. fleet carrier ever sunk by enemy fire. For these actions, she was awarded four service stars and a citation for the Doolittle Raid in 1942, and her Torpedo Squadron 8 received a Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism for its performance at the Battle of Midway.
In January 2019, the wreckage of the vessel was located near the Solomon Islands.
Get more information about: USS Hornet (CV-8)
7. **USS Princeton (CVL-23)**
As the war progressed into its later stages, the scale of naval combat often grew even larger, culminating in massive engagements like the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. This colossal naval clash involved hundreds of ships and determined Japanese resistance, including the early and harrowing uses of kamikaze attacks. The USS Princeton, an Independence-class light carrier (CVL), found itself in the thick of this historical and desperate struggle.
On October 24, 1944, during the intense fighting of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the USS Princeton was struck by a single land-based aircraft bomb. This seemingly isolated hit proved devastating, piercing her flight deck and exploding directly in her hangar bay below. The resulting fires quickly spread with terrifying speed, igniting fueled aircraft and ammunition stores, leading to a series of secondary explosions that ripped through the ship’s vital structures.
The rapid escalation of the inferno made firefighting efforts exceedingly difficult and dangerous, overwhelming the ship’s damage control teams. The damage to the Princeton was catastrophic, threatening to destroy her entirely. Despite heroic attempts by other ships to come alongside and assist in firefighting and rescue efforts, pouring streams of water onto her, the situation proved insurmountable. The fires raged out of control for hours, consuming the ship from within.
Eventually, the heat and pressure caused a massive explosion in her aft magazine, shattering the ship and causing severe casualties, not only on the Princeton but also on nearby assisting vessels like the light cruiser USS Birmingham. The USS Princeton was ultimately sunk by torpedoes from her own escorts, after over eight hours of valiant effort, a stark reminder that even a single well-placed bomb could bring down a major warship in the crucible of battle, with devastating cascading effects. Its loss was a significant blow amidst one of the largest naval battles in history.
Continuing our exploration into the profound sacrifices and diverse challenges faced by the U.S. Navy during World War II, we now turn our attention to additional devastating losses beyond the initial capital ship casualties. This section illuminates the fates of cruisers, escort carriers, destroyers, and submarines, revealing how these vital vessels succumbed to a myriad of causes—from direct enemy engagement in epic battles to the unforeseen tragedies of friendly fire and the overwhelming power of nature. Each of these stories adds another crucial layer to the narrative of courage, resilience, and the relentless toll of global conflict.
Military equipment: USS Princeton (CVL-23)
ShipImage: USS Princeton (CVL-23) underway in Puget Sound on 3 January 1944 (NH 95651).jpg
ShipCaption: Seattle
ShipCountry: United States
ShipFlag: [object Object]
ShipName: USS Princeton
ShipNamesake: Battle of Princeton
ShipBuilder: New York Shipbuilding Corporation
ShipLaidDown: 2 June 1941
ShipLaunched: 18 October 1942
ShipCommissioned: 25 February 1943
ShipStruck: 13 November 1944
ShipFate: Battle of Leyte Gulf
ShipClass: sclass
ShipDisplacement: 13,000 tons
ShipLength: 622.5 ft
Abbr: on
ShipBeam: 71.5 ft
ShipDraft: 26 ft
ShipSpeed: 31 knots
ShipComplement: 1,569 officers and men
ShipArmament: Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60
ShipAircraft: 45
Categories: 1942 ships, Aircraft carrier fires, Aircraft carriers sunk by aircraft, Articles with short description, Coordinates on Wikidata
Summary: The fourth USS Princeton (CVL-23) was a United States Navy Independence-class light aircraft carrier active in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. She was launched in 1942 and lost at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944.
Get more information about: USS Princeton (CVL-23)
8. **USS Indianapolis (CA-35)**
Among the heavy cruisers, the USS Indianapolis stands as a poignant reminder of the enduring threat posed by submarine warfare, even in the late stages of the Pacific conflict. A Portland-class heavy cruiser, she was a formidable vessel, designed to withstand the rigors of naval combat and deliver significant firepower. Her eventual loss would underscore that no ship, regardless of its size or capability, was truly immune to the dangers lurking beneath the waves.
