American Carrier Losses During World War Two - Under construction

USS Lexington ( CV-2 ) May 4-7, 1942 - The Battle of the Coral Sea: lost on May 7 click here
First naval battle in history where neither side saw the others fleets. All combat was by carrier born aircraft.

USS Yorktown ( CV-5) June. 3-6, 1942, Battle for Midway, lost on June 6. Damaged from air attacks, but finished off by Japanese submarine I-168   click here
To find about her rediscovery by Dr. Robert Ballard   click here.

USS Langley CV-1/AV-3 lost on February 27, 1942. The USS Langley was classed as a seaplane tender at the time of her loss ferrying P-40s to Java. All though no longer a front line unit, I've included her for completeness   click here

USS Wasp ( CV-7 ) Sunk by 3 torpedos from the Japanese submarine I-19 on Sept. 15, 1942   click here and here

USS Hornet ( CV-8) The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, lost on Oct 27. 1942  click here
Crippled by bombing and torpedo plane attacks, gun fire from U.S. destroyers and Japanese finally sunk Hornet by firing four 24-inch torpedoes into her burning hulk.

USS Liscome Bay ( CVE-56 ) Torpedoed by I-175 off Tarawa, 24 Nov 1943 642 killed out of nearly 900 click here

USS Princeton ( CVL 23) Lost during the Battle for Leyte Gulf - Oct. 24, 1944 click here

USS Gambler Bay ( CVE-73) Lost during the Battle for Leyte Gulf, on 25 October 1944. Sunk by gunfire from superior Japanese battlehip and cruiser forces during the Battle off Samar. The only American Carrier sunk entirely to enemy gunfire. click here

USS St Lo ( CVE-63) (ex - USS Midway CVE-63) Lost on 25 October 1944 click here

USS Block Island ( CVE 21) Sunk by German submarine U-549 on Oct. 24, 1944 .
The only U.S Carrer lost in the Atlantic. click here

USS Ommaney Bay ( CVE-79) Lost on 4 January 1945 click here

USS Bismarck Sea ( CVE-95) 21 February 1945 click here

Related Links:

The Evolution of Aircraft Carriers

BACK to Wright's Washington Navy Yard

Aircraft Carriers: The Main Striking Power of the Fleet

Back to My Pearl Harbor Trip story

Last updated 4 October 2001