Hamartia Antidote
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http://warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-ne...craft-carriers-kaga-and-akagi-discovered.html
A sonar image of the Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Akagi on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. The late Paul G. Allen's deep sea research vessel RV Petrel has recently located the remains of the ship and another IJN carrier named Kaga. Both vessels were sunk during the Battle of Midway in early June, 1942 - and both ships had also been involved in mounting the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December, 1941. (photo credit - Paul G. Allen)
As many are probably aware by now, the crew aboard the late Paul G. Allen’s deep-sea research vessel, RV Petrel, has made some remarkable discoveries on the ocean floor in the South Pacific recently. Over the weekend, they formally announced that they have found the Kaga and Akagi, two Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) aircraft carriers sunk during the Battle of Midway in early June, 1942.
Petrel was surveying the vast stretches of ocean floor under which the Battle of Midway took place. Seven ships (two American and five Japanese) went down during this pivotal moment in WWII, when the tide of war changed from IJN supremacy to their ultimate annihilation. While Petrel has located the Akagi and Kaga, two other IJN carriers (Sōryū and Hiryū) and the cruiser Mikuma remain to be found. Of the American vessels, only the destroyer U.S.S. Hammann is still missing, as Dr. Robert Ballard and his crew discovered the carrier U.S.S. Yorktown back in 1998.
While these discoveries are important, they were rendered partially incomplete because of damage suffered by the ship’s remotely operated vehicle during the recovery from its dive to examine the Kaga. Unfortunately the repairs are beyond what the team aboard Petrel is able to render, so Petrel has had to suspend their search for the present time. This accident also precluded any videography/photography of the Akagi. The search for sunken history from the Battle of Midway is certainly not over though, and given Petrel’s exceptional track record thus far, it seems likely that their team will make additional significant discoveries once they can return to the area. Petrel will be back in action again next year, and already has some plans which will surely prove fascinating!
The following press releases from Vulcan Inc., the late Paul G. Allen’s firm overseeing the work, will paint a clearer picture of their efforts to locate Kaga and Akagi – two of the four carriers which took part in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941…
R/V Petrel Discovers Sunken Japanese Fleet Carrier Kaga while Surveying Historic WWII Battle of Midway Site
Seattle, WA, Oct. 18, 2019 – During extensive underwater surveying of the Battle of Midway site, the Research Vessel (R/V) Petrel, owned and operated by Vulcan Inc., discovered long lost wreckage from the battle. On October 16, R/V Petrel’s crew was able to identify the ship remains as those of the Japanese fleet aircraft carrier IJN Kaga. This is the first sunken Japanese aircraft carrier to ever be discovered. The 1942 Battle of Midway was a decisive naval battle during World War II that occurred six months after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.
The crew aboard R/V Petrel spent several weeks surveying the massive area, documenting more than 500 square nautical miles, all within the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. The wreckage of Kaga was found 5,400 meters (more than 17,000 feet) below the surface.
“This project is significantly different from previous missions as it required a level of investigation, analysis and survey of a carrier-based engagement initially separated by over 150 nautical miles,” said Robert Kraft, director of subsea operations for Vulcan Inc. “It was a major carrier-to-carrier battle that left its eerie evidence strewn for a total area covering thousands of square nautical miles across the ocean floor. With each piece of debris and each ship we discover and identify, our intent is to honor history and those who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice for their countries.”
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Imperial Japanese Navy hoped another defeat would destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto planned to invade Midway, luring American aircraft carriers into an ambush. Midway was selected for its strategic position in the Central Pacific, providing a forward operating base for Japan if they succeeded.
Thanks, in part, to major advances in code breaking, U.S. cryptographers were able to determine the date and location of the planned attack, allowing the forewarned U.S. Navy to prepare its own ambush.
Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Chester W. Nimitz placed U.S. carriers in position to surprise the Japanese fleet as they approached Midway Island. From June 4 – 7, 1942, the U.S. Navy battled an attacking Japanese Navy fleet near Midway, inflicting devastating damage on the Japanese fleet and ultimately winning the battle.
“The Battle of Midway was an American intelligence breakthrough,” said Frank Thompson, curator from the Naval History and Heritage Command. “The team that deciphered the Japanese fleet codes enabled Pacific Fleet commander Nimitz to understand Japanese intentions and plan accordingly. This was a true turning point in the war for the U.S. Navy.”
Four Japanese and three American aircraft carriers participated in the battle. The four Japanese fleet carriers — Kaga, Akagi, Sōryū and Hiryū, part of the six-carrier force that had attacked Pearl Harbor six months earlier — were all sunk, as was the heavy Japanese cruiser Mikuma. The U.S. lost carrier Yorktown and destroyer Hammann. American losses totaled at 145 aircraft and more than three hundred seamen.