On July 30, 1945, while traversing the Philippine Sea, the Indianapolis met her tragic end. She was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-58, an event that occurred mere weeks before the official end of hostilities. The swift and sudden nature of this attack highlighted the constant vigilance required in a vast and unpredictable theater, where the enemy could strike with devastating precision when least expected.
Her sinking, coming so late in the war, was a stark final lesson in the lethality of submarine attacks. The loss of a heavy cruiser, a critical asset for fleet protection and shore bombardment, represented a significant blow, not just in terms of material but also in the irreplaceable lives of her crew. It served as a grim testament to the fact that the fight for dominance at sea continued unabated until the very last moments of the conflict.
Military equipment: USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
ShipImage: USS Indianapolis (CA-35) underway at sea on 27 September 1939 (80-G-425615).jpg
ShipCaption: USS Indianapolis, 27 September 1939
ShipCountry: United States
ShipFlag: [object Object]
ShipName: Indianapolis
ShipNamesake: Indianapolis,Indiana
ShipOrdered: 13 February 1929
ShipAwarded: 15 August 1929
ShipBuilder: New York Shipbuilding Corporation,Camden, New Jersey
ShipOriginalCost: $10,903,200 (contract price)
ShipLaidDown: 31 March 1930
ShipLaunched: 7 November 1931
ShipSponsor: Lucy M. Taggart
ShipCommissioned: 15 November 1932
ShipIdentification: Hull classification symbol#Surface combatant type
ShipNickname: “Indy”
ShipHonors: File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg,File:Silver-service-star-3d.png
ShipFate: Japanese submarine I-58 (1943)
HeaderCaption: (1945)
ShipClass: sclass
ShipDisplacement: cvt
ShipLength: cvt,Length overall
ShipBeam: cvt
ShipDraft: cvt
ShipPower: Three-drum boiler#White-Forster boiler
ShipPropulsion: Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company,Steam turbine#Cruising machinery and gearing,steam turbine
ShipSpeed: cvt
ShipRange: 15 kn
Abbr: on
ShipComplement: 1,269 officers and men (wartime),1,195 crewmen at time of sinking
ShipArmament: 8 × 5 in (127 mm)/25 caliber anti-aircraft guns,2 × 3-pounder saluting guns,Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun,Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
ShipArmor: cvt
ShipAircraft: 3 × floatplanes
ShipAircraftFacilities: 1 × Amidship catapults (starboard catapult removed in 1945)
Categories: 1931 ships, 2017 archaeological discoveries, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, All articles needing additional references, All articles with unsourced statements
Summary: USS Indianapolis (CL/CA-35) was a Portland-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy, named for the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. Launched in 1931, she was the flagship of the commander of Scouting Force 1 for eight years, then flagship for Admiral Raymond Spruance from 1943 to 1945 while he commanded the Fifth Fleet in battles across the Central Pacific during World War II.
In July 1945, Indianapolis completed a top-secret high-speed trip to deliver uranium and other components for “Little Boy”, the first nuclear weapon used in combat, to the Tinian Naval Base, and subsequently departed for the Philippines on training duty. At 0015 on 30 July, the ship was torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-58, and sank in 12 minutes.
Of 1,195 crewmen aboard, about 300 went down with the ship. The remaining 890 faced exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning, and shark attacks while stranded in the open ocean, with few lifeboats and almost no food or water.
The Navy learned of the sinking four days later, when survivors were spotted by the crew of a PV-1 Ventura on routine patrol. A U.S. Navy PBY flying boat crew landed to save those in the water. Only 316 survived. No U.S. warship sunk at sea has lost more sailors.
On 19 August 2017, a search team financed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen located the wreckage in the Philippine Sea at a depth of about 18,000 ft (5,500 m). On 20 December 2018, the crew of Indianapolis was collectively awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.
Get more information about: USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
9. **USS Juneau (CL-52)**
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, a series of savage engagements in November 1942, proved to be one of the most brutal crucibles of the early Pacific War. It was within this maelstrom of close-quarters combat and desperate fighting that the Atlanta-class light cruiser USS Juneau suffered a catastrophic fate. Light cruisers, though not as heavily armored as their larger counterparts, were fast and agile, providing crucial anti-aircraft and anti-surface capabilities in fleet actions.
