This Aircraft Carrier That Fought in the Philippines Was WWII's Most Decorated Ship

Military

Published: July 17, 2024 10:50 am

The USS Enterprise (CV-6) is by far the most decorated ship in the U.S. Navy to come out of World War II. It was originally commissioned in 1938 as a Yorktown-class aircraft carrier, and it would go on to play a significant role in many battles throughout the Second World War. Ultimately its contributions would pave the way for an Allied victory in the Pacific Theater. (These are the newest aircraft carriers in U.S. Navy history.)

The Enterprise would participate in many battles including the Battle of Midway, the Guadalcanal Campaign, and the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. However, one of the most notable battles that the Enterprise fought in was the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

The Battle of the Philippine Sea demonstrated the strategic importance of aircraft carriers and highlighted the Enterprise in particular as a key to the Allies gaining air superiority. Victory here, with the devastation of multiple Japanese carriers, practically ensured the Japanese Navy could not pose much of a threat throughout the rest of the conflict.

Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a look at the USS Enterprise and all the other carriers that fought in this battle. To identify the aircraft carriers that fought in the Battle of Philippine Sea, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed various military and historical sources. We ordered these warships and submarines chronologically. We included supplemental information regarding type, armament, speed, displacement, and aircraft for each vessel.

We’ve included both American carriers as well as Japanese, to give a fuller picture of what each side had in its arsenal at the time. (These are the aircraft carrier fleets of the world’s major powers, ranked.)

Here is a look at every aircraft carrier that fought the Battle of the Philippine Sea:

Why Are We Covering This?

The Battle of Philippine Sea was one of the largest and most significant battles in the Pacific during World War II, especially in terms of its impact and strategic outcome. It would ultimately shape the outcome of the conflict.

USS Bataan

Class: Independence-class
Commissioning date: November 17, 1943
Top speed: 37.0 mph
Displacement: 16,520 tons
Armament: 40mm Bofors cannons, 20mm Oerlikon cannons
Aircraft carried: 30

USS Belleau Wood

Class: Independence-class
Commissioning date: March 31, 1943
Top speed: 36.4 mph
Displacement: 14,751 tons
Armament: 40mm Bofors cannons, 20mm Oerlikon cannons
Aircraft carried: 30

USS Bunker Hill

Class: Essex-class
Commissioning date: May 25, 1943
Top speed: 38.0 mph
Displacement: 36,960 tons
Armament: 127mm dual-purpose guns, 40mm anti-aircraft guns, 20mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried: 90

USS Cabot

Class: Independence-class
Commissioning date: July 24, 1943
Top speed: 37.0 mph
Displacement: 11,000 tons
Armament: 40mm Bofors guns
Aircraft carried: 35

IJN Chitose

Class: Chitose-class
Commissioning date: July 25, 1938
Top speed: 33.3 mph
Displacement: 15,546 tons
Armament: 127mm naval guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried: 54

IJN Chiyoda

Class: Chitose-class
Commissioning date: December 15, 1938
Top speed: 33.3 mph
Displacement: 15,500 tons
Armament: 127mm naval guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried: 54

USS Cowpens

Class: Independence-class
Commissioning date: May 28, 1943
Top speed: 37.0 mph
Displacement: 11,000 tons
Armament: 40mm Bofors guns
Aircraft carried: 45

USS Enterprise

Class: Yorktown-class
Commissioning date: May 12, 1938
Top speed: 37.4 mph
Displacement: 32,060 tons
Armament: 127mm dual-purpose guns, 40mm Bofors cannons, 20mm Oerlikon cannon
Aircraft carried: 96

USS Essex

Class: Essex-class
Commissioning date: December 31, 1942
Top speed: 38.0 mph
Displacement: 27,500 tons
Armament: 127mm dual-purpose guns, 40mm anti-aircraft guns, 20mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried: 90

IJN Hiyō

Class: Hiyō-class
Commissioning date: July 31, 1942
Top speed: 29.3 mph
Displacement: 24,150 tons
Armament: Twin 127mm dual-purpose guns, triple 25mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried: 53

USS Hornet

Class: Essex-class
Commissioning date: November 29, 1943
Top speed: 38.0 mph
Displacement: 36,960 tons
Armament: 127mm dual-purpose guns, 40mm anti-aircraft guns, 20mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried: 90

IJN Jun’yō

Class: Hiyō-class
Commissioning date: May 3, 1942
Top speed: 29.3 mph
Displacement: 24,150 tons
Armament: Twin 127mm dual-purpose guns, triple 25mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried: 48

USS Langley

Class: Independence-class
Commissioning date: August 31, 1943
Top speed: 36.0 mph
Displacement: 11,000 tons
Armament: 40mm Bofors guns
Aircraft carried: 45

USS Lexington

Class: Essex-class
Commissioning date: February 17, 1943
Top speed: 38.0 mph
Displacement: 36,960 tons
Armament: 127mm dual-purpose guns, 40mm anti-aircraft guns, 20mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried: 90

USS Monterey

Class: Independence-class
Commissioning date: June 17, 1943
Top speed: 36.4 mph
Displacement: 11,000 tons
Armament: 40mm Bofors cannons, 20mm Oerlikon cannons
Aircraft carried: 45

USS Princeton

Class: Independence-class
Commissioning date: February 25, 1943
Top speed: 35.7 mph
Displacement: 13,000 tons
Armament: 40mm Bofors cannons, 20mm Oerlikon cannons
Aircraft carried: 45

IJN Ryūhō

Class: Kagero-class
Commissioning date: November 30, 1942
Top speed: 30.5 mph
Displacement: 16,700 tons
Armament: Twin 127mm dual-purpose guns, triple 25mm anti-aircraft guns, single 13mm anti-aircraft guns, depth charges
Aircraft carried: 36

USS San Jacinto

Class: Independence-class
Commissioning date: November 15, 1943
Top speed: 36.4 mph
Displacement: 11,000 tons
Armament: 40mm Bofors cannons, 20mm Oerlikon cannons
Aircraft carried: 45

IJN Shōkaku

Class: Shōkaku-class
Commissioning date: August 8, 1941
Top speed: 39.4 mph
Displacement: 32,620 tons
Armament: Twin 127mm dual-purpose guns, triple 25mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried: 72

IJN Taihō

Class: Taihō-class
Commissioning date: March 7, 1944
Top speed: 38.3 mph
Displacement: 30,248 tons
Armament: Twin 100mm anti-aircraft guns, triple 25mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried: 65

USS Wasp

Class: Essex-class
Commissioning date: November 24, 1943
Top speed: 38.0 mph
Displacement: 36,960 tons
Armament: 127mm dual-purpose guns, 40mm anti-aircraft guns, 20mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried: 90

USS Yorktown

Class: Essex-class
Commissioning date: April 15, 1943
Top speed: 38.0 mph
Displacement: 36,960 tons
Armament: 127mm dual-purpose guns, 40mm anti-aircraft guns, 20mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried: 100

IJN Zuihō

Class: Zuihō-class
Commissioning date: December 27, 1940
Top speed: 32.0 mph
Displacement: 11,443 tons
Armament: Twin 127mm dual-purpose guns, triple 25mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried: 30

IJN Zuikaku

Class: Shōkaku-class
Commissioning date: September 25, 1941
Top speed: 39.7 mph
Displacement: 32,105 tons
Armament: Twin 127mm dual-purpose guns, triple 25mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft carried: 72

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Read more: Military, aircraft, aircraft carriers, Essex-class aircraft carriers, Japan, Navy, philippine sea, United States, World War II battle

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