Recaps

German and US carrier aircraft fought a fierce battle as German escorts struggled to protect their Dive Bombers and Torpedo Bombers from the numerically superior US fighters. The German attackers suffered heavy losses while pressing toward the American fleet, and the battle continued with both sides trying to stop the other’s aircraft.

• German fighters shot down more than thirty US fighters in the first exchange, while losing a little over ten aircraft.
• US pilots redirected their attacks toward German Dive Bombers and Torpedo Bombers as German escorts tried to hold them off.
• An F4F pilot shot up a German Dive Bomber, forcing its pilot to bail out, while German fighters continued attacking US escorts.
• A German FW-190 shot down an F4U fighter after the American pilot failed to shake it off.
• The German carrier-based aircraft commander urged his escorts to keep fighting as more than eighty German Dive Bombers and Torpedo Bombers and over thirty German fighters had been lost.

American and German carrier aircraft fought as the German attack group approached the American fleet. Admiral Nimitz ordered the American warships to open fire, while the Germans concentrated their bombers on the 2nd Carrier Fleet.

• Lieutenant General Halsey reported that American air-defense fighters had suffered heavy losses while intercepting the first German aircraft wave.
• American and German fighters and bombers continued fighting as the German aircraft drew closer to the American Aircraft Carrier Formation.
• The German commander ordered fighters to engage American escorts and sent dive-bomber and torpedo-bomber squadrons toward the fleet.
• Admiral Nimitz ordered the American fighters to withdraw and the fleet’s anti-aircraft guns to open fire.
• The German commander directed the bombers to attack the aircraft carriers in the southwest corner, targeting the American Navy’s 2nd Carrier Fleet.

German carrier-based aircraft attacked the American Navy’s 2nd Carrier Fleet, targeting its escort ships before striking the carriers. The attack sank a Cleveland-class Light Cruiser, while the American fleet’s anti-aircraft fire also shot down German aircraft.

• The German aircraft group chose the four Essex-class carriers of the American 2nd Carrier Fleet as its first targets.
• German dive bombers hit a Fletcher-class destroyer with a 500-kilogram bomb, severely damaging it.
• American anti-aircraft fire struck and destroyed the dive bomber whose pilot had celebrated the hit.
• Four German torpedo bombers launched torpedoes at a Cleveland-class Light Cruiser from close range.
• Two torpedoes struck the Light Cruiser, and its captain ordered the crew to abandon ship.
• The damaged Light Cruiser sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

The German Navy launched successive carrier-aircraft attacks, overwhelming the American defenses around the 2nd Carrier Fleet. As the American fighters were shot down, the German aircraft groups moved on to besiege the American carrier formations.

• Halsey warned Nimitz that German aircraft were destroying the 2nd Carrier Fleet’s escort ships and would soon threaten its carriers.
• Nimitz refused Halsey’s suggestion to move ships from other formations, expecting further German waves to attack.
• Radar detected a second German aircraft group, and Nimitz ordered the remaining American fighters to intercept it.
• German escort fighters kept the American fighters from breaking away, while the American pilots suffered mounting losses.
• The remaining American air-defense fighters were shot down, allowing German aircraft groups to begin besieging the American carrier formations.

The German carrier-based aircraft group overwhelmed the American Navy's 2nd Carrier Fleet and focused its attack on the isolated aircraft carrier Randolph. After more than twenty minutes of bombing and torpedo strikes, the Randolph sank, becoming the first aircraft carrier lost in the battle.

• Lieutenant General Fletcher discussed the American fleet's losses and agreed that the Navy should consider building large anti-aircraft cruisers.
• The German aircraft group targeted the Randolph after its escort ships were sunk, leaving only a light cruiser and destroyer nearby.
• German dive bombers struck the Randolph with four bombs, damaging its flight deck, destroying reserve aircraft, and starting fires.
• German aircraft launched torpedoes at the Randolph, and three of eight hit despite the carrier's emergency maneuvering.
• German aircraft battered the Randolph with bombs, torpedoes, and armor-piercing shells until it sank, then turned toward the other American carriers.

The German Atlantic Fleet learned that its first carrier-based aircraft wave had suffered heavy losses but had nearly wiped out American air-defense fighters. As American carrier aircraft approached, Admiral Rolf Kars launched German fighters and ordered them to delay revealing the fleet’s location.

• Admiral Rolf Kars received a report that the first German aircraft group had lost forty fighters and over a hundred bombers while breaking through American fighter defenses.
• The staff officer reported that only a few dozen American air-defense fighters remained, and Kars ordered seaplanes to rescue German pilots who had gone down.
• American carrier aircraft from the 1st Carrier Fleet and 4th Carrier Fleet approached the German formation, and radar detected them at less than three hundred kilometers.
• Kars ordered German air-defense fighters to take off, circle away from the fleet, and then engage the Americans without exposing the fleet’s exact location.
• FW-190 fighters launched from Zeus and the other German carriers, circled, and accelerated toward the approaching American aircraft.

German air-defense fighters intercepted the first American carrier-based aircraft wave and inflicted heavy losses as the American bombers pressed toward the German aircraft carriers. The battle continued with more German fighters arriving, leaving the American formation commander struggling to find a way through.

• Thirty-two German fighters attacked the American formation, shooting down more than twenty aircraft while American escorts moved to protect their bombers.
• An American commander ordered the Dive Bombers and Torpedo Bombers to keep advancing toward the German carriers as the fighters engaged.
• German FW-190 and BF-109 pilots shot down American bombers, while American F4U fighters struggled to challenge them and both sides suffered casualties.
• A second batch of thirty-two German fighters arrived and inflicted further losses on the American aircraft.
• A third batch of sixty German fighters joined the battle, and the American formation commander despaired at the strength of the interception.

US carrier-based aircraft broke through German fighter defenses and located the German carrier fleet, setting up an attack against its formidable anti-aircraft fire. The German commanders split their defenses between two large American groups as the battered first group began its assault.

• The US commander ordered fighters to distract German air defense aircraft while the bombers and torpedo bombers pushed through, and both sides lost planes in the ensuing battle.
• US aircraft searched the area and one Dive Bomber spotted a German fleet with at least eight aircraft carriers.
• Lieutenant General George Fredberg reported the discovery to Lieutenant General Rolf Kars, who learned that a second American group of more than 250 aircraft was also approaching.
• Admiral Rolf Kars ordered the German air defense fighters to intercept the second group and left the first group to the fleet’s anti-aircraft guns.
• The German fighters turned toward the second group, while the first American group, reduced to fewer than 100 aircraft, began attacking the German carriers.

The German fleet met attacks from American carrier aircraft with dense anti-aircraft fire, while its carrier escorts made the German carriers extremely difficult to reach. The American pilots hesitated under the barrage, but their commander ordered them to press on before they ran out of fuel.

• German air-defense commanders ordered their guns to fire as American carrier aircraft entered range, destroying several planes in the barrage.
• The American commander ordered the remaining aircraft to concentrate on a single German carrier, and Hestia became their target.
• German escort ships surrounded each carrier, with the FX32 air-defense cruiser tearing apart attacking American aircraft.
• American pilots panicked at the German defenses and questioned how they could break through them.
• The American commander warned that their fuel was running low and ordered the pilots to continue attacking, so they pressed on reluctantly.

US carrier aircraft attacked the German carrier Hestia but suffered heavy losses from anti-aircraft fire and German fighters. As the German pilots ran low on ammunition, 108 FW-190 fighters from the Azores arrived to attack the second American wave.

• US dive bombers and torpedo bombers attacked Hestia but were shot down by the fleet's anti-aircraft fire.
• The US carrier-based aircraft commander ordered squadrons to attack the German escort warships before targeting the carriers.
• German air-defense fighters attacked the second wave of US aircraft, while US escorts tried to protect their bombers and torpedo bombers.
• German fighters shot down many American aircraft but exhausted much of their ammunition.
• General Rolf Kars ordered the fleet to prepare for the second wave after Lieutenant General George Fredberg reported that most German fighters were out of ammunition.
• A staff officer reported that 108 FW-190 fighters from the Azores had arrived and joined the attack on the Americans.

The German carrier-based aircraft pressed their attack against the American fleet as Admiral Nimitz learned that both the American fleet and its own carrier aircraft were suffering catastrophic losses. The aircraft carrier Ticonderoga then erupted in flames, leaving the American Navy’s prospects even bleaker.

