Military

The US and Allied Aircraft Carriers Sunk in WWII

Chris Lange

Published: May 17, 2024 10:50 am

During World War II, aircraft carriers emerged as some of the most important military assets, fundamentally changing how war would be waged for decades to come. Aircraft carriers allowed for the rapid deployment of fighter planes, bombers, and reconnaissance aircraft, which enabled militaries to project power over great distances. (These are the newest aircraft carriers in U.S. Navy history.)

The loss of any aircraft carrier during the war represented a huge strategic setback. On the Allied side there were several notable carriers that were sunk, each symbolizing the how costly World War II had become.

Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at some of the critical naval losses suffered by the Allies in World War II. To identify the U.S. and Allied aircraft carriers that were lost in World War II, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed various historical and military sources. We ordered these aircraft carriers chronologically from when they were sunk. We included supplemental information regarding the classification of vessels, aircraft it could house, casualties, and where it was sunk.

One of the most significant losses was the USS Hornet (CV-8), sunk during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942. This battle was part of the broader Guadalcanal Campaign, where the Hornet played a critical role before being overwhelmed by Japanese aircraft.

At the same time, the USS Lexington (CV-2) was lost at the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942. This battle marked the first time in naval history that opposing ships engaged without sighting each other, relying entirely on aircraft to wage the battle. The loss of the Lexington was a major blow to the U.S. Navy, but the battle itself was a strategic victory. (These are the aircraft carrier fleets of the world’s major powers, ranked.)

Here is a look at the U.S. and Allied aircraft carriers that were lost in World War II:

Why Are We Covering This?

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

These losses illustrate not only the vulnerabilities of aircraft carriers but also their indispensable role in World War II. They were the principal platforms for air superiority, essential for reconnaissance, offensive operations, and as protective escorts for convoys and fleet movements. The evolution of naval warfare during World War II, with carriers at the forefront, set the stage for modern naval strategies centered around air power.

HMS Courageous (50)

Source: 94374792@N04 / Flickr

• Class: Courageous-class
• Date of sinking: September 17, 1939
• Location: North Atlantic
• Aircraft: 48
• Casualties: 519

HMS Glorious

HMS Glorious (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Hugh Llewelyn

• Class: Courageous-class
• Date of sinking: June 8, 1940
• Location: Norwegian Sea
• Aircraft: 48
• Casualties: 1207

HMS Ark Royal (91)

Source: Oast House Archive / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: N/A
• Date of sinking: November 14, 1941
• Location: Western Mediterranean Sea
• Aircraft: 60
• Casualties: 1

HMS Audacity

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: N/A
• Date of sinking: December 21, 1941
• Location: North Atlantic
• Aircraft: 8
• Casualties: 73

USS Langely (CV-1)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: Proteus-class
• Date of sinking: February 27, 1942
• Location: Tjilatjap Harbor
• Aircraft: 34
• Casualties: 319

HMS Hermes (95)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: N/A
• Date of sinking: April 9, 1942
• Location: Indian Ocean
• Aircraft: 20
• Casualties: 307

USS Lexington (CV-2)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: Lexington-class
• Date of sinking: May 8, 1942
• Location: Coral Sea
• Aircraft: 91
• Casualties: 216

USS Yorktown (CV-5)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: Yorktown-class
• Date of sinking: June 7, 1942
• Location: Midway Island
• Aircraft: 90
• Casualties: 141

HMS Eagle (1918)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: Almirante Latorre-class
• Date of sinking: August 11, 1942
• Location: Western Mediterranean Sea
• Aircraft: 30
• Casualties: 131

USS Wasp (CV-7)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: Wasp-class
• Date of sinking: September 15, 1942
• Location: San Cristobal Island
• Aircraft: 76
• Casualties: 193

USS Hornet (CV-8)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: Yorktown-class
• Date of sinking: October 27, 1942
• Location: Santa Cruz Islands
• Aircraft: 90
• Casualties: 140

HMS Avenger (D14)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: Avenger-class
• Date of sinking: November 15, 1942
• Location: Near Strait of Gibraltar
• Aircraft: 15
• Casualties: 516

HMS Dasher (D37)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: Avenger-class
• Date of sinking: March 27, 1943
• Location: Firth of Clyde
• Aircraft: 15
• Casualties: 379

USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56)

Source: national_museum_of_the_us_navy / Flickr

• Class: Casablanca-class
• Date of sinking: November 24, 1943
• Location: Butaritan Island
• Aircraft: 28
• Casualties: 702

USS Block Island (CVE-21)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: Bogue-class
• Date of sinking: May 29, 1944
• Location: Canary Islands
• Aircraft: 24
• Casualties: 6

USS Princeton (CVL-23)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: Independence-class
• Date of sinking: October 24, 1944
• Location: Leyte Gulf
• Aircraft: 45
• Casualties: 108

USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: Casablanca-class
• Date of sinking: October 25, 1944
• Location: Samar Island
• Aircraft: 28
• Casualties: 147

USS St. Lo (CVE-63)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: Casablanca-class
• Date of sinking: October 25, 1944
• Location: Leyte Gulf
• Aircraft: 28
• Casualties: 143

USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: Casablanca-class
• Date of sinking: January 4, 1945
• Location: Sulu Sea
• Aircraft: 28
• Casualties: 95

USS Bismark Sea (CVE-95)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Class: Casablanca-class
• Date of sinking: February 21, 1945
• Location: Iwo Jima
• Aircraft: 27
• Casualties: 318