Top 10 greatest aircraft carrier battles
- By Lin Liyao China.org.cn, October 19, 2011
Battle of the Philippine Sea (马里亚纳海战)
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Bomb hits near USS Bunker Hill during Pillippines war. [wikipedia.org] |
Location: Mariana Islands, Philippine Sea
Countries: United States vs. Japan
Aircraft carriers: U.S.: 7 fleet carriers (USS Hornet, Yorktown, Bunker Hill, Wasp, Enterprise, Lexington, Essex) and 8 light fleet carriers (Belleau Wood, Bataan, Monterey, Cabot, Princeton, San Jacinto, Cowpens, Langley) vs Japan: 5 fleet carriers (Taiho, Zuikaku, Shokaku, Junyo, Hiyo) and 4 light aircraft carriers (Chitose, Chiyoda, Zuiho, Ryuho)
Result: It was by far the largest 'aircraft carrier versus aircraft carrier' battle in history. The fighting brought Imperial Japanese Navy disastrous losses - three aircraft carriers, some 550--645 aircrafts and hundreds of pilots.