Q&A ยท 1:20:20-1:22:57

How armored carriers absorbed kamikaze attacks

Deck armor, the hangar-box structure, fire curtains, and protected fuel systems limited damage from many kamikaze impacts.

Question

How well did Royal Navy carriers withstand kamikaze attacks off Okinawa?

Short answer

Their armored hangars, flight decks, fire separation, and mature fuel-safety systems usually contained damage effectively.

Notes

British flight-deck armor could cause an aircraft to break up or bounce unless it struck at a particularly damaging angle. Protection extended around the hangar, while fire curtains limited fire spread. A fuel-safety system developed from a captured German design gave the carriers another layer of protection. The American hangar-deck strength concept followed a different logic, allowing flight-deck explosions to vent above the protected hull.