Hornet suffered bomb hits, aircraft crashes, and torpedo damage during the Japanese attack at Santa Cruz. A later bomb struck close to an earlier impact, penetrating an area that the first explosion had already weakened. Burning aircraft spread fuel around the funnel and struck the carrier's side near aviation-fuel storage, while two torpedoes stopped the engines. Northampton began towing Hornet at about five knots as repair crews worked to restore power. A renewed torpedo hit destroyed repairs to the electrical system and produced a 14-degree list. News of approaching Japanese surface forces ended the recovery attempt, and Captain Mason checked for remaining crew before leaving the ship. American destroyers failed to sink Hornet with nine torpedoes and roughly 400 shells, with most of the torpedoes failing to explode. Japanese destroyers eventually sank the carrier with four Long Lance torpedoes, after a prolonged demonstration of the hull's remaining buoyancy.
Chapter · 3:03:38-3:12:06
Hornet and cumulative damage at Santa Cruz
Hornet's loss at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands follows a carrier through aircraft and bomb impacts, loss of propulsion, towing, renewed attack, and difficult scuttling.