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Short Rounds
Damage to U.S. Aircraft Carriers in the Pacific War
During the Pacific War, the backbone of American fast
carrier task forces consisted of 21 aircraft carriers, classified as
"CV", and nine light carriers, classified as "CVL."
Of these, four of the CV's were lost to enemy action, Lexington (CV-2), Yorktown (CV-5), Wasp (CV-7), and Hornet (CV-8),
all in 1942, as was one CVL, Princeton (CVL-23),
in 1944. On 37 other occasions during
the war, a CV or a CVL was struck by enemy bombs, torpedoes, or suicide planes
but did not sink. A look at the
consequences of the enemy hits on the ships that did not sink reveals differing
patterns of damage.
| Results of Damage to Aircraft Carriers |
Agent | Hits requiring
repair & overhaul |
Weeksin yard per hit* | |
Weeks out of
operation per hit |
|
Submarine
Torpedo
|
100 %
|
10
| ** |
12.4
|
|
Aerial
Torpedo
|
100 %
|
10
| ** |
17.5
|
|
Aerial
Bomb
|
40 %
|
0.3
| |
0.7
|
|
Kamikaze
|
70 %
|
1.8
| |
4.3
|
Note: Includes only the 37 instances on which an aircraft carrier (CV) or light carrier (CVL) was damaged by enemy action but did not sink.
*Time is that for repair of battle damage only, though in cases marked
** the figure is an estimate, because information available on the cases involved is insufficient to distinguish between time for repair of battle damage and time consumed by overhaul, since ships were often subject to modifications, upgrading of equipment, and routine maintenance while in a yard repairing battle damage. |
Cromwell the Courteous
In May of 1643, during the English Civil War, Colonel Sir
William Smyth was commanding a Royalist garrison holding Hillesdon House, in
Buckinghamshire, when Oliver Cromwell marched up with a strong contingent of
Parliamentary troops.
Given that Sir William's garrison was small, he made only a perfunctory
resistance, and on the 10th capitulated. Under the terms of the surrender, Sir William
and his officers were permitted to depart with their baggage, personal arms,
and other property.
But shortly after they had left the grounds of Hillesdon
House, one of
Cromwell's men snatched Sir William's hat and ran off with it.
Sir
William promptly protested to Cromwell about the fellow's insolence and the breach
of the surrender terms.
"Sir,"
replied Cromwell, who had a reputation for ferocity, "If you can point out
the man, or I can discover him, I promise you he shall not go unpunished. In the mean time, be pleased to accept of this
hat instead of your own," and, removing his hat from his head, presented
it to the surprised colonel.
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