Chapter Summaries

Admiral Rolf Kars ordered the German Atlantic Fleet to launch a carrier strike against the American aircraft carriers believed to be 350 kilometers northwest. The first wave took off as the fleet prepared a second wave and changed course, while Kars also ordered the Home Fleet and Mediterranean Fleet to launch their aircraft.

• Lieutenant General George Fredberg reported that American aircraft carriers were likely 350 kilometers northwest, based on radar tracking of their returning cover aircraft.
• Admiral Rolf Kars rejected a reconnaissance sortie and ordered all carrier-based aircraft except air-defense fighters to attack.
• Admiral Rolf Kars ordered the Atlantic Fleet to turn southwest after both strike waves launched.
• Aircraft from all eight German carriers took off, while crews raised the second wave from the hangars and reserved fighters for fleet defense.
• Admiral Rolf Kars ordered the Home Fleet and Mediterranean Fleet to launch their carrier-based aircraft as well.

Admiral Rolf Kars broke radio silence so the Atlantic Fleet, Home Fleet, and Mediterranean Fleet could launch a combined strike against the American Aircraft Carrier Formation. The Home Fleet’s position had already been exposed by an American submarine, and all three German fleets prepared carrier aircraft for attack as the Home Fleet readied its air defenses.

• Admiral Rolf Kars decided to break radio silence and asked the Home Fleet and Mediterranean Fleet to join the attack, while accepting Lieutenant General George Fredberg’s suggestion to request air cover from the Azores.
• An American submarine spotted the Home Fleet’s Aircraft Carrier Formation and transmitted its position before German destroyers sank it with depth charges.
• Marshal Lütjens ordered the Home Fleet to prepare for air defense, then directed its carrier aircraft to take off after receiving the Atlantic Fleet’s request.
• The Home Fleet’s eight aircraft carriers launched two waves of aircraft, while Admiral Hermann Böhm ordered the Mediterranean Fleet’s four carriers to launch their smaller two-wave strike.

Admiral Nimitz learned that German FW-190 fighters had defeated American escorts, then received a submarine report locating eight German aircraft carriers. He ordered a massive strike, but a radio signal suggested another German carrier formation was approaching from the southwest.

• Lieutenant General Halsey reported that German FW-190 fighters had driven off the American escort fighters and inflicted heavy losses.
• A staff officer told Admiral Nimitz that a submarine had found at least eight German aircraft carriers six hundred kilometers east of the American fleet before contact with the submarine was lost.
• Lieutenant General Halsey urged an immediate attack, and Admiral Nimitz ordered the 2nd Carrier Fleet and 3rd Carrier Fleet to launch their aircraft against the German carriers.
• The 2nd Carrier Fleet and 3rd Carrier Fleet launched a first wave of 129 fighter planes, 144 Dive Bombers, and 72 Torpedo Bombers, with a second wave preparing to follow.
• A radar officer reported an intercepted signal suspected to be German, and Admiral Nimitz judged that a second formation to the southwest was likely the German Atlantic Fleet.

Admiral Nimitz ordered the 1st Carrier Fleet and 4th Carrier Fleet to launch a massive strike against the suspected German carriers, gambling that the attack could reverse the naval battle. When radar detected a large enemy air group approaching, the American fleet rushed its second wave into the air and prepared its fighters and anti-aircraft defenses.

• Admiral Nimitz rejected a reconnaissance flight and ordered the 1st Carrier Fleet and 4th Carrier Fleet to launch their carrier-based aircraft in two waves.
• The two American fleets sent 96 fighters, 102 dive bombers, and 68 torpedo bombers into the first wave.
• American destroyers detected a large group of enemy aircraft heading toward the carrier formation, and the air-raid siren sounded.
• Admiral Nimitz ordered the second wave to take off faster and directed the fleet to prepare its air defenses.
• The 5th Carrier Fleet prepared its F4F fighters to intercept the German aircraft as both navies committed their carrier air groups to attack.

Admiral Nimitz launched the remaining American fighters to intercept a German carrier-based aircraft group approaching the fleet. The two forces met about one hundred kilometers from the American carriers, and both sides began a major aerial battle.

• Admiral Nimitz ordered the American fleet’s remaining F4U and F4F fighters to take off and intercept the Germans.
• Nimitz ordered the carriers to spread out and the fleet to switch to air-defense combat mode.
• The German Atlantic Fleet’s first aircraft group approached with 96 fighters escorting 144 Dive Bombers and 120 Torpedo Bombers.
• The German fighter commander ordered his pilots to hold off the American fighters while the bombers broke through.
• The American fighter commander ordered his pilots to prioritize shooting down the German Dive Bombers and Torpedo Bombers.
• The German and American commanders ordered their aircraft to attack, beginning a large aerial battle.

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.