Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 28:49-30:38

Could better damage control have saved Taiho?

Investigating the damage rather than simply plating over the lift might have helped Taiho, but survival still required an exceptionally favorable sequence of outcomes.

Aircraft CarriersDamage ControlJapanese NavyTaiho
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Question

Could Taiho have been saved if her damage-control teams investigated the damage instead of plating over the elevator?

Short answer

Potentially, but only with several highly favorable damage-control outcomes; the chance remained very small.

Notes

Investigating Taiho's damage before plating over the elevator offers a possible divergence in the ship's loss. Survival would still require a succession of exceptionally favourable damage-control outcomes. The dice analogy stresses how unlikely it would be for every necessary choice and outcome to go well. Saving the ship remains theoretically possible, with an extremely small chance of success.