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The Yorktown-class carriers Yorktown, Enterprise and Hornet were beneficiaries of President Roosevelt’s efforts to re-vitalize the American economy following the Depression by funding government building contracts. Built in the 1930's, these ships benefitted from every lesson the navy had learned in operating the earlier aircraft carriers. Shorter than the Lexington class and more maneuverable, Yorktown and her sisters carried even more aircraft and were just as fast, although less well protected.
After commissioning, Yorktown conducted flight trials and shakedown in the Caribbean, followed by operations in both the Pacific and Atlantic on exercises and battle problems through 1939. With war in Europe and U-boats menacing the Atlantic, Yorktown operated there on convoy escort duties, Neutrality Patrols and combat readiness exercises until 1941. Yorktown was anchored in Norfolk, Virginia on December 7, 1941. With the Pacific battle fleet crippled, aircraft carriers became the primary navy weapon and Yorktown was in the Pacific by January 1942, escorting a convoy to Samoa and conducting the first offensive air strikes of the war, targeting the Gilbert Islands while Enterprise attacked the Marshalls. Inflicting some damage, the raids served to hone the air groups and ships in combat operations.
By March, Yorktown was operating in the Coral Sea with carrier Lexington. Both ships made a successful surprise raid on Japanese landing forces in the Lae and Salamaua areas of New Guinea, damaging and sinking several fleets units and delaying the invasion. With the Japanese constantly on the move, the two-carrier task force remained close to the combat area, engaging the Japanese again in May in the Battle of the Coral Sea, the first carrier vs. carrier battle of the war. In this vicious clash of ships vs carrier aircraft, Lexington was sunk and Yorktown badly damaged, in exchange for Japanese carrier Shoho sunk and Shokaku badly damaged.
Returning to Pearl Harbor, Yorktown was temporarily patched before the Battle of Midway. Capable of operating aircraft, but by no means fully repaired, Yorktown joined Enterprise and Hornet northeast of Midway by June 4, 1942. In a brilliantly-executed air attack the carrier’s aircraft sank Japanese carriers Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and Hiryu – all of which had participated in the Pearl Harbor attack. Yorktown paid the price, however, being hit by three bombs and two torpedoes during the battle. Badly damaged and listing, Yorktown was abandoned, but, showing no signs of sinking, she was re-boarded and salvage attempts were made. On June 6 submarine I-58 found Yorktown, putting two torpedoes in her and one in destroyer Hammann, which sank immediately. Yorktown was abandoned again, quietly sinking early the following morning. (DBoyer 2007)
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