It started on a Sunday – Pearl Harbor December 7th, 1941

We created 22 outstanding collectible Warships Of World War 2 Challenge Coins for a reason!

The US Navy built a fleet to destroy an enemy that attacked it on Dec 7th 1941. We have heard President Franklin D Roosevelt call it a Day Which Will Live in Infamy. A day that saw an entire US Navy fleet at anchor attacked on a quiet and early Sunday with many of its Sailors in bed and quietly resting. By the end of the day thousands will have been killed from the attack that ensued that day made up of four Japanese aircraft carriers called the Kido Butai (Mobile Force)

made up of the Empire Of Japans’ top aircraft carriers, Hiryu, Soryu, Akagi and Kaga and experienced aircraft squadrons.

Fortunate for Us

At the time of the attack the US for fortunate that its aircraft carriers were not at Pearl Harbor when the harbor was hit. If that had been the case America’s time to move from defense to offense like it was able to do at Midway might have been delayed or never happened. This could have allowed Japan to seize Hawaii and begin attacks on the US West Coast like San Diego.

The Elusive US Aircraft Carriers

Not at Pearl Harbor during the attack were the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise, USS Lexington and the USS Saratoga. The USS Lexington would later be sunk at the Battle of The Coral Sea in what would be the first ever fight among opposing aircraft carriers and staging the set for the later Battle Of Midway.

Battle Of Coral Sea – May 4th – 8th 1942 Carrier Verses Carrier

In the effort to present the Empire Of Japan from taking Australia in the East America and the Empire Of Japan fought in a battle called Coral Sea. This important battle was the first time enemy forces never physically saw the enemy from a vantage point of ship to ship but were attacks that launched from over the horizon against coordinates and positions. This battle in so many ways would set the table for the later Battle of Midway and ultimately gave the US an advantage as a result of Japanese losses experienced at the Battle of the Coral Sea. The US would lose one of its carriers, the USS Lexington while the Japanese would lose a light carrier Shoho and significant damage to a fleet carrier, Shokaku. Had it not been for the loss of these two Japanese carriers the US Task Force 17 under command of Rear Admiral Frank J Fletcher.

The Battle of Midway – June 4th, 1942

Without question one of the most discussed, reviewed, studied, analyzed and argued and most historic sea battle to come out of World War Two. Two opposing naval forces, the United States and the Empire of Japan would fight near a small island and atoll, Midway, Midway is part of the Hawaiian archipelago and approximately half way from North America and Asia making it a very important prize for the Japanese during their extension into the South Pacific in 1942.  

As a result of The Battle of Midway the United States Navy was successful in the sinking of four Japanese aircraft carriers which ended Japan’s dominance in the Pacific during the balance of the Second World War. America went on offense.

The US Navy Fleet

With so many years still to fight in World War Two the US experienced one of the most significant increases in warship production that saw its largest fleets built in its history. By the end of the war the US Navy had over 1200 warships, twenty-seven aircraft carriers, eight “fast battleships”, and ten pre-war “old” battleships totaling a US Navy which consisted of over 70% of the world’s total ships. The US had harnessed its factories and put a nation to work building warships, liberty ships, merchant ships and a number of the US warships Navycrow.com has designed challenge coins for.  

Inspired By US Navy Sailors and a Video Game

