Taiho's torpedo and damage control failure

The loss of Taiho turns a seemingly contained torpedo hit into a lesson in carrier survivability. Albacore fired six torpedoes after its fire-control computer failed, and one struck the flagship after a Japanese pilot sacrificed himself against another. Flooding and propulsion initially appeared under control, but the hit ruptured aviation-fuel tanks. Japan's tanker losses and limited refining capacity forced ships and aircraft to use poorer fuel, producing more dangerous vapor and causing wider engine problems. A damage-control officer then ran the ventilation system at full power, spreading fumes throughout the ship until electrical sparks ignited them. Logistics, fuel quality, working-up, and shipboard procedure defeated the protection built into a modern armored carrier.