Map Description

History Map of WWII: The Far East and the Pacific 1941/42

American Carrier Operations
December 7, 1941 - April 18, 1942

(For the Japanese Carrier Operations see the Map of the Japanese First Air Fleet Operations Dec 41 / Mar 42.)

Illustrating:

Operational American Carriers

Following the devastation at Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy was left with only a handful of operational carriers to project power across the Pacific:

• CV-2 Lexington – Vice Admiral Wilson Brown (Commanding Carrier Task Force 11)
  
• CV-3 Saratoga – Torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-6 on January 11, 1942, and out of action until May 1942
  
• CV-4 Ranger – Not in the Pacific; remained in the Atlantic; not relevant to Pacific ops
  
• CV-5 Yorktown – Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher (Task Force 17)
  
• CV-6 Enterprise – Vice Admiral William F. Halsey (Task Force 8)
  
• CV-7 Wasp – Assigned to the Atlantic during this period; not yet active in the Pacific
  
• CV-8 Hornet – Captain Marc Mitscher; entered Pacific operations in April 1942 with the Doolittle Raid; not operational in the Pacific before that
  

Strategic Role of Carriers

American carriers initially operated to:

• Conduct raids on Japanese outposts to maintain offensive pressure.
  
  
• Protect and reinforce the sea lines of communication (SLOCs) linking the U.S. to Australia via Hawaii, Samoa, and Fiji.
  
  
• Interdict Japanese advances toward New Guinea and the Coral Sea area.
  
  

Timeline of Operations

1. One American carrier group operated at all times in the vicinity of the Hawaii-Midway-Johnston Triangle to protect that vital area, particularly Hawaii. (Enterprise and Lexington regularly patrolled this zone.)
   
   
2. American carriers operated initially to protect and help reinforce the islands which formed the air and sea routes of communication from the United States, Hawaii, and Panama Canal to Australia and New Zealand.
   
   
3. Marshalls–Gilberts Raid – February 1, 1942, 1 CVc Vice Admiral Halsey, Enterprise (TF 8) conducted air strikes on Japanese bases at Kwajalein, Wotje, and Maloelap in the Marshall Islands. Result: Minor material damage but major psychological and strategic impact.
   
   
4. Rabaul Raid (Aborted) – February 20, 1942, 1 CV
   
   Vice Admiral Brown, Lexington (TF 11), attempted raid on Rabaul. Aborted after discovery by Japanese patrol aircraft; Japanese twin-engine bombers attacked the task force. Notable: Lieutenant Edward O'Hare shot down 5 bombers in this engagement.
   
   
5. Wake Island Raid – February 24, 1942, 1 CV
   
   Vice Admiral Halsey, Enterprise conducted strike on Wake Island. Two prior raids planned for January were canceled due to weather and enemy presence.
   
   
6. Marcus Island Raid – March 4, 1942, 1 CV
   
   Vice Admiral Halsey, Enterprise launched long-range strike on Marcus Island. Objective: Disrupt early warning capabilities of Japan and test long-range operations.
   
   
7. Lae–Salamaua Raid – March 10, 1942, 2 CV's
   
   Vice Admiral Brown, with Lexington and Yorktown, launched a major air raid over the Owen Stanley Mountains. Struck Japanese landings at Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea. First coordinated carrier attack from the south and east of New Guinea. Tactical success; boosted Allied morale.
   
   
8. Tokyo Raid (Doolittle Raid) – April 18, 1942, 2 CV's
   
   Vice Admiral Halsey, Hornet (CV-8) and Enterprise (escort). Bombing of Tokyo, Yokohama, Yokosuka, Nagoya, and Kobe. The raid involved 16 B-25B Mitchell medium bombers launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. Minimal physical damage but major strategic and psychological impact. Forced Japanese to accelerate plans for Midway.
   
   The "Doolittle Raid" was named after Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle who planned and led the mission. It was the first American air raid to strike the Japanese Home Islands during World War II.
   
   

Terminology

"CV" is the United States Navy hull classification symbol for aircraft carrier. Specifically:

• "C" stands for carrier (from the term "cruiser" — early carriers were often categorized similarly).
• "V" stands for heavier-than-air aircraft (from the French voler, meaning "to fly").

So, "CV" designates a ship designed to carry and operate aircraft that are not lighter-than-air (i.e., not balloons or dirigibles).

Credits

Courtesy of the United States Military Academy Department of History.

Related Links

Timeline of the Pearl Harbor Attack 1941
About the Second World War
WWII Timelines