• German carrier-based aircraft attacked the American fleet, sinking ships and inflicting heavy losses after the Randolph had gone down.
• Lieutenant General Halsey warned Admiral Nimitz that at least a thousand more German carrier-based aircraft were approaching.
• Admiral Nimitz ordered the fleet to resist the German assault and asked how the American carrier-based aircraft were faring.
• Lieutenant General Halsey reported that German fighters and anti-aircraft fire had inflicted catastrophic losses on American aircraft.
• The Ticonderoga’s fuel tanks detonated, setting the carrier ablaze as its sailors abandoned ship.

The German and American carrier groups launched massive air attacks, sinking carriers and escort ships on both sides. The German Home Fleet lost the Apollo and saw the Aphrodite disabled, while the American aircraft groups suffered devastating losses.

• The German Mediterranean Fleet's first wave sank the American carrier Ticonderoga after the Atlantic Fleet's first wave damaged its escorts.
• The German Home Fleet's first wave attacked the American 4th Carrier Fleet, overwhelming its escorts and threatening its carriers.
• The American 2nd and 3rd Carrier Fleets attacked the German Home Fleet, but German air-defense fighters and anti-aircraft guns inflicted heavy losses.
• American aircraft sank a German destroyer and light cruiser, then hit the carrier Apollo with bombs and torpedoes until it capsized and sank.
• American aircraft damaged the Aphrodite's flight deck, leaving it unable to launch or recover planes, while more than seventy percent of the American aircraft committed across two waves were lost.

The German Atlantic Fleet repelled two waves of American carrier aircraft, losing two destroyers and a light cruiser while Hestia and Hera were disabled. German carrier aircraft then overwhelmed the American fleet, sinking Lexington and Saratoga and attacking its remaining carriers.

• American aircraft attacked the German fleet, but German fighters and anti-aircraft fire destroyed most of both waves; Hestia was heavily damaged and Hera lost flight operations.
• Admiral Rolf Kars ordered Hestia, Hera, and their escorts to return home while other carriers prepared to receive their aircraft.
• German carrier aircraft sank American escort ships and then attacked the carriers as their defenses weakened.
• Lexington sank after being hit by 32 aerial bombs and 21 aerial torpedoes.
• Saratoga sank less than ten minutes after Lexington, and German aircraft pressed their attacks against the remaining American carriers.

German carrier-based aircraft devastated the American Navy’s carrier formations, sinking the Princeton and Hancock and destroying numerous other warships. As fresh German air groups arrived, Admiral Nimitz and Lieutenant General Halsey left their carriers, while American commanders feared their fleet was finished.

• German dive bombers struck the burning Princeton, detonating its magazine and sinking the carrier.
• The German Atlantic Fleet’s second wave joined the attack, while Commander ordered fighters to cover bombers targeting American aircraft carriers.
• Admiral Nimitz left the Essex for a light cruiser, and Lieutenant General Halsey transferred to another cruiser as the American fleet came under threat.
• A staff officer reported that the Hancock had been sunk after sustaining at least thirty bomb hits and fifteen torpedo hits.
• Second waves from the German Mediterranean Fleet and Home Fleet arrived, intensifying the assault and deepening American commanders’ despair.

Marshal Lütjens and Admiral Rolf Kars assessed the German Navy’s costly but successful carrier battle against the American fleet. Germany had sunk several American carriers, and Kars began planning attacks on the American homeland.

• Marshal Lütjens ordered rescue efforts for the crews of Apollo and Aphrodite and recovery of their aircraft.
• Lieutenant General Karl Witzel reported that the Home Fleet’s aircraft had sunk Lexington, Saratoga, and Princeton while continuing to attack American carriers.
• Lütjens praised the German forces and concluded that victory would give Germany control of the Atlantic Ocean.
• Admiral Rolf Kars learned that only a little over a hundred aircraft had returned from the Atlantic Fleet’s first air group, whose losses exceeded sixty percent.
• Kars said Germany would prepare to attack the American homeland after its victory over the American Navy.

German carrier-based aircraft sank eleven American aircraft carriers before running out of ordnance and returning to rearm. Nimitz ordered the surviving American fleet to retreat, while the German fleet commanders ordered pursuit and prepared another air attack.

• German carrier-based aircraft continued attacking the American fleet, sinking Hornet and Belleau Wood among other ships.
• Nimitz learned that eight American aircraft carriers had been sunk and recognized the fleet had lost the battle.
• German attacks sank Cowpens, Yorktown, and Ranger, bringing the number of American carriers sunk to eleven.
• The German aircraft ran out of bombs and torpedoes and returned to their carriers.
• Nimitz ordered the American fleet to retreat at full speed, leaving a few destroyers to rescue sailors in the water.
• The commanders of the three German fleets ordered pursuit and planned another carrier-based air attack after refueling and rearming.