On November 13, 1942, during the thick of battle, the Juneau was crippled by a torpedo from the Japanese destroyer Amatsukaze. This initial damage severely compromised her ability to fight, leaving her vulnerable and struggling in the chaotic waters off Guadalcanal. Despite the valiant efforts of her crew and the support of other ships, the damage proved to be a harbinger of further misfortune.
Later that same day, as she attempted to withdraw from the battle area, the crippled Juneau was finished off by another torpedo, this time from the Japanese submarine I-26. The second, fatal strike sealed her doom, and she quickly went down. The loss of such a new and capable warship, a testament to the savagery of the engagements around Guadalcanal, brought with it a profound human cost that resonated deeply throughout the nation, emphasizing the dire sacrifices demanded in the struggle for victory.
Military equipment: USS Juneau (CL-52)
ShipImage: File:USS Juneau (CL-52) – 19-N-28143.jpg
ShipCaption: USS Juneau in February 1942.
ShipCountry: United States
ShipFlag: [object Object]
ShipName: Juneau
ShipNamesake: Juneau, Alaska
ShipBuilder: Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company,Kearny, New Jersey
ShipLaidDown: 27 May 1940
ShipLaunched: 25 October 1941
ShipSponsor: Mrs. Harry I. Lucas
ShipCommissioned: 14 February 1942
ShipIdentification: Hull classification symbol#Surface combatant type
ShipHonors: File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
ShipFate: Japanese submarine I-26
ShipNotes: 10|34|S|161|04|E|notes=, title
HeaderCaption: (as built)
ShipClass: [object Object],cruiser
ShipDisplacement: 6718 LT
Abbr: on
ShipLength: 541 ft
ShipBeam: 53 ft
ShipDraft: 20 ft
ShipPower: Steam boiler
ShipPropulsion: Steam turbine#Marine propulsion
ShipSpeed: 32.5 kn
ShipComplement: 673 officers and sailors
ShipArmament: 5″/38 caliber gun,caliber (artillery)
ShipArmor: convert
Categories: 1941 ships, 2018 archaeological discoveries, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with short description, Atlanta-class cruisers
Summary: USS Juneau (CL-52) was a United States Navy Atlanta-class light cruiser torpedoed and sunk at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942. In total, 687 officers and sailors, including the five Sullivan brothers, were killed in action as a result of her sinking. Only 10 survivors were rescued after eight days in the water. To honor the five Sullivan brothers and Juneau, the U.S. Navy has since commissioned two ships named USS The Sullivans and two ships named USS Juneau. On 17 March 2018, Paul Allen’s research crew on board RV Petrel located the wreck of Juneau at a depth of about 4,200 m (13,800 ft) off the Solomon Islands.
Get more information about: USS Juneau (CL-52)
10. **USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73)**
The Battle off Samar, a pivotal and harrowing engagement within the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, showcased the incredible courage and desperation of U.S. Navy forces against overwhelming odds. Among the vessels thrust into this impossible fight was the USS Gambier Bay, a Casablanca-class escort carrier. These CVEs, often referred to as ‘Jeep carriers,’ were indispensable for providing air cover for amphibious landings and anti-submarine patrols, though they were never intended for direct confrontations with enemy capital ships.
On October 25, 1944, the Gambier Bay found herself in a nightmarish scenario, part of ‘Taffy 3,’ a small task unit of escort carriers and destroyers suddenly confronted by the vastly superior Japanese Center Force, including battleships and heavy cruisers. In what became one of the most heroic last stands in naval history, the Gambier Bay was relentlessly shelled by the Japanese fleet. She was sunk by gunfire, primarily from the formidable Japanese battleship Yamato, a vessel whose immense size and armament were unmatched.
The sight of an escort carrier, with its relatively thin armor and light armament, facing down a battleship was a testament to the desperate nature of the engagement. The Gambier Bay’s destruction, under such intense fire from vastly superior adversaries, highlighted the extreme vulnerability of these vital but lightly protected ships when caught in an unescorted surface action. Her sacrifice, alongside other ships of Taffy 3, played a critical role in delaying the Japanese advance, allowing time for reinforcements to arrive and ultimately contributing to the monumental American victory in Leyte Gulf.
