Naval historians such as Evan Mawdsley, Richard Overy, and Craig Symonds concluded that World War II's decisive victories on land could not have been won without decisive victories at sea.Overy, p. 61Symonds, p. 641 Naval battles to keep shipping lanes open for combatant's movement of troops, guns, ammunition, tanks, warships, aircraft, raw materials, and food largely determined the outcome of land battles. Without the Allied victory in keeping shipping lanes open during the Battle of the Atlantic, Britain could not have fed her people or withstood Axis offensives in Europe and North Africa.Overy, 1995 p18-19 Without Britain's survival and without Allied shipments of food and industrial equipment to the Soviet Union, her military and economic power would likely not have rebounded in time for Russian soldiers to prevail at Stalingrad and Kursk.Overy p. 19, 254, 321Mawdsley, p.478
Without victories at sea in the Pacific theater, the Allies could not have mounted amphibious assaults on or maintained land forces on Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Saipan, The Philippines, Iwo Jima, or Okinawa. Allied operations in the Atlantic and Pacific war theaters were interconnected because they frequently competed for scarce naval resources for everything from aircraft carriers to transports and landing craft.Symonds, WWII at Sea, p. xi-xii Effective transport of troops and military supplies between the two war theaters required naval protection for shipping routes around the Cape of Good Hope, through the Suez canal, and through the Panama Canal. In both theaters, maritime dominance enabled combatants to use the sea for their own purposes and deprive its use by adversaries. As naval historian Admiral Herbert Richmond stated, "Sea power did not win the war itself: it enabled the war to be won".Mawdsley, page=xxxix, 477
Aircraft carriers played a major role in winning decisive naval battles,Symonds, p. 268 supporting key amphibious landings, and keeping critical merchant shipping lanes open for transporting military personnel and their equipment to land battle zones. This article is part of a series that covers World War II from the vantage point of aircraft carrier operations and is focused upon names and dates for operations involving aircraft carriers.
List of named operations involving aircraft carriers
This a chronological list of named operations involving aircraft carriers combining USN, RN, and IJN operations for Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Dates are for carrier involvement, not necessarily the dates for the entire operation.
+ Named World War II military operations involving aircraft carriers Name Navy Action Begin End Task Force Carriers 1940 HurryRN Deliver Aircraft to Malta 31 July 1940 4 August 1940 Force H Argus, Ark Royal HatRN Reinforce Eastern Mediterranean Fleet; Deliver Supplies to Malta 30 August 1940 5 September 1940 Force H & Force F Ark Royal, IllustriousCoatRN Deliver Aircraft to Malta November 1940 November 1940 Force H Argus, Ark Royal, IllustriousFU IJN Invasion of French Indochina22 September 1940 26 September 1940CarDiv2 Soryu, Hiryu Judgment RN Raid on Taranto, Italy 11 November 1940 12 November 1940 Force H Illustrious 1941Express RN Convoys to Malta, Greece, & Egypt 10 January 1941 11 January 1941 Force A IllustriousGrog RN Raids on Genoa and La Spezia, Italy 9 February 1941 9 February 1941 Force H Ark Royal11 "Club Runs" RN Deliver Aircraft to Malta April 1941 October 1941 Force H Ark Royal, Furious, Victorious EF RN Raid on Kirkenes, Norway and Petsamo, Finland 30 July 194130 July 1941 Victorious, Furious Halberd RN Escort Convoy to Malta 27 September 1941 27 September 1941 Force HArk RoyalPerpetual RN Deliver Aircraft to Malta 11 October 1941 12 October 1941 Force H Argus, Ark Royal (sunk) AIIJN Raid on Pearl Harbor7 December 1941 7 December 1941Kido ButaiAkagi, Kaga, Sōryū, Hiryū, Shōkaku, ZuikakuM IJN Invasion of the Philippines 8 December 1941 20 December 1941 Ryūjō 1942 R IJN Invasion of Rabaul and Kavieng 4 January 1942 February 1942 Akagi, Kaga, Shōkaku, Zuikaku H IJN Invasion of Ambon and Timor 30 January 1942 3 February 1942 CarDiv2 Soryu, Hiryu14 "Club Runs" RN Deliver Aircraft to Malta February 1942 October 1942 Force HHMS Eagle, HMSArgus, HMS Furious, USS WaspRevenge USN Raids on Kwajalein, Wotje, and Maloelap, Marshall Islands 1 February 1942 February 1942 TF-8 Enterprise, YorktownJ IJN Invasion of Java, NEI) 14 February 1942 27 February 1942 RyūjōL, T IJN Invasion of Sumatra, NEI) 14 February 1942 28 March 1942 RyūjōRevenge 3 USN Raid on Lae & Salamaua 10 March 1942 10 March 1942 TF-11 Lexington, Yorktown DIJN Invasion of the Andaman Islands 23 March 1942 23 March 1942 CarDiv4 Ryūjō C IJN Indian Ocean raid 31 March 1942 10 April 1942 Kido Butai Akagi, Sōryū, Hiryū, Shōkaku, Zuikaku MoIJN Planned Invasion of Port Moresby, New Guinea 4 April 1942 8 April 1942 ? Shōkaku, Zuikaku, Shōhō Shangri-laUSN Doolittle Raid on Tokyo 18 April 1942 18 April 1942 TF-18,16 Hornet, EnterpriseCalendar RN Deliver Aircraft to Malta 20 April 1942 20 April 1942 Force W USS WaspBowery RN Deliver Aircraft to Malta 9 May 1942 9 May 1942 Force W USS Wasp, HMS Eagle AL IJN Invasion of Aleutian Islands 3 June 1942 15 August 1943 Ryūjō , Jun'yō MI IJN Battle of Midway 4 June 1942 7 June 1942 Kido Butai Akagi, Kaga, Sōryū, Hiryū Pedestal RN Convoy from Gibraltar to Malta 3 August 1942 15 August 1942 Force F? Victorious, Eagle (sunk), IndomitableWatchtower USN Invasion of Guadalcanal 7 August 19429 February 1943 TF-11, 16, 18 Saratoga, Enterprise, WaspKa IJN Battle of the Eastern Solomons 24 August 1942 25 August 1942 Shōkaku, Zuikaku, Ryūjō? IJN Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands 25 October 1942 27 October 1942 ? Shōkaku, Zuikaku, Zuihō, Junyo (Hiyo)Torch USN/RN Invasion of French North Africa 8 November 1942 16 November 1942 TF-38, ? USS Ranger, Sangamon, Suwannee, Chenango, Santee, HMS Victorious, Formidable, Furious, Argus, Avenger, Biter, Dasher 1943 Ke IJN Evacuation of Guadalcanal 14 January 1943 7 February 1943 Zuikaku, Zuihō. JunyoI-Go IJN Raids Against Allied Advances in Solomons & New Guinea 1 April 1943 19 April 1943CarDiv 1, 2 Zuikaku, Zuihō, Junyo, Hiyo ToenailsUSN Invasion of New Georgia 26 June 1943 25 August 1943 TG-36.3 USS Saratoga, HMS VictoriousHusky RN/USN Invasion of Sicily 9 July 1943 16 July 1943 Allied HMS Indomitable. Formidable Cherryblossem USN Invasion of Bougainville 21 October 1943 11 November 1943 TF-38, TG 50.3 Saratoga, Princeton, Essex, Bunker Hill, Independence Galvanic USN Invasion of Tarawa & Makin, Gilbert Islands18 November 1943 23 November 1943 TG-50.4 6 CV, 5 CVL, 8 CVE 1944 Flintlock USN Invasion of Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands27 January 1944 2 February 1944 TF-58 6 CV, 6 CVL, 8 CVECatchpole USN Invasion of Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands 13 February 1944 28 February 1944 TF-58 1 CV, 2 CVL, 3 CVE (USS Saratoga, Princeton, Langley, Sangamon, Suwannee, Chenango)Hailstone USN Raid on Truk, Caroline Islands 17 February 1944 18 February 1944 TF-58 5 CV, 4 CVL (USS Enterprise, Yorktown, Essex, Intrepid, Bunker Hill, Belleau Wood, Cabot, Cowpens, Monterey)Desecrate 1 USN Raids on Palau Islands 30 March 1944 31 March 1944 TF-58 5 CV, 6 CVL (USS Enterprise, Yorktown, Lexington, Hornet, Bunker Hill, Belleau Wood, Cowpens, Cabot, Monterey, Princeton, Langley)Tungsten RN Raid on battleship Tirpitz at Kaafjord, Norway 3 April 1944 3 April 1944 Force 1, 2 Victorious, Furious, 4 CVE (Emperor, Pursuer, Searcher, Fencer)Cockpit RNRaid on Sabang, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies 19 April 1944 19 April 1944BEF/70 HMS Illustrious, USS SaratogaReckless USA Invasion of Hollandia, New Guinea 22 April 1944 26 April 1944 TF-58 Enterprise, 8 CVEPersecution USA Invasion of Aitape, New Guinea 22 April 1944 4 May 1944 TF-58 Enterprise Ridge Able RN Raid on German Shipping off Norway 26 April 1944 26 April 1944 CVE EmperorCroquet RN Raid on German Shipping off Norway 6 May 1944 6 May 1944 Furious, CVE SearcherHoops RN Raid on German Shipping off Norway 8 May 1944 8 May 1944 3 CVE (Searcher, Striker, Emperor Transom RN Raid on Surabaya, Java 17 May 1944 17 May 1944 BEF/70 HMS Illustrious, USS Saratoga Wanderers RN Diversion to keep U-boats away from Normandy June 1944 June 1944 2 CVE (Fencer, Striker)Neptune RN Prevent U-boat activity at Normandy June 1944 June 1944 3 CVE (Emperor, Tracker, Pursuer)ForagerUSN Invasion of Mariana IslandsJune 1944 7 CV, 8 CVL, 14 CVEA-Go IJN Defense of the Mariana Islands 19 June 1944 20 June 1944 9 carriersAnvil/Dragoon USN Invasion of Southern France 15 August 1944 14 September 1944 TF-88 9 CVE (7 UK, 2 US) Outing I RN Raids on Axis Shipping in the Aegean 9 September 1944 9 September 1944 4 UK CVE? Stalemate II USN Invasion of Peleliu, Paulus Islands 15 September 1944 27 November 1944 TF-38, 32 3 CV, 5 CVL,11 CVE Lycidas RN Minelaying off Norway 15 October 1944 15 October 1944 2 CVE (Fencer, Trumpeter) ??Forager USN Invasion of Palaus Islands June 1944 November 1944? King II USN Invasion of Leyte, Philippines 17 October 1944 26 December 1944 TF-38 8 CV, 8 CVL, 18 CVE Sho-Go IJN Defense of Philippines 23 October 1944 26 October 1944 Love III USN ? Strikes on Luzon and Mindoro Landing 25 November 1944 ? December 1944 TF-38 ? 1945 Meridian RN Raid on Palembang, Sumatra 24 January 1945 29 January 1945 BPF/Force 63 Illustrious, Indefatigable, Indomitable, Victorious Mike I USN Invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Philippines 9 January 1945 ?TF-38 ?Jamboree USN Raids on Tokyo 16 February 1945 26 February 1945 TF-58 11 CV, 5 CVL, Detachment USN Invasion of Iwo Jima, Vulcano Islands19 February 1945 26 March 1945 TF-58, 50 12 CV, 5 CVL, 9 CVE Iceberg USN Invasion of Okinawa 1 April 1945 22 June 1945 Teardrop USN Anti-sub US east coast April 1945 May 1945 4 CVE
Aircraft carriers at specific battles, invasions, and raids
Aircraft carriers were involved in many attacks and support activities in addition to the better known major carrier battles. The more complete list below includes battles, invasions, and raids and names the specific carriers involved. "Naval battle" refers to a naval engagement entirely on water, "invasion" refers to an operation involving amphibious landing of troops to occupy land areas, and "raid" refers to attacks without the intention to occupy the land areas involved. Also included in the list are some transport, convoy escort, and antisubmarine warfare operations.
[INVOLVEMENT OF ESCORT CARRIERS REPORTED BY Y'BLOOD HAS NOT YET BEEN COMPLETELY INCLUDED IN THE LIST BELOW]
1932 IJN Support for IJA Shanghai Incident (28 Jan – 3 March 1932) First IJN aerial combat IJN 3rd Fleet/1st Carrier Division (Nomura): IJN Hōshō (CVL) IJN Kaga (CV)
1937 IJN Support for IJA Battle of Shanghai (14–16 August 1937) IJN 3rd Fleet, 1st & 4th Carrier Divisions (3 carriers, 90 aircraft): IJN Hōshō (CVL) IJN Kaga (CV) IJN Ryūjō (CVL)
IJN Attack on USS Panay (12 December 1937) During "Rape of Nanking" IJN Kaga (CV)
1938 IJN Support for IJA Invasion of Guangdong (12 Oct – 31 December 1938) IJN Kaga (CV) IJN Ryūjō (CVL) IJN Soryu (CV)
1939 IJN Support for IJA Operations against China (30 Jan – 19 February 1939) IJN Akagi (CV)
1940 INJ Support for IJA Operations against China (27 Mar – 2 April 1940) IJN Akagi (CV)
RN Escort for Convoy US-3 transporting Australian and New Zealand Troops to the UK (mid June 1940) •HMS Argus (CV-I49)
RN Battle of Calabria (9 July 1940)
RN Force C (Cunningham): HMS Eagle (CV, 94)
RN Delivery of Aircraft to Malta (31 July – 4 August 1940) Operation HURRY (a "Club Run")
RN Force H: HMS Argus (CV, I49) 12 Hawker Hurricanes reached Malta HMS Ark Royal (CV, 91) Attacked Cagliari
RN Delivery of Aircraft to Gold Coast (Aug – September 1940) • HMS Argus (CV-I49)
IJN Support for IJA invasion of French Indochina (22–26 September 1940) Operation FU
IJN 2nd Fleet, 2nd Carrier Division: IJN Soryu (CV) IJN Hiryu (CV)