The German Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets launched a second carrier-aircraft strike against the retreating American fleet, while the distant Home Fleet could not join in. The attack sank four more American carriers, leaving the American Navy with fifteen carrier losses in the battle.

• The German carrier groups recovered their second wave and prepared for another attack, with about 380 aircraft available to the Atlantic Fleet.
• Admiral Rolf Kars ordered a second strike after Lieutenant General George Fredberg estimated that thirteen or fourteen American carriers remained.
• The Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets sent more than 500 aircraft against the American fleet, while the Home Fleet stayed beyond striking range.
• Admiral Nimitz ordered the American warships to resist and protect as many carriers as possible as they attempted to escape.
• German aircraft sank Enterprise, Wasp, Independence, and Monterey, bringing American carrier losses to fifteen.

Admiral Rolf Kars and Marshal Lütjens tallied the German Navy’s decisive victory over the American fleet, including the destruction of fifteen American aircraft carriers and numerous other ships. They left the battle confident that Germany could gain command of the Atlantic Ocean, and planned for Marshal Lütjens to report the victory to Germany.

• Lieutenant General George Fredberg reported that the second wave of attacks had ended, and Admiral Rolf Kars decided the exhausted aircraft crews would not launch a third sortie.
• Lieutenant General George Fredberg reported that the attacks had sunk the Enterprise, the Wasp, the Independence, and the Monterey, bringing the German fleets’ aircraft-carrier tally to fifteen.
• Lieutenant General George Fredberg added that the German Navy had sunk more than twelve American heavy cruisers, twenty light cruisers, and fifty destroyers; Admiral Rolf Kars ordered the victory news sent to the Poseidon for Marshal Lütjens to report home.
• Marshal Lütjens and Lieutenant General Karl Witzel discussed the American Navy’s losses and concluded that it could no longer challenge Germany for command of the Atlantic Ocean.
• Lieutenant General Karl Witzel reported that German land-based aircraft had sunk the American battleships New Hampshire and Louisiana, bringing the battle’s total to nine American capital ships, along with numerous cruisers and destroyers.

Marshal Lütjens reviewed the German Navy’s losses after its victory over the American fleet and ordered rescue efforts for downed pilots. He then asked for a victory report to be sent to Berlin.

• Marshal Lütjens asked Marshal Karl Witzel about the Aircraft Carrier Formation’s losses, including one sunk Sovereign-class carrier and three heavily damaged carriers.
• Lieutenant General Karl Witzel reported cruiser and destroyer losses and said the three fleets had lost more than seven hundred carrier-based aircraft.
• Marshal Lütjens ordered seaplanes and destroyers to rescue pilots who had parachuted into the sea, and Karl Witzel confirmed rescue operations were underway.
• Karl Witzel reported that the Capital Ships formation had lost one Battleship, while five Capital Ships were damaged, and that Azores-based units had lost more than four hundred aircraft.
• Marshal Lütjens ordered a victory report sent to Berlin.

Berlin remained confident in Germany’s victory as Emperor Qin Tian and senior officials awaited news of the naval battle with the United States. The Home Fleet sent word that it had defeated the Americans, leaving the Supreme Command with news of a German victory.

• Berlin’s citizens continued to support the war, confident that Oscar would lead Germany to victory.
• Qin Tian and senior officials gathered at the Supreme Command to await the outcome of the naval battle.
• Manstein, Kesselring, and Raeder considered how victory or defeat at sea would affect Germany’s military plans.
• Qin Tian assured the officials that the Imperial Navy would win.
• A general reported that the Home Fleet had sent a victory telegram and defeated the Americans.

After the German Navy defeated the American Navy, Emperor Qin Tian and his ministers celebrated the victory and assessed the fleets’ losses. Qin Tian ordered rescues and repairs, then formally declared war on the United States.

• A general confirmed that the German Navy had won the naval battle, and Oscar and the ministers celebrated.
• The general reported that Germany had sunk fifteen American aircraft carriers and nine Capital Ships, leaving the American Navy with only nine aircraft carriers and six Capital Ships.
• The general reported Germany’s losses, including one aircraft carrier, one Battleship, and more than seven hundred carrier-based aircraft.
• Oscar ordered Marshal Raeder to rescue sailors and pilots, repair damaged warships, and remain alert to the American Navy’s remaining strength.
• Ribbentrop urged an immediate declaration of war, and Qin Tian formally declared war on the United States in a television and radio address that afternoon.

