Lexington's survival remains uncertain. Her larger turning radius made a torpedo attack from several directions especially dangerous: avoiding one approach increased her exposure to another. A nearby Alaska would add 5-inch, 40 mm, and 20 mm anti-aircraft fire and force the attackers to account for two major targets. Historically, Lexington took two bomb hits and two torpedo hits, with the torpedoes striking the port aviation-gasoline storage and the port water main. Diverting even one hit could change the damage sequence. Alaska's torpedo-defence layout is judged better than Lexington's, although repeated hits or a hit in a vulnerable location could still cause severe damage. Taking one torpedo on the escort would not guarantee that gasoline vapours stopped spreading aboard the carrier. The large cruiser provides a second target intended to absorb attention and punishment, leaving the outcome dependent on the attacks and damage sustained.
Chapter · 1:10:15-1:14:34
A Coral Sea escort counterfactual
At Coral Sea, a large cruiser beside Lexington could thicken the anti-aircraft screen, alter the torpedo attack geometry, and perhaps reduce the damage that led to the carrier's loss.