The Battle of Santa Cruz: How the US Navy Beat the Odds | Battle 360 | History 

I miss shows like this. Actual history on the History Channel.

My Great-Grandfather fought in this Battle on the USS South Dakota. He was shot and survived. He passed over a Year ago at 98.

This is History channel at it's best... These kinds of documentary series needs to come back to being the norm.

The most remarkable part of this story is Enterprise, severely damaged and recovering as many aircraft as she could stuff on her decks from her air wings as well as aircraft from the sinking USS Hornet. The last aircraft trapped on board The Big E that day caught wire #1 and was chocked _in place_ . There was no more room to move it away.

it's a shame the Enterprise wasn't preserved

I have always wanted to learn about WWII since my dad told me how he got his wounds at New Guinea. I miss you dad and I'm proud and honored to be your son....Hoo-Rhah!!!!

Its one incredible story how the carrier Enterprise survived all those vicious attacks.

My own uncle John Campbell was a pilot aboard the Hornet. He was shot down at the battle of Midway as part of Torpedo Squadron 8 while attacking the Japanese fleet. He did not survive but the heroic action of that Squadron turned the tide of the battle and led to the American victory!

" GOD protects fools, little kids and ships named ENTERPRISE! " Captain JAMES T. KIRK

I love how the sky is blue when they shows uss enterprise, but when gray sky when they show japanese carriers.

Enterprise, the original Tokyo drift

Tactically the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands was a Japanese victory, hands down. After Santa Cruz there were no American Aircraft Carriers left in the Pacific. Hornet was sunk, we had lost the Wasp to Japanese torpedoes from 1-19, Yorktown was lost at Midway and the Lexington at Coral Sea. Saratoga had been torpedoed (again) and was under repair; Enterprise was damaged and out of action. The only carriers left in the Pacific were Japanese. But the Japanese air groups had been mauled and the last of the pre Pearl Harbor veterans had been shot down. The Americans had 6 Essex class Fleet Carriers nearing completion and one going through work ups. The Japanese had precisely 1 Fleet Carrier under construction: the Taiho. She would sunk during her first battle. And during the battle the 164th regimental combat team of the US Army had landed on Guadalcanal with a plethora of supplies. That would be enough to halt the attack of the Japanese 2nd (Sendai) Division two weeks later. Guadalcanal would be held and Henderson Airfield would continue to operate. Strategically, Sant Cruz was a costly but worthwhile American Victory.

"A battleship"? Nah. That was the USS North Carolina, aka Showboat. The most decorated battleship in WW2. Enterprises guardian angel.

The most decorated ship in the navy the Grey Ghost kept bouncing back! This time evading 9 torpedoes while sustaining heavy damage! What a crew!

Its so amaizing watching History. I learn soo much things. Thanks History.

I believe American ships had better fire fighting tech than Japan which allowed them to withstand more hits than Japanese ships

Well USS Enterprise is the first carrier to do torpedobeats in one day👏👏👏 truly it's the Mighty E 🤘🤘

I'm Andy not Annmarie and I approve of this post! The loss of the Hornet at the battle of Santa Cruz rests with Admiral Pye he was in charge of the theater at the time. Pye was old-school battleship Navy, what they called black shoe admiral, as opposed to the newer aviation branch of the Navy, called brown shoe admiral! Instead of protecting his carriers, Pye pulled out his battleships and left the carriers vulnerable to attack! He was relieved of command shortly thereafter!

Enterprise when she’s the last one left: Naval Command: “You’re the last one standing! The squads counting on you! Finish it!

Hope more episode like this not alien conspiracy.

When you see the history channel on tv it’s nothing but a commercial go round.

Love how a naval officer that wasn’t alive during WW2 is talking as if he was part of the battle

"Enterprise versus Japan" As a fan of Star trek, I love this indeed

Enterprise should live forever. Its really a big shame that they scrapped her

It’s amazing that Enterprise serves all of those attecs

Thanks for this.. salute and respect from NZ 👍🇳🇿

My Uncle skippered the USS Morris in this battle. The Morris came in to close to fight the raging fires after all power was lost on the Hornet. The crew of the Morris shot down 6 Japanese aircraft and ended up rescued over 500 men off of the stricken Hornet. 3 men on the Morris became recipients of the Navy Cross for actions on that day, including my Uncle.

No wonder the creators of Star Trek decide to name their space battleship as USS Enterprise to honor the original WWII USS Enterprise. WWII USS Enterprise took a huge beating but still standing. Whereas Star Trek's USS Enterprise also took a huge beating yet still standing.

Thank you America we would have been speaking Japanese down here in the Pacific if it wasn't for you

I love this show

thanks 🙏🏽 fr sharing history

More shows like this!!!

Yes, Japan can claim victory. Despite airmen losses, this was a clear one.

"You are the last one, complete the mission"

My dad was a cook on the Big E in 1967-69

A time where the japanese almost ruled the seas of asia and can face head to head with the American navy fleet now that's awesome

My grandfather was on USS Smith.

Turn defeat into a victory.

To hold Henderson Field the Marines needed the Navy. You mean like when the stranded them on Guadalcanal and tucked their tail and ran?

*Eurobeat plays in the distance*

Warriors 🇺🇸

Here comes HMS Victorious

What a time in history.

