Torpedo bombers. The Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bomber was superior to the obsolete USN Douglas TBD Devastator in speed, rate of climb, and range. Kate's torpedoes contributed to sinking USN fleet carriers "Lexington" (Coral Sea), "Yorktown" (Midway), and "Hornet" (Santa Cruz Islands), all during 1942. Devastator torpedoes contributed to sinking the IJN carrier "Shōhō" at the Coral Sea, but Zero fighters slaughtered the Devastators at Midway where they attacked without fighter protection. Only four of the 41 Devastators launched returned to their carriers.