The Enormous Weapon That Almost Broke the US Navy

Shōkaku's reinforced flight deck vibrates with the thunderous takeoff of her lethal air wing on May 8, 1942, in the Coral Sea. Her advanced Type 21 air-search radar had detected the American force at dawn, giving her the crucial first strike.

Now, waves of aircraft launch from her advanced deck that allows for simultaneous takeoffs and landings, a tactical advantage her crew exploits mercilessly. The roar of over 80 aircraft fills the air.

The swarm of Zeros, Aichi dive bombers, and Nakajima torpedo bombers bears down on USS Lexington as soon as she's sighted on the horizon. As Shōkaku's strike force rushes to their objective, Lexington begins scrambling her aircraft for a swift defense.

But Shokaku's aircraft are already upon her. Anti-aircraft guns fill the air with smoke and shrapnel while fighters from both carriers maneuver in the intense dogfights that follow.

It's a one-on-one aircraft carrier fight, the first of its kind in naval history. Shōkaku seeks the upper hand. The Japanese bombers descend like vengeful spirits.

The first bomb strikes Lexington's port side. Moments later, another blast tears through the American carrier's antiaircraft defenses. Shōkaku's pilots, coordinated by her cutting-edge command and control systems, press their advantage ruthlessly.

Aboard Shōkaku, Captain Takatsugu Jōjima watches with grim satisfaction as reports of successful hits flood in. But the battle is far from over. The outcome of this clash will determine the fate of the entire Pacific campaign. If Shōkaku and her sister ship Zuikaku can cripple the U.S. carrier force, the door to Australia will be wide open, leaving the entire South Pacific vulnerable to Japanese expansion.

As the combat rages on, both sides know that only one carrier can emerge victorious from this unprecedented duel. The future of the war hangs in the balance, with Shōkaku at the very heart of the storm.