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Lead ship of the Yorktown classof purpose-built US Navy aircraft carriers, threebattle stars, lost in the Battle of Midway in June 1942. YORKTOWN (CV-5) was laid down in 1934, launched in1936 and commission ed in 1937. Following its shakedown cruise in 1938, YORKTOWN engaged in exercises simulating attacks on the US East Coast. Joining the Pacific Fleet in1939, tactical exercises continued in 1940, centered on the defence of the Hawaiian island s in the North Pacific. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor inDecember 1941, YORKTOWN became the flagship of aircraft carrier Task Force 17,targeting Imperial Japanese Navy garrison s in the Marshalland Gilbert Island s in February 1942, and engaging IJN shipping in the Coral Sea in May 1942. Returning to Pearl Harbor with severe bombdamage that would take 3 months to repair, YORKTOWNwas back at sea after only 3 days, to mount an attack on the Japanese Navy in the Battle of Midway in June 1942.YORKTOWN suffered direct hits from Japanesetorpedo aircraft but did not sink. Attempts at salvage were interrupted when afinal assault by IJN submarine caused YORKTOWNto eventually capsize and sink on June 7th 1942.
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