What: USS Yorktown (CV-5)
- aircraft carrier
- commissioned in 1937
- sailed to San Diego after the attack of Pearl Harbor to enter the war
- badly damage in May of 1942 and returned to Hawaii
- played a role in the Battle of Midway in June
- crippled June 4th in the Battle of Midway — lost all power and listed 23 degrees to port
- taken in tow and powered by USS Hammann
- a salvo of Japanese torpedoes was again launched against the Yorktown, which then finally sank it and also sank the USS Hammann.
- located by Robert Ballard, ocean explorer, May 1988 [1]
The wreck of Yorktown was located in May 1998 by Robert Ballard
When: June 7, 1942
Where: Battle of Midway
“Despite an intensive barrage and evasive maneuvering, three “Vals” [Japanese Aichi D3A Type 99 Carrier Bomber] scored hits. Two of them were shot down soon after releasing their bomb loads; the third went out of control just as his bomb left the rack. It tumbled in flight and hit just abaft [toward the stern] the number two elevator on the starboard side, exploding on contact and blasting a hole about 10 feet (3 m) square in the flight deck. Splinters from the exploding bomb killed most of the crews of the two 1.1-inch (28 mm) gun mounts aft of the island and on the flight deck below. Fragments piercing the flight deck hit three planes on the hangar deck, starting fires. One of the aircraft, a Yorktown Dauntless, was fully fueled and carrying a 1,000 pounds (450 kg) bomb. Prompt action by LT A. C. Emerson, the hangar deck officer, prevented a serious fire by activating the sprinkler system and quickly extinguishing the fire.
The second bomb to hit the ship came from the port side, pierced the flight deck, and exploded in the lower part of the funnel, in effect a classic “down the stack shot.” It ruptured the uptakes for three boilers, disabled two boilers, and extinguished the fires in five boilers. Smoke and gases began filling the firerooms of six boilers. The men at Number One boiler remained at their post and kept it alight, maintaining enough steam pressure to allow the auxiliary steam systems to function.
A third bomb hit the carrier from the starboard side, pierced the side of number one elevator and exploded on the fourth deck, starting a persistent fire in the rag storage space, adjacent to the forward gasoline stowage and the magazines. The prior precaution of smothering the gasoline system with carbon dioxide undoubtedly prevented the gasoline from igniting.
While the ship recovered from the damage inflicted by the dive-bombing attack, her speed dropped to 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph); and then at 14:40, about 20 minutes after the bomb hit that had shut down most of the boilers, Yorktown slowed to a stop, dead in the water.” — wikipedia
Key Biblical Thoughts:
- Satan
- temptation
- trials
- stubbornness
- listening
- troubles
- arrogance
- pride
- fellow-laborers
- come alongside
. . . .
Sermonic Example: There are several distinct ways that one can use illustrative material.
(use whatever you find useful in the above details)
The Yorktown was dead in the water, lost all electric power, was listing 26 degrees, and a sister ship — the USS Hammann — had come alongside the Yorktown to provide power and tow it to port. However, another torpedo attack was launched and sank the Yorktown and torpedoed and sank the Hammann.
That is what happens at times when you come alongside of those who are under attack. The torpedoes are aimed at both ships — the one who is dead in the water, and the one who is trying to give aid and comfort . . . .
OR
That is our adversary — that great dragon — Satan. He will attack again and again, along with anyone who comes to provide support! He is not satisfied in leaving us dead in the water, with the possibility that we may make it to port. . . .
1. https://web.archive.org/web/20041207093515/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/midway/
RhetoricAndHomiletics.Org 