View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8U3rkTXAlM&ab_channel=MilitaryHistoryVisualized
The Kido Butai or 1st Air Fleet was a legendary carrier centered fleet which included up to 6 aircraft carriers during its heyday. It was fielded in the Pacific against the United States in WW2. It typically consisted of 6 carriers and escort ships and a number of light carriers as well
It was engaged in many of the most important battles of the early Pacific war including: the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor (2335 dead Americans), the bombing of Darwin (236 various Whites dead), the Indian Ocean Raids (825 British rats dead), the Battle of the Coral Sea (653 Americans dead), and the Battle of Midway.
It was in the Battle of Midway that the Kido Butai met their fate. After skillfully dodging upwards of 5 air attacks from both Midway and from the American carriers in the region., a lucky break was made by the retarded American pilots when they accidentally lined up two air raids to occur at the same time. This resulted in the destruction of 3 of the 4 carriers operating at Midway (2 others had been damaged). The final carrier, the Hiryu, bravely attempted to pursue the enemy carriers at a 1 to 3 disadvantage but was destroyed but not before eliminating another enemy carrier.
The badly damaged carriers were labeled unsalvageable by the Japanese Navy and scuttled in the ocean surrounding Midway. Admiral Nagumo, the leader of the Kido Butai valiantly and bravely chose to stay aboard the Hiryu before it was scuttled and died in the scuttling.
This legendary and brave Carrier fleet was innovative in naval warfare and was the reason for Japan's success in the early parts of the Pacific Front
Pictures:
American carrier the Lexington getting rekt by Kido Butai sorties (Battle of the Coral Sea)
Famous picture of the Arizona being fucking nuked from orbit by a sortie from the Kido Butai (Pearl Harbor):
Nagumo, the leader of the Kido Butai:
The Hiryu is badly damaged at the Battle of Midway:
