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Quiz about Naval Battles of the 20th Century
Quiz about Naval Battles of the 20th Century

Naval Battles of the 20th Century Quiz


This quiz is about some of the more famous naval battles of the 20th century. It starts with the Russo-Japanese War and ends with World War II, with some emphasis on the Pacific.

A multiple-choice quiz by FrankRay. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
FrankRay
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
317,174
Updated
Feb 16 22
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
10 / 15
Plays
841
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 142 (14/15), Guest 99 (10/15), Guest 2 (11/15).
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Question 1 of 15
1. The first major naval battle of the 20th century occurred during the Russo-Japanese War. This battle was the last and also the decisive naval battle of this war. It was also the last of the pre-Dreadnought battleship naval battles. Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. A major naval engagement of the 20th century occured between German and British squadrons at the start of War World I. This action was between the German East Asiatic Squadron under the command of Vice-Admiral von Spee and the British West Indies Squadron under the command of Rear Admiral Craddock. This battle occured November 1, 1914 in the Pacific. Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. This naval engagement was conducted by the British to avenge the defeat of Craddock's squadron by von Spee's squadron. This battle was fought a little over a month later by a larger, more formidable British fleet commanded by Vice-Admiral Sturdee, against von Spee's East Asiatic Squadron. This battle was fought in the South Atlantic. Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. This battle was a major clash between battleships and battlecruisers of the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet. This two day engagement cost the British more in capital ships, but the German fleet never ventured out of its protective harbor for the rest of the war. Britain gained control of the North Sea. Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. What was the name of the German commerce raider that was engaged in the Battle of the River Plate? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. The German battleship Bismarck sunk the British battlecruiser Hood during the engagement at the Battle of Denmark Strait. Three days later the Bismarck was sunk by a superior force of British battleships. Who was the captain of the Bismarck? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. The Battle of the South China Sea was a decisive victory for the Japanese. Britian lost two capital ships. These ships were sent by Churchill to aid in the defense of Singapore. What were the names of the two British ships sunk by aerial action by the Japanese on December 10, 1941. Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. A major engagement in May 1942, this was the first naval battle in which aircraft carriers were used and the first naval battle that neither side's ships sighted or fired directly on each other. Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. Which US aircraft carrier was lost at the Battle of Coral Sea? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. What US carriers were engaged at the Battle of Midway? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. At the Battle of Midway, the US lost one aircraft carrier to all the four Japanese carriers engaged. What was the name of US carrier sunk? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. This naval engagement took place between the Imperial Japanese navy and Allied forces in August 1942. It was the first naval battle of the Guadalcanal campaign. It was a night action, one of the few battles where the engaged ships were in sight of each other and did not involve carriers. It was a Japanese victory. Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. The next naval engagement was also a part of the Guadalcanal campaign. Another attempt by the Japanese to dislodge the Allied forces on the island. This naval battle involved carriers and the forces were not in sight of each other again; like at Coral Sea and Midway. The US carrier Hornet was lost in this engagement. This action took place on October 26, 1942. Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. During the naval engagement of Leyte Gulf, one of the most heroic defensive actions was the 7th Fleet's three units of escort carriers and their screening destroyers and escorts, against Japan's Central Force, comprising of four battleships, including the Yamato. What where the famous call numbers of these three units? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. What method of attacks did the Japanese use to sink the escort carrier USS St. Lo? Hint



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Mar 24 2024 : Guest 142: 14/15
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Score Distribution

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The first major naval battle of the 20th century occurred during the Russo-Japanese War. This battle was the last and also the decisive naval battle of this war. It was also the last of the pre-Dreadnought battleship naval battles.

Answer: Battle of Tsushima

Japan had 4 battleships, 27 cruisers and 58 other fighting ships engaged in this battle. Russia had 11 battleships, 8 cruisers and 9 destroyers. The Japanese shot the Russian fleet flat, inflicting 21 losses on the Russian fleet, while only losing three torpedo boats.
2. A major naval engagement of the 20th century occured between German and British squadrons at the start of War World I. This action was between the German East Asiatic Squadron under the command of Vice-Admiral von Spee and the British West Indies Squadron under the command of Rear Admiral Craddock. This battle occured November 1, 1914 in the Pacific.

Answer: Battle of Coronel

The Battle of Heligoland Bight was the first naval engagement of War World I, fought in the North Sea on August 14, 1914. Papeete and Penang were engagements early in the war by the German East Asiatic Squadron on Allied port facilities.
3. This naval engagement was conducted by the British to avenge the defeat of Craddock's squadron by von Spee's squadron. This battle was fought a little over a month later by a larger, more formidable British fleet commanded by Vice-Admiral Sturdee, against von Spee's East Asiatic Squadron. This battle was fought in the South Atlantic.

