After Midway, there was not left of the Japense Navy.
We stand on the shoulders of giants.
Not quite true, the 6 month long Guadalcanal campaign was hard fought including on the ocean. For a few months we nearly lost the campaign because of the Japanese combined fleet. Carriers Wasp and Hornet were sunk, Saratoga was damaged by a torpedo and had to return to the States for repair. This left only one carrier, Enterprise, which was damaged in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, put out of action, and then returned with the use of only one elevator, she had to return since Enterprise was the only carrier left in the South Pacific at that time.
Here’s a fair read on it:
http://www.combinedfleet.com/turningp.htm
