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

Leyte Gulf, fought 23–26 October 1944 in the waters around the Philippines, was the largest naval battle of the war by ships and men engaged, and it b...

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

Coral Sea, fought 4–8 May 1942, was the first carrier-versus-carrier battle; every blow was struck by aircraft, and the Japanese seaborne push toward ...

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

The ruse was 'A fake message that the atoll's water plant had failed', broadcast so Japanese listeners would pick it up; soon a Japanese signal report...

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

USS Yorktown, damaged in the May carrier battle, was patched in about 72 hours at Pearl Harbor and reached Midway in time; crippled by Hiryū's aircraf...