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Out of curiosity, why would only 3 Corsairs be carried? I would have thought it would have been an even number of Corsairs.
I don't remember but I agree with syscom that probably they were a night fighter detachment.
Juha
Hello MacArther
checked, yes the Corsairs were F4U-2(N) Corsairs from VF(N)-101, there should have been 4 of them but probably one was lost before the beginning of Marianas Turkey Shoot.
Juha
I am going to say that the Long Lance torpedo multiplied the firepower of the Japanese cruisers to the point that I think they were superior to the American cruisers, both light and heavy.
Any comparison of weight of firepower should include both ship's spread of torpedoes, as demonstrated in several battles off of Guadalcanal.
I read Stanley Johnsons book "Queen of the Flat-tops" when I was a boy. He was onboard during the last cruise of the Lexington. I recall something about a near miss from a Japanese bomb that would have taken out the bridge were it not for those 8" turrets being gone!Generally speaking, the USN in WW2 had ships with more endurance ( longer range) and with more reliable machinery than any other navy. The Pacific Fleet had a chronic shortage of air craft in the early going. Even by Midway, there were not enough fighters to satisfy the needs. That is the reason why you see the low numbers of aircraft embarked on the carriers.
Just rereading Lundstrom, "The First Team" and noticed something I never noticed before. After the engagements near Rabaul ( where O Hare did his stuff) and Lae, Salamaua, the Lexington went into dry dock to have the 8-8 inch guns removed and more A/A installed. I never realised that the Lex or Saratoga saw combat with those guns. I think that Saratoga had those guns removed during the refit just prior to December 7. Removal of those guns must have made a huge difference in top weight and created a lot of space below decks. Installation of 4-twin 5 inch-38s would certainly not make up the difference and fewer personnel would be required also.