Military equipment: USS Gambier Bay
ShipImage: CVE 73 Gambier Bay.jpg
ShipCaption: USS Gambier Bay
ShipCountry: United States
ShipFlag: [object Object]
ShipName: Gambier Bay
ShipNamesake: Admiralty Island
ShipBuilder: Kaiser Shipyards
ShipLaidDown: 10 July 1943
ShipLaunched: 22 November 1943
ShipSponsor: Mrs. H. C. Zitzewitz
ShipCommissioned: 28 December 1943
ShipOutOfService: 25 October 1944
ShipStruck: 27 November 1944
ShipHonors: Service star
ShipFate: Japanese battleship Yamato
ShipClass: sclass
ShipDisplacement: Casablanca class displacement
ShipLength: 512 ft
Abbr: on
ShipBeam: 65 ft
ShipDraft: 22 ft
ShipPower: 9000 ihp
Lk: in
ShipPropulsion: steam engine
ShipSpeed: 19 kn
ShipRange: 10240 nmi
ShipComplement: 860
ShipArmament: 5″/38 caliber gun,dual purpose gun
ShipAircraft: 28
ShipAircraftFacilities: Aircraft catapult
IsShip: true
Partof: United States Pacific Fleet
Commanders: Captain (naval),Hugh H. Goodwin
Operations: Mariana and Palau Islands campaign,Philippines campaign (1944–45),Battle off Samar
Awards: Presidential Unit Citation (United States)
Categories: 1943 ships, All articles with failed verification, Articles with failed verification from February 2025, Articles with short description, Casablanca-class escort carriers
Summary: USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier of the United States Navy. During the Battle off Samar, part of the overall Battle of Leyte Gulf, during a successful effort to turn back a much larger attacking Japanese surface force, Gambier Bay was sunk by naval gunfire, primarily from the battleship Yamato, taking at least 15 hits between 8:10 and 8:50. She was the only American aircraft carrier sunk by enemy surface gunfire during World War II.
Named for Gambier Bay on Admiralty Island in the Alaska Panhandle, she was originally classified AVG-73, was reclassified ACV-73 on 20 August 1942 and again reclassified CVE-73 on 15 July 1943; launched under a Maritime Commission contract by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington on 22 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. H. C. Zitzewitz, wife of Lieutenant Commander Herbert C. Zitzewitz, the Senior Naval Liaison Officer (SNLO) assigned to Kaiser’s Vancouver Yard from the Navy’s Bureau of Ships; and commissioned at Astoria, Oregon on 28 December 1943, Captain Hugh H. Goodwin in command.
The ship was referred to as the “Bonus Ship” by yard personnel because she was the 19th carrier delivered in 1943. The yard had originally projected 16 carriers would be delivered before the end of 1943. However, in September the Navy asked the yard to increase that number by at least two more. To rally the workers, Kaiser initiated a campaign called “18 or More by ’44” to meet the new challenge; being the 19th and last Kaiser-built carrier commissioned in 1943, Gambier Bay was dubbed the “Bonus Ship”. No ships of her class survive today.
Get more information about: USS Gambier Bay
11. **USS Johnston (DD-557)**
Another enduring symbol of courage from the Battle off Samar is the USS Johnston, a Fletcher-class destroyer, which epitomized the fighting spirit of the U.S. Navy in the face of unimaginable adversity. Destroyers, designed for speed and maneuverability, were crucial for escorting larger ships, providing anti-submarine warfare, and launching torpedo attacks against enemy surface combatants. They were the workhorses of the fleet, often operating at the spearhead of naval engagements.
On October 25, 1944, as part of the beleaguered ‘Taffy 3,’ the Johnston did not hesitate when confronted by the overwhelming might of the Japanese Center Force. Under the command of an exceptionally resolute captain, she launched a daring torpedo attack against the Japanese heavy cruiser Kumano, inflicting significant damage and disrupting the enemy formation. This audacious move, directly engaging ships far beyond her class, bought precious time for the slower escort carriers.
