Task Force 17 Task Force 17 Task Force 17 (TF17) was an aircraft carrier task force of the United States Navy during the Pacific Campaign of World War II. TF17 participated in several major carrier battles in the first year of the war. TF17 was initially centered around . With "Yorktown", TF17 engaged Imperial Japanese Navy forces in actions at the Marshalls-Gilberts raids, Invasion of Lae-Salamaua, Battle of the Coral Sea, and the Battle of Midway. "Yorktown" was sunk at Midway. Reformed around and commanded by RADM George Murray, TF17 supported Allied forces during the Guadalcanal Campaign. At the Battle of the Santa
Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II "Shōkaku", "Zuikaku", and the new carrier which had an armored-deck, sortied to meet the Americans in the Philippine Sea. The resulting clash was the largest carrier battle in history. The battle did not turn out as the Japanese had hoped. In reality their decisive battle ended in total defeat for the Japanese and resulted in the virtual end of their carrier force. On June 19, a series of Japanese carrier air strikes were shattered by strong American defenses. On the same day, "Shōkaku" was hit by four torpedoes from the submarine and sank with heavy loss of life. The "Taihō"