Q&A · 51:57-52:49

American night carrier doctrine in 1942

Royal Navy-style night carrier doctrine could transform Coral Sea and perhaps prevent the historical path to Midway, provided the United States also possessed the radar and training to implement it.

Question

What if the United States Navy began the Second World War with Royal Navy-style night carrier doctrine?

Short answer

Coral Sea could become a night battle with radically different losses, potentially changing or eliminating the historical Battle of Midway, but only if radar and training supported the doctrine.

Notes

Coral Sea shows why doctrine depends on enabling infrastructure. Knowledge of night fighting or radar is insufficient without trained personnel, suitable equipment, and an organization able to make the practice routine. A United States Navy with British-style night carrier doctrine could turn the May 1942 encounter into a night action. Different carrier losses there could alter the forces available afterward. Midway might then occur in a form that bears little resemblance to the historical battle, or fail to occur at all.