USS Enterprise VS. IJN Shōkaku

In this video, we dive into one of the most fascinating comparisons of World War II naval warfare: the USS Enterprise and the IJN Shokaku. These two formidable aircraft carriers represented the pinnacle of naval power for their respective nations, the United States and Japan. Both carriers played pivotal roles in the Pacific Theater, but how did they truly stack up against each other in terms of design, firepower, air capabilities, and combat effectiveness?

🗓️ Topics Discussed
The Grey Ghost of WW2 - USS Enterprise
How a Lone US Sub Destroyed Japan's Most Important Ship in WW2

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Compilation Credit:
Simple History Creator: Daniel Turner (B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London)
Thumbnails: Daniel Turner
Video Editor: James Dowse
Senior Production Manager: Umar Ijaz
Simple History Channel Manager: James Dowse

[Simplehistory]

Which legendary aircraft carrier do YOU think was more impactful in WWII – the USS Enterprise or the IJN Shōkaku?

[blurrcs]

It's a real shame that USS Enterprise was scrapped, rather than being preserved as a museum ship. She absolutely deserved to be saved, not only due to her being one of the most decorated ships in history, but also being the only one of the 3 Yorktown class carriers to survive the war. At least other carriers have carried on this name to preserve her legacy.

[memadmax]

If ANY ship deserved to be preserved as a MUSEUM...

It was this USS Enterprise...

[Zoten]

"Let us make sure history never forgets the name, Enterprise."

[xGoodOldSmurfehx]

The fact that they are building a Gerald R. Ford class Enterprise is both scary and badass. Scary because everytime an Enterprise comes around there is a major conflict, badass because every Enterprise is an iconic war-hero.

[knghtcmdr]

Enterprise deserves a Sabaton hype song

[sankyu]

Shokaku and zuikaku aka the crane sister were pretty underrated in history, the IJN heavily relied both of those ships and most of the decisive battle were led with the shokaku class. Had they been sunk early the us navy wouldve saved 2 cv along with being able to project air power in Guadalcanal much easily

[scottwatson]

I'm proud that my grandfather served aboard the Enterprise in 5 campaigns in the Pacific during WW2.

[keekosaludes]

Anything with USS Enterprise is something i will watch hands down

[juanpablosuarez]

It is incredible that either shokaku or zuikaku wreck are yet to be found but nowone searching for them. So sad, they were beautiful ships design

[DouglaszillaAwesome]

Impressive ships and their histories.

USS Enterprise name has been in 2 previous carriers CV-6 and CVN-65 and will be a 3rd in the future as CVN-80. Interestingly, the metal and steel is passed down from previous carrier to current carrier.
IJN Shokaku's wreck is still in the Philippine Sea and has still not yet been discovered.

[salamanderhonda]

Simple history has got to be the best channel for history

[cardivzuikaku]

Fun fact: Shoukaku class are arguably the fastest carrier of world war II and they have more Horsepower than the Yamato class battleship

[Prosperous.Intuition]

Legendary match up, love yall who animate and voice over these videos ya'll do great, much appreciated.

[chadcasale]

Enterprise vs Japan. She was reported sunk so many times by the Japanese in 1942 that the crew nicknamed the ship the grey ghost

[seanbigay]

The starship seen at the end of Enterprise's video is the Excelsior-class USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-B), commanded by Capt. John Harriman. Right out of spacedock she had to deal with a mystery energy field rampaging through the Solar System. Saving her from this "Nexus" was the last (known) heroic deed of Capt. Harriman's special guest, the legendary Adm. James T. Kirk. 😊

[BP-]

The USS Enterprise (CV 6) probably saved my father and his rear gunner's lives. My father was an SBD pilot on the USS Hornet (CV 8) and flew in combat at the Battle of Santa Cruz. During the battle, his squadron VS-8 was attacking the Japanese carrier Shokaku as the Hornet was being bombed and torpedoed. He hit the Shokaku with a 1000 lb. bomb but unfortunately his squadron was unable to sink it. However, it did put Shokaku out of the war for almost 7 months. During his return to the US fleet, he was attacked by a Zero which severely wounded his rear gunner. He was able to escape but when he sighted the Hornet it was dead in the water, listing, and unable to land planes. Fortunately he was able to find the USS Enterprise but its deck was full of planes. After an initial wave off and with almost empty fuel tanks he finally got the clearance to land. His rear gunner had lost so much blood that as his plane was being pushed aside, an Enterprise plane handler pointed at his SBD and said "Look that plane is bleeding!" His rear gunner spent 6 months in the hospital but survived and lived until 2007. It's so sad that that after the war Admiral Halsey's efforts to raise money to make the Enterprise a museum ship fell short.

[Jarmen_Kelloggs]

Scrapping the Enterprise seems rather disgraceful considering how well she served her country. 😟

[U-]

Big E:Shoukaku!!!
Shoukaku:GRAY GHOST!!!!

[johnlansing]

Her enemy, the Japanese gave her the name of the GRAY GHOST , because they knew that they had sunk her three times .