Q 01/05

Which October 1944 engagement was the largest naval battle of World War II?

A) Philippine Sea

B) Midway

C) Leyte Gulf

D) Coral Sea

Answer · why

C) Leyte Gulf

It was also the first battle in which Japanese aircraft flew organised kamikaze attacks.

Q 02/05

Which May 1942 battle was the first in which the opposing fleets never sighted or fired on one another?

A) Coral Sea

B) Midway

C) Java Sea

D) Savo Island

Answer · why

A) Coral Sea

It was also the first battle between aircraft carriers, and it stopped the Japanese seaborne push toward Port Moresby.

Q 03/05

How many Japanese fleet carriers were sunk at the Battle of Midway in June 1942?

A) 3

B) 5

C) 6

D) 4

Answer · why

D) 4

Akagi, Kaga, Sōryū and Hiryū all went down, along with many irreplaceable veteran pilots.

Q 04/05

How did US codebreakers confirm that the Japanese target 'AF' was Midway?

A) A false report of a carrier at Pearl Harbor

B) A fake message that the atoll's water plant had failed

C) A bogus weather bulletin from Hawaii

D) A staged distress call from a submarine

Answer · why

B) A fake message that the atoll's water plant had failed

Within 24 hours a Japanese signal reported that 'AF' was short of water, and Nimitz set his ambush.

Q 05/05

Which US carrier was lost at Midway, only weeks after being patched up in three days at Pearl Harbor?

A) USS Enterprise

B) USS Yorktown

C) USS Hornet

D) USS Saratoga

Answer · why

B) USS Yorktown

Estimates said she needed months in dock after the May carrier battle; instead she sortied in time to help sink four Japanese carriers.