Hiryu was one of the original six Japanese Fleet Carriers that took part in the raid on Pearl Harbor. Over the course of the next seven months, she supported attacks against Wake Island, Australian bases around Darwin, and Allied interests in the East Indies. Together with Akagi, Soryu and Kaga, Hiryu formed the main striking force targeting Midway Island, which would have served as in important base for any future attempt at invading the Hawaiian Islands. She was the only Japanese carrier that survived the first American dive bombing attack during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942. She then launched two counter attacks against the American fleet, effectively destroying the American carrier Yorktown, before aircraft from Enterprise and Hornet attacked and left her dead in the water. Her survivors were transferred to Japanese escort vessels, with the exception of her captain and soon-to-be Vice Admiral Yamaguchi, who chose to remain on board while Hiryu’s wrecked hulk was sent to the bottom by Japanese destroyers.