Tom hanks should make a movie about the big e

What do you mean, "beat the odds?" We lost! Yes, the Japanese lost most of their irreplaceable aviators, but that doesn't change the fact that when the sun went down the Japanese had the only operational carrier force in the Pacific and the US Navy was in retreat. It threw a wrench into their plans, but Task Force 61 did not stop them and lost _Hornet_ for its trouble. It was the Gun Club, Admirals Scott, Callahan, and Lee, that saved Henderson Field after two vicious, point blank range nighttime surface actions in Ironbottom Sound. That doesn't mean Santa Cruz wasn't important, it absolutely was, but without the surface actions _Hiei_ and _Kirishima_ would have blasted Henderson Field into rubble and the Japanese would have landed their reinforcements and heavy equipment just like they'd planned to do.

The 'Grey Ghost.' Long live the name 'Enterprise.'

Was hoping for a little more background; the events that precipitated this battle, that sort of thing.

I hope her Captain got a promotion after those swift moves.

Love history channel

That is why USN was the best and equal force against the Japanese in thr Pacific not the British

The odds were not in our favor that day after the USS Fleet pulled out of Santa Cruz two of our carriers were sunk and two were damaged. Saratoga and Wasp broke off from the Enterprise and Hornet and headed back to base to refuel but the Wasp was sunk by a Japanese sub Saratoga which was bigger was torpedoed also and survived with minor damage The Big E was hit by 2 bombs and was crippled but she made it out once the rudder was repaired. Hornet was not so lucky two Kamakazis hit her and four torpedoes plus four Japanese scuttling charges fixed to torpedoes sank her. after the battle The Pacific Fleet was out of action. Hornet and Wasp are gone Saratoga is damaged beyond repairs and Big E is out of action and our grunts on Guadalcanal are holding on by tooth and toenail. Once Big E returned to the fight Japan surrendered Solomon but kept Bougainville which got annexed by New Guinea which the Japanese control.

3:58 WOW!

Won by the GRACE OF GOD, nothing less.

Why is there no mention of USS Hornet during the action, other than it being "lost"? It wasn't lost, it was damaged and withdrew.

> Japanese plane shows up > US ships replaces oxygen in the skies with bullets

Enterprise has like 500 totems of undying

Enterprise: "Trinity...help!"

USS Enterprise has a brilliant captain.

2:14 Rip Dive bomber (I wonder if they ever fished out that plane it looked Fine to me)

Where can i find the soundtrack for Battle 360?

Beat the odd? We lost!

My real name starts with E and my dad calls me big E!

Bloody Santa Cruz

Akagi and Kaga: Nobody can stop us! Ruling over the world is ours! Enterprise: Am I joke to you two? Revolution is only started. Owari da! Akagi and Kaga: Nooooooooo!!! * explodes in death flag *

Poor plane it fell out from Enterprise 😅

May I ask the link for the full vid?

Both Japanese and Americans fought well, Nagumo learned from his mistakes at midway

I think they need make a movie based off the Enterprise

Me and billie had jus came back to base wen we saw them attacking

Why is the Battle of Midway and the first phase of the Guadalcanal not uploaded?

Don't run from a fight? Reagan, Lebanon

Love seeing how we outsmarted and out-fought the Japanese

this battle is as important as the battle of Midway

If a "near miss" tears a 50 foot hole in the aircraft carrier, is it really a miss?

Where was the CAP?

Still standing in NYC harbor .

Enterprise, Yorktown, Wasp and Hornet should just stay on the water. Lead ship of any new carrier class gets one of those names, next three get the rest, and THEN you can go on to something else.

The IDIOTS decided to Scrap the BIG E for what reason? Enterprise should've remained as a warning to all enemies of America. Enterprise should remain as an eternal memorial for the discipline and skill she displayed taking on the Japanese Armada! I'd love to go back in time, save the Enterprise and make her permanently berthed as a tribute museum, memorial ship. For Historic Tours, and respect to those that perished, gave their lives, and fought to the end. AH-TEN-HUT! Salute! :)

Only Ranger had a smaller chance of surviving.

This edit dropped the bit about Hornet being destroyed . The battle starts with Enterprise and Hornet, but after the first minute this video says there is only Enterprise. Oh well, its an edit to highlight the battle Enterprise had. "Target " as Santa Cruz is wrong. Target was Guadacanal or the Solomon Islands generally. The location near Santa Cruz Islands wasn't locked in until after the two fleets have arrived in the battle theatre .. its just where they meet after driving toward each other.

How does a bomb explode half here, and half there??

absolutely nothing on the Hornet ...or did you mix up the names of the carriers ?

The Americans actually took heavier losses on the Japanese and had to retreat If American torpedoes had actually worked, the battle probably would have gone somewhat different

Okay... Fine. This is fine Japan... Since you hammered USS Enterprise, Then we'll demolish IJN Yamato 😁

I think this was the battle where North Carolina showed how strong her AA guns were.

We are fortunate the Japanese did not develop early on Kaiten torpedoes for aircraft, or human guided aerial bombs that could be released at high altitudes.

Not sure i like how they put it to the "discipline and character of the fighting men" Hornet had thousands of great experienced men too and faced the exact same odds and look what happened

Think about that and then think about how today their bravery and sacrifice is defiled in Portland and Seattle and San Francisco. I makes me fighting mad.

The vid starts with the dive bombing and torpedoes. Where was the radar and air patrol?

Owari Da!

@1.43… 🙄

The Japanese were under rain squalls and overcast skies

God had is and on the good!!!

The Japanese had a formidable navy.

But with the cost of the Hornet

What about USS Saratoga...shouldn't she be there with Enterprise?

05:07 How America feels about you.

It sad USS Hornet sink in this batte What if USS Hornet did not sink but the big E sinks

It is surprising that the United States did not surrender after this demoralizing defeat.

Please have this quality content back, Latin America's History Channel is full of doody