The lift wells, where aircraft traveled to and from the hangar deck to the flight deck on elevators, actually sat below the waterline at their lowest point. But two questions were at the forefront of the United States' mind: Could the British Pacific Fleet sustain extended operations?As the fire and ice of politics clashed around them, the commanders and crew of the BPF prepared to fight.The wait was over. Better protection. Taiho was unusual for a Japanese carrier when she first launched on April 7, 1943, as she was the first of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s flattops to feature an armored flight deck. Now things had gotten so much worse - with the loss of HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse, and the Imperial Japanese navy threatening the arterial supply lines of the Indian Ocean.In the dark days of 1942, Britain and Japan came within 100 miles of changing the course of history.Securing the strategically vital Vichy French island of Madagascar would be the Royal Navy's first multi-carrier strike mission.The ship that never was: HMS Victorious was to be 'loaned' to the United States Pacific Fleet in 1943 to plug a carrier gap.HMS Illustrious, with a fresh purpose and new aircraft, was to be 'schooled' in Pacific warfare by USS Saratoga.A series of 'working-up' missions in the Indian Ocean would expose the RN's lack of experience in strike carrier operations.The freshly formed British Pacific Fleet had to prove its worthiness. HMS Formidable: May 4 But the FAA proved Hawker's stoic defender still had some fight left.Those who flew it, loved it. Either way, Taiho would be more advanced — and beautiful — than any Japanese carrier to that point, and in theory capable with her steel flight deck of withstanding greater punishment while launching up to 84 aircraft. The Supermarine Seafire was as controversial as it was lethal.Delayed by disaster and politics, the two-seat Firefly emerged as the predecessor to a whole generation of strike fighters.
War games had revealed the immense power and intrinsic vulnerability of the fleet carrier.Born in an era of uncertainty, treaty and constant change, the armoured carrier was as radical as it was controversial.Aircraft and radar technology was developing fast. The armoured carriers had to fight their way through - and survive - the brutal lessons of this tumultuous time.In just one night, HMS Illustrious changed the balance of the war and cemented the aircraft carrier at the core of the battlefleet.Operating alone and with minimal escort, HMS Illustrious survived the worst bomb damage of the war.Five months of intensive operations, including a fleet action, pushed HMS Formidable and her aircraft beyond the limit.The success of a carrier cannot be separated from that of its aircraft. Taiho also had the first island bridge as opposed to a mere conning tower. It was an irrecoverable blow to Japan’s fleet at this stage of the war and occurred during her first combat mission, only three months after her commissioning.As a matter of engineering, Taiho shouldn’t have gone down like this, as the carrier was designed to be more heavily armored and protected than her predecessors. It is ironic that their armour and fire suppression systems proved most successful in the Pacific. The downside, obviously, was that bombs could more easily penetrate wooden decks.To the IJN’s horror during the 1942 Battle of Midway, a 1,000-pound bomb dropped by a U.S. Navy SBD Dauntless dive bomber penetrated the deck of the carrier Kaga — one of several bombs which fatally ignited fuel and gas inside the ship. Previous decks were made of wooden planks, which saved weight and made for a more-stable design. Greater endurance. The other four torpedoes missed.Seven hours later, Taiho blew up and sank, taking with her 1,650 sailors and dozens of aircraft.
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