British Pacific Fleet anti-aircraft fire was less disciplined than the practices developed in the Mediterranean. When seven Japanese bombers penetrated the fighter screen, the barrage destroyed every attacker, but shells from either Indomitable or King George V struck Illustrious. Twelve sailors were killed and twenty-one wounded, forcing repairs in Sydney. Dense defensive fire could protect a formation from aircraft while still inflicting serious losses when ships did not coordinate it closely enough.
Notable Point · 1:36:11-1:37:20
Friendly fire exposed an air-defence discipline gap
Undisciplined fleet anti-aircraft fire killed twelve men aboard Illustrious even though the attacking Japanese aircraft were destroyed.