Despite suffering heavy damage from the Japanese onslaught, the Johnston continued to engage the enemy with her guns, laying smoke screens and making herself a target to draw fire away from the escort carriers. She was relentlessly pounded by gunfire from the Japanese battleship Yamato, the light cruiser Yahagi, and a host of destroyers, including the Yukikaze, Isokaze, Urakaze, and Nowaki. Her sustained and improbable resistance in the face of such overwhelming power is enshrined in naval lore.
Ultimately, the USS Johnston was sunk by the sheer weight of enemy fire, a testament to her crew’s incredible sacrifice and valor. Her loss, while deeply felt, became one of the most celebrated acts of heroism in naval history. The destroyer’s actions at Samar were a clear demonstration that even the smallest ships, when commanded with skill and bravery, could alter the course of battle against impossible odds, a true embodiment of the “fight to the last” ethos.
Military equipment: USS Johnston (DD-557)
ShipImage: USS_Johnston_(DD-557)_underway_on_27_October_1943_(NH_63495).jpg
ShipCaption: Johnston in Seattle, 27 October 1943
ShipCountry: United States
ShipFlag: [object Object]
ShipName: Johnston
ShipNamesake: John V. Johnston
ShipBuilder: Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation
ShipLaidDown: 6 May 1942
ShipLaunched: 25 March 1943
ShipCommissioned: 27 October 1943
ShipStruck: 27 November 1944
ShipHonors: Presidential Unit Citation (United States)
ShipFate: Battle off Samar
ShipNickname: “GQ Johnny”
ShipClass: sclass
ShipDisplacement: Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement
ShipLength: cvt
ShipBeam: cvt
ShipDraft: cvt
ShipPower: Babcock & Wilcox boiler
ShipPropulsion: steam turbine
ShipSpeed: 38 kn
Lk: in
ShipRange: cvt
ShipComplement: 273
ShipSensors: sonar
ShipArmament: Fletcher class destroyer armament
Categories: 1943 ships, 2019 archaeological discoveries, Articles with short description, CS1 Japanese-language sources (ja), CS1 errors: ISBN date
Summary: USS Johnston (DD-557) was a Fletcher-class destroyer built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was named after Lieutenant John V. Johnston, an officer of the US Navy during the American Civil War. Johnston was laid down in May 1942 and was launched on 25 March 1943. She entered active duty on 27 October 1943 under the command of Lieutenant Commander Ernest E. Evans and was assigned to the US Pacific Fleet. Johnston provided naval gunfire support for American ground forces during the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign in January and February 1944 and again, after three months of patrol and escort duty in the Solomon Islands, during the recapture of Guam in July. Thereafter, Johnston was tasked with escorting escort carriers during the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign and the liberation of the Philippines.
On 25 October 1944, while assigned as part of the escort to six escort carriers, Johnston, two other Fletcher-class destroyers, and four destroyer escorts were engaged by a large Imperial Japanese Navy flotilla. In what became known as the Battle off Samar, Johnston and the other escort ships charged the Japanese ships to protect nearby US carriers and transport craft. After engaging several Japanese capital ships and a destroyer squadron, Johnston was sunk with 187 dead, including Evans. Johnston’s wreck was discovered on 30 October 2019 but was not properly identified until March 2021. Lying more than 20,000 feet (6,100 m) below the surface of the ocean, it was the deepest shipwreck ever surveyed until the 22 June 2022 discovery of USS Samuel B. Roberts, sunk during the same engagement.
Get more information about: USS Johnston (DD-557)
12. **USS Hull (DD-350)**
While enemy action accounted for the vast majority of naval losses, the forces of nature proved to be an equally formidable and unpredictable adversary during World War II. The USS Hull, a Farragut-class destroyer, met her tragic end not in combat with Japanese forces, but in a catastrophic encounter with a typhoon in December 1944. This natural disaster, known as Typhoon Cobra, caught a U.S. Navy task force unawares, leading to one of the most devastating non-combat losses of the war.
On December 18, 1944, the Hull, along with other ships, was caught in the furious winds and colossal waves of the typhoon while operating in the Philippine Sea. The ship’s design, while robust for combat, proved insufficient against the immense forces unleashed by nature. As the storm intensified, the destroyer battled mountainous seas and hurricane-force winds that pushed her to her structural limits.
