Question

Why were aircraft carriers important to winning the war in the Pacific?

Answer 1

D. They had the ability to launch aircraft from their decks. Airplanes played a huge role in all the wars. And a boat that can carry them and launch them was a miracle back then.

Answer 2

Your average Battleship in 1941- lets say the US South Dakota designed just before the war and in service just before Pearl Harbor.

They could throw 9, 16 inch shells weighing a combined 24,300 pounds, a distance of 18 nautical miles twice a minute, certainly impressive! With a top speed of 27 knots and a range at cruise of 15k nautical miles.

But then let us look at the Yorktown Class Aircraft Carrier also built in the years before the war. She could carry 90ish planes broken down into 2 dozen fighters which could escort strike groups and protect friendly ships.

20ish Torpedo bombers which could drop 2,000 pound aerial torpedoes, any one of which could sink or cripple a ship.

And 40 or so Dive Bombers which could carry a 1,000 pound bomb. So a full strike would have almost 80,000lbs of ordnance.

And could strike out to about 400 miles from the ship!

So starting at that distance a plane could launch, hit a BB cruising towards the CV at 20 knots, return to the ship, rearm, and hit the ship again before the BB even had the chance to see the CV.

So it was about utility, range of hitting power, and speed of strike. The Air Groups just had a much longer reach then the ships, and could do damage at range

hope this helps