Answer: Battle of Falkland Islands

The Battle of Dogger Bank was a small engagement in the North Sea in 1915.
The Battle of the River Plate was the first major naval engagement in World War II.
4. This battle was a major clash between battleships and battlecruisers of the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet. This two day engagement cost the British more in capital ships, but the German fleet never ventured out of its protective harbor for the rest of the war. Britain gained control of the North Sea.

Answer: Battle of Jutland

Jutland was the first major clash between the new Dreadnought battleships and battlecruisers. No other major engagement just between battleships and battlecruisers has ever taken place since.
5. What was the name of the German commerce raider that was engaged in the Battle of the River Plate?

Answer: Admiral Graf Spee

The Admiral Scheer was the most successful pocketbattle ship and commerce raider. The ship was sunk by the British late in the War, April 1945. The Bismarck and Tirpitz were sister battleships, at the time the largest ever built.
6. The German battleship Bismarck sunk the British battlecruiser Hood during the engagement at the Battle of Denmark Strait. Three days later the Bismarck was sunk by a superior force of British battleships. Who was the captain of the Bismarck?

Answer: Kaptän zur See Ernst Lindemann

Kapitän Langsdorff commanded the Graf Spee; Kapitän Topp commanded the Tirptiz from February 1941 through February 1943. Admiral Lütjens was in command of Operation Rheinübung which included the Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen.
7. The Battle of the South China Sea was a decisive victory for the Japanese. Britian lost two capital ships. These ships were sent by Churchill to aid in the defense of Singapore. What were the names of the two British ships sunk by aerial action by the Japanese on December 10, 1941.

Answer: Prince of Wales and Repulse

This action proved the need for aerial protection of battleships. The aircraft used by the Japanese were land based aircraft and not from carriers.
8. A major engagement in May 1942, this was the first naval battle in which aircraft carriers were used and the first naval battle that neither side's ships sighted or fired directly on each other.

Answer: Battle of Coral Sea

The Battle of the Coral Sea was a small tactical victory for the Japanese, but a strategic victory for the Allies. This battle stopped the Japanese expansion in the South Pacific by sea and prevented two Japanese aircraft carriers from being operational for the Battle of Midway.
9. Which US aircraft carrier was lost at the Battle of Coral Sea?

Answer: Lexington

The carrier Lexington was heavily damaged and later scuttled by US forces. The Yorktown was damaged but made it back to Pearl Harbor.
10. What US carriers were engaged at the Battle of Midway?

Answer: Enterprise, Hornet, Yorktown

Rear Admiral Raymond Spruance commanded both Enterprise and Hornet and Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher commanded Yorktown. Rear Admiral Fletcher was in overall command of the US fleet at Midway.
11. At the Battle of Midway, the US lost one aircraft carrier to all the four Japanese carriers engaged. What was the name of US carrier sunk?

Answer: Yorktown

Yorktown, damaged at Coral Sea, was repaired and declared seaworthy in 72 hours at Pearl Harbor. She was hit by dive bombers from the Japanese carrier Hiryu. Later the Yorktown was torpedoed by the submarine I-168.
12. This naval engagement took place between the Imperial Japanese navy and Allied forces in August 1942. It was the first naval battle of the Guadalcanal campaign. It was a night action, one of the few battles where the engaged ships were in sight of each other and did not involve carriers. It was a Japanese victory.

Answer: Battle of Savo Island

Savo Island was the Japanese attempt to destory the Allied invasion force of the Guadalcanal landing. It was a slug-fest between cruisers. As a results of this battle the Allied forces did withdraw the naval forces screening the landings.
13. The next naval engagement was also a part of the Guadalcanal campaign. Another attempt by the Japanese to dislodge the Allied forces on the island. This naval battle involved carriers and the forces were not in sight of each other again; like at Coral Sea and Midway. The US carrier Hornet was lost in this engagement. This action took place on October 26, 1942.

Answer: Battle of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz was a tactical victory for Japan. The US lost more ships, the Hornet was sunk and the Enterprise was heavily damaged and had to return to Pearl Harbor. However, it was a strategic victory for the US because of all the aircrew lost by the Japanese in this engagement.
14. During the naval engagement of Leyte Gulf, one of the most heroic defensive actions was the 7th Fleet's three units of escort carriers and their screening destroyers and escorts, against Japan's Central Force, comprising of four battleships, including the Yamato. What where the famous call numbers of these three units?

Answer: Taffy 1; Taffy 2; Taffy 3

The commander of Taffy 1; Taffy 2 and Taffy 3 was Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague. With the odds so uneven Sprague still only lost the CVE Gambier Bay and two destroyers and a destoryer escort.
15. What method of attacks did the Japanese use to sink the escort carrier USS St. Lo?

Answer: Kamikaze Attacks

The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the first time that Japan used organized kamikaze attacks. Before this battle the attacks had been random.
Source: Author FrankRay

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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