Despite the heroic efforts of her crew to keep her afloat and maintain control, the USS Hull was overwhelmed by the tempest. The severe rolls and pitching in the monstrous waves eventually led to her capsizing, an agonizingly slow and uncontrollable event. She ultimately sank in the typhoon, a devastating and unexpected loss of life and a stark reminder that the sea itself could be as lethal an enemy as any opposing navy, demanding respect and caution from all who sailed upon it.
Military equipment: USS Hull (DD-350)
ShipImage: USS Hull (DD-350) underway at sea, May 1944 (80-G-321647).tif
ShipCaption: USS Hull c. May 1944
ShipCountry: United States
ShipFlag: [object Object]
ShipName: Hull (DD-350)
ShipNamesake: Isaac Hull
ShipBuilder: New York Navy Yard
ShipLaidDown: 7 March 1933
ShipLaunched: 31 January 1934
ShipCommissioned: 11 January 1935
ShipFate: Typhoon Cobra
ShipClass: [object Object]
ShipDisplacement: 1,395 tons
ShipLength: 341 ft
Abbr: on
ShipBeam: 34 ft
ShipDraft: 8 ft
ShipSpeed: 36 kn
ShipComplement: 160 officers and men
ShipArmament: 5″/38 caliber gun,American 21 inch torpedo,M2 Browning,c1943:,5″/38 caliber gun,8 × 21″ (533 mm) T Tubes (2×4),Oerlikon 20 mm cannon,Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60,Depth Charge
Categories: 1934 ships, All articles needing coordinates, All articles with unsourced statements, Articles missing coordinates without coordinates on Wikidata, Articles with short description
Summary: USS Hull (DD-350) was a Farragut-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Isaac Hull.
Hull received 10 battle stars for World War II service, having sailed to Europe, and serving in the Pacific before and during the war in combat. After addition of equipment that made her more top-heavy, she was one of three destroyers sunk by heavy seas encountered in Halsey’s Typhoon. 11 officers of the Hull, including the executive officer, and 191 enlisted sailors perished in the sea, while seven officers and 55 enlisted men were recovered.
Get more information about: USS Hull (DD-350)
13. **USS Duncan (DD-485)**
The chaos and confusion inherent in naval night actions frequently led to tragic errors, a stark example of which is the fate of the USS Duncan. This Gleaves-class destroyer was lost during the intense Naval Battle of Cape Esperance, off Savo Island in the Solomons, on October 12, 1942. In the close confines of the ‘Slot,’ amidst desperate fighting, the lines between friend and foe could blur, sometimes with fatal consequences.
The Duncan, engaged in a fierce night battle against Japanese forces, found herself in a perilous position where visibility was minimal and identification was often by muzzle flash. During the engagement, she sustained gunfire from the Japanese heavy cruiser Kinugasa, a direct and expected consequence of combat. However, a compounding and ultimately fatal blow came in the form of friendly fire, a tragic outcome of the chaotic naval melee.
In the intense darkness and confusion of the battle, American ships inadvertently fired upon the Duncan, mistaking her for an enemy vessel. This devastating combination of enemy and friendly fire proved too much for the destroyer. The damage sustained was beyond repair, highlighting the immense difficulties of coordination and identification in high-stakes night battles, where immediate reactions often took precedence over careful assessment.
The loss of the USS Duncan to a combination of enemy action and friendly fire served as a grim lesson in the complexities of naval warfare, particularly during the early, desperate months in the Solomons. It underscored the need for improved communication protocols and identification systems, aiming to prevent such agonizing losses to one’s own forces amidst the fog of war.
Military equipment: USS Duncan (DD-485)
ShipImage: File:USS Duncan (DD-485) underway in the South Pacific on 7 October 1942 (NH 90495).jpg
ShipCountry: United States
ShipFlag: [object Object]
ShipName: Duncan
ShipBuilder: Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
ShipLaidDown: 31 July 1941
ShipLaunched: 20 February 1942
ShipCommissioned: 16 April 1942
ShipFate: Battle of Cape Esperance
ShipClass: sclass
ShipDisplacement: 1,630 tons
ShipLength: 348 ft
Abbr: on
ShipBeam: 36 ft
ShipDraft: 11 ft
ShipPropulsion: 50000 shp
ShipSpeed: 37.4 kn
ShipRange: 6500 nmi
ShipComplement: 16 officers, 260 enlisted
ShipArmament: 5-inch/38-caliber gun,dual-purpose gun
Categories: 1942 ships, All articles needing coordinates, Articles missing coordinates without coordinates on Wikidata, Articles with short description, Gleaves-class destroyers of the United States Navy
Summary: USS Duncan (DD-485), a Gleaves-class destroyer, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named after Silas Duncan, who was severely wounded by enemy fire which caused the loss of his right arm during the Battle of Lake Champlain on 11 September 1814.
Get more information about: USS Duncan (DD-485)
14. **USS Seawolf (SS-197)**
Submarines, often operating alone and in stealth, faced their own unique dangers, and sometimes these came from unexpected sources. The USS Seawolf, a Sargo-class submarine, experienced one of the most tragic forms of loss when she was probably sunk by friendly fire in October 1944. Her story serves as a somber reminder of the potential for miscommunication and error, even among allied forces.
On October 4, 1944, while operating off Morotai Island, the Seawolf was engaged in a transport mission, a vital but often perilous duty for submarines in the vast Pacific. In an area where U.S. naval forces were actively engaged against Japanese units, the detection of any unknown vessel would trigger an immediate response. It was in this tense environment that the Seawolf was tragically identified as an enemy.
The submarine was probably sunk by friendly fire from the USS Richard M. Rowell (DE-403), a destroyer escort. This devastating error occurred despite efforts to identify the submarine, highlighting the inherent challenges of distinguishing friendly submarines from enemy ones, particularly during active combat operations and amidst strict radio silence protocols designed to protect covert movements.
The loss of the USS Seawolf was a profound tragedy, a painful example of the devastating consequences of mistaken identity during wartime. It underscored the critical importance of clear identification procedures and flawless communication, especially in fast-moving and complex theaters of operation. Such incidents, while thankfully rare, left an indelible mark on the naval history of World War II, a solemn reminder of the human element in even the most technological of conflicts.
Military equipment: USS Seawolf (SS-197)
ShipImage: 390 SS-197 SeaWolf Submarine World War II.jpg
ShipCaption: Seawolf underway
ShipCountry: United States
ShipFlag: [object Object]
ShipName: Seawolf
ShipNamesake: Atlantic wolffish
ShipBuilder: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard,Kittery, Maine
ShipLaidDown: 27 September 1938
ShipLaunched: 15 August 1939
ShipCommissioned: 1 December 1939
ShipStruck: 20 January 1945
ShipFate: USS Richard M. Rowell (DE-403)
ShipClass: [object Object],Diesel-electric transmission,submarine
ShipDisplacement: 1450 long
ShipLength: 310 ft
Abbr: on
ShipBeam: 26 ft
ShipDraft: 16 ft
ShipPropulsion: V16 engine,diesel engine
ShipSpeed: 21 kn
ShipRange: 11000 nmi
ShipEndurance: 2 kn
ShipTestDepth: 250 ft
ShipComplement: 5 officers, 54 enlisted
ShipArmament: American 21 inch torpedo,torpedo tube
Categories: 1939 ships, All articles needing additional references, All articles with unsourced statements, Articles needing additional references from July 2017, Articles with short description
Summary: USS Seawolf (SS-197), a Sargo-class submarine, was the second submarine of the United States Navy named for the seawolf.
Get more information about: USS Seawolf (SS-197)
The chronicle of U.S. naval losses during World War II is not merely a list of ships and dates; it is a tapestry woven with threads of extraordinary heroism, profound sacrifice, and invaluable lessons learned in the crucible of global conflict. From the fiery inferno of Pearl Harbor to the desperate courage at Samar, and from the relentless fury of enemy attacks to the unpredictable wrath of nature and the tragic errors of friendly fire, each vessel’s story contributes to our understanding of the immense stakes and the unwavering dedication required to secure victory. These losses, though devastating, ultimately forged a more experienced and resilient Navy, whose enduring legacy of service and sacrifice continues to inspire generations, ensuring that the lessons of the past guide the future of maritime defense and global security. The ships and the souls lost during this tumultuous era will forever be remembered as pivotal to the enduring strength of the United States.