Admiral Nimitz and Lieutenant General Halsey reviewed the American Navy’s catastrophic losses after its defeat by the German Navy. They concluded that the United States could no longer contest the Atlantic soon and would have to focus on defending its homeland and rebuilding its fleet.

• Lieutenant General Halsey reported that the Americans had lost fifteen aircraft carriers, nine Capital Ships, nineteen heavy cruisers, twenty-eight Light Cruisers, sixty-three destroyers, and nearly all carrier-based aircraft aboard twenty-four carriers.
• Lieutenant General Halsey estimated that the Germans had lost one aircraft carrier, one Battleship, several other warships, and hundreds of aircraft, but said American losses were far greater.
• Admiral Nimitz agreed that the Germans’ damaged ships would soon return to the Atlantic and remain a major threat.
• Lieutenant General Halsey said the Americans could not defeat the German Navy or threaten Europe anytime soon.
• Admiral Nimitz resolved to prioritize homeland defense and accelerate warship construction, while Lieutenant General Halsey urged faster production and development of carrier-based fighters.
• Admiral Nimitz called for a dedicated anti-aircraft cruiser to counter the German Navy’s effective defenses against carrier aircraft.

Admiral Harold Stark, Admiral James Richardson, and Admiral Ernest King waited in Washington for news of the decisive battle between the American and German fleets, confident that American industry could eventually secure naval supremacy. An officer then delivered General Nimitz’s message that the American fleet had suffered a crushing defeat.

• Admiral James Richardson and Admiral Ernest King argued that the American Navy could defeat Germany if luck favored it, while Admiral Harold Stark warned that defeat would leave the United States unable to challenge Germany in the Atlantic.
• Admiral James Richardson cited the construction of Essex-class aircraft carriers as a way for the Navy to recover, and Admiral Ernest King said American shipyards could build replacements faster than German shipyards.
• Admiral Harold Stark said work on the next carrier class was more than halfway complete, and Admiral Ernest King predicted that the United States would surpass Germany.
• A Navy officer delivered General Nimitz’s telegram, reporting that the American fleet had lost its decisive battle against the Germans.
• Admiral Harold Stark collapsed onto the sofa, while Admiral James Richardson and Admiral Ernest King stared in shock.

Admiral Harold Stark reported the American Navy’s crushing defeat against Germany to President Roosevelt, detailing the fleet and aircraft losses. Roosevelt was left uncertain how the United States could continue the war and achieve its objectives.

• An officer told Admirals Harold Stark, James Richardson, and Ernest King that the United States had lost fifteen aircraft carriers, nine battleships, and many other ships in the battle.
• The officer reported that fewer than two hundred carrier-based aircraft remained, while Germany had lost one carrier and one battleship, with several other ships damaged or sunk.
• Harold Stark ordered James Richardson and Ernest King to speed up warship construction, aircraft production, and pilot training.
• Harold Stark went to the White House and told President Roosevelt that the American Navy had suffered a disastrous defeat.
• Roosevelt heard the full losses and wondered how the United States could still defeat Germany and achieve its aims in the war.

After the American Navy suffered a crushing defeat against Germany, President Roosevelt faced the collapse of his plans to seize the Atlantic and called for a meeting to decide America’s next steps. He backed Admiral Harold Stark’s effort to defend the eastern coast and rebuild the Navy, while insisting that the United States still had to defeat Germany.

• Admiral Harold Stark apologized to President Roosevelt for the American Navy’s defeat, and Roosevelt acknowledged that Germany’s superior strength had overwhelmed the fleet.
• Hopkins urged Roosevelt to devise new plans because America could no longer seize control of the Atlantic or carry out its intended operations in Europe.
• Roosevelt ordered a meeting with Cabinet ministers and Army and Navy generals, declaring that the Republic of America had reached its most critical hour.
• Admiral Harold Stark said the Navy would defend the eastern coast and accelerate warship construction after losing its main force.
• Roosevelt promised additional support for the Navy and told Admiral Harold Stark to learn from the defeat, while maintaining that America had to defeat Germany.