Each of the two Shokaku-class carriers is credited here with 72 aircraft plus 12 spares. The stated operational mix is 27 D3A dive bombers, 27 B5N torpedo bombers and 18 A6M fighters. That divides the 72 aircraft between two attack roles and fighter support. The aircraft totals give concrete scale to the preceding argument about the contribution of Shokaku and Zuikaku. They describe the air-group figures used in the lecture, without establishing that every aircraft flew in one attacking wave.
Notable Point · 37:07-37:36
Shokaku-class air groups and strike composition
The stated Shokaku-class air group combines 72 operational aircraft with 12 spares across bombing, torpedo and fighter roles.