Rear Adm. Brian P Fort, commander, Naval Forces Japan, said in a statement, “On the occasion of the discovery of the Kaga, we send our thoughts and prayers to our trusted and valued friends in Japan. The terrible price of war in the Pacific was felt by all our navies. From that painful lesson, we have become the closest of allies and friends committed to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
A sonar image of the Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Akagi on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. The late Paul G. Allen's deep sea research vessel RV Petrel has recently located the remains of the ship and another IJN carrier named Kaga. Both vessels were sunk during the Battle of Midway in early June, 1942 - and both ships had also been involved in mounting the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December, 1941. (photo credit - Paul G. Allen)
As many are probably aware by now, the crew aboard the late Paul G. Allen’s deep-sea research vessel, RV Petrel, has made some remarkable discoveries on the ocean floor in the South Pacific recently. Over the weekend, they formally announced that they have found the Kaga and Akagi, two Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) aircraft carriers sunk during the Battle of Midway in early June, 1942.
Petrel was surveying the vast stretches of ocean floor under which the Battle of Midway took place. Seven ships (two American and five Japanese) went down during this pivotal moment in WWII, when the tide of war changed from IJN supremacy to their ultimate annihilation. While Petrel has located the Akagi and Kaga, two other IJN carriers (Sōryū and Hiryū) and the cruiser Mikuma remain to be found. Of the American vessels, only the destroyer U.S.S. Hammann is still missing, as Dr. Robert Ballard and his crew discovered the carrier U.S.S. Yorktown back in 1998.
While these discoveries are important, they were rendered partially incomplete because of damage suffered by the ship’s remotely operated vehicle during the recovery from its dive to examine the Kaga. Unfortunately the repairs are beyond what the team aboard Petrel is able to render, so Petrel has had to suspend their search for the present time. This accident also precluded any videography/photography of the Akagi. The search for sunken history from the Battle of Midway is certainly not over though, and given Petrel’s exceptional track record thus far, it seems likely that their team will make additional significant discoveries once they can return to the area. Petrel will be back in action again next year, and already has some plans which will surely prove fascinating!
The following press releases from Vulcan Inc., the late Paul G. Allen’s firm overseeing the work, will paint a clearer picture of their efforts to locate Kaga and Akagi – two of the four carriers which took part in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941…
R/V Petrel Discovers Sunken Japanese Fleet Carrier Kaga while Surveying Historic WWII Battle of Midway Site
Seattle, WA, Oct. 18, 2019 – During extensive underwater surveying of the Battle of Midway site, the Research Vessel (R/V) Petrel, owned and operated by Vulcan Inc., discovered long lost wreckage from the battle. On October 16, R/V Petrel’s crew was able to identify the ship remains as those of the Japanese fleet aircraft carrier IJN Kaga. This is the first sunken Japanese aircraft carrier to ever be discovered. The 1942 Battle of Midway was a decisive naval battle during World War II that occurred six months after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.
The crew aboard R/V Petrel spent several weeks surveying the massive area, documenting more than 500 square nautical miles, all within the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. The wreckage of Kaga was found 5,400 meters (more than 17,000 feet) below the surface.
“This project is significantly different from previous missions as it required a level of investigation, analysis and survey of a carrier-based engagement initially separated by over 150 nautical miles,” said Robert Kraft, director of subsea operations for Vulcan Inc. “It was a major carrier-to-carrier battle that left its eerie evidence strewn for a total area covering thousands of square nautical miles across the ocean floor. With each piece of debris and each ship we discover and identify, our intent is to honor history and those who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice for their countries.”
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Imperial Japanese Navy hoped another defeat would destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto planned to invade Midway, luring American aircraft carriers into an ambush. Midway was selected for its strategic position in the Central Pacific, providing a forward operating base for Japan if they succeeded.
Thanks, in part, to major advances in code breaking, U.S. cryptographers were able to determine the date and location of the planned attack, allowing the forewarned U.S. Navy to prepare its own ambush.
Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Chester W. Nimitz placed U.S. carriers in position to surprise the Japanese fleet as they approached Midway Island. From June 4 – 7, 1942, the U.S. Navy battled an attacking Japanese Navy fleet near Midway, inflicting devastating damage on the Japanese fleet and ultimately winning the battle.
“The Battle of Midway was an American intelligence breakthrough,” said Frank Thompson, curator from the Naval History and Heritage Command. “The team that deciphered the Japanese fleet codes enabled Pacific Fleet commander Nimitz to understand Japanese intentions and plan accordingly. This was a true turning point in the war for the U.S. Navy.”
Four Japanese and three American aircraft carriers participated in the battle. The four Japanese fleet carriers — Kaga, Akagi, Sōryū and Hiryū, part of the six-carrier force that had attacked Pearl Harbor six months earlier — were all sunk, as was the heavy Japanese cruiser Mikuma. The U.S. lost carrier Yorktown and destroyer Hammann. American losses totaled at 145 aircraft and more than three hundred seamen.
Rear Adm. Brian P Fort, commander, Naval Forces Japan, said in a statement, “On the occasion of the discovery of the Kaga, we send our thoughts and prayers to our trusted and valued friends in Japan. The terrible price of war in the Pacific was felt by all our navies. From that painful lesson, we have become the closest of allies and friends committed to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
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