pbThis illustrated and detailed volume covers the capabilities and actions of two of the most compelling naval forces in history--the Imperial Japanese Navy's carriers and their incomparably trained aviators, and the US ships which defended against them. bppThe striking power of the Imperial Japanese Navy's carrier-based attack aircraft was established at Pearl Harbor, and the IJN's carrier-based torpedo- and dive-bombers showed their prowess again at the Battle of Coral Sea when they sank the US Navy carrier USS iLexington iand damaged the carrier USS iYorktowni. Even at the disastrous Battle of Midway, the relatively small number of IJNAF attack- and torpedo-bombers that were launched against the US fleet proved that they remained a potent force by heavily damaging iYorktown iagain, which allowed an IJN submarine to sink the carrier. At Guadalcanal, IJNAF carrier-based aircraft sank the carrier USS iHornet iand badly damaged USS iEnterprise itwice. ppHowever, throughout 1942, US Navy