What was the first US Navy ship sunk during ww2?
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USS Reuben James
The first USS Reuben James (DD-245), a four-stack Clemson-class destroyer, was the first US Navy ship sunk by hostile action in the European Theatre in World War II.
1,554 ships
According to the War Shipping Administration, the U.S. Merchant Marine suffered the highest rate of casualties of any service in World War II. Officially, a total of 1,554 ships were sunk due to war conditions, including 733 ships of over 1,000 gross tons.
How did the Japanese Navy gain naval superiority in the Pacific?
The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) sought naval superiority in the Pacific by sinking the main American battle fleet at Pearl Harbor, which was tactically centered around its battleships.
Why did the US Navy focus on aircraft carriers in WWII?
The United States Navy (like the IJN) had followed Alfred Thayer Mahan ‘s emphasis on concentrated groups of battleships as the main offensive naval weapons. The loss of the battleships at Pearl Harbor forced Admiral Ernest J. King, the head of the Navy, to place a primary emphasis on the small number of aircraft carriers.
How did the Japanese attack the USS Arizona?
Japanese torpedo bombers flew just 50 feet above the water as they fired at the U.S. ships in the harbor, while other planes strafed the decks with bullets and dropped bombs. The U.S.S. Arizona, which was moored next to a repair ship when the attack began, was struck by several Japanese bombs and exploded in flames as it sank.
What was the result of the Pearl Harbor attack?
The attack on Pearl Harbor was followed the next day by Japanese air attacks on U.S. bases in the Philippines, Guam and Wake Island. Despite inflicting heavy casualties, the Japanese attackers failed to achieve their objective of disabling the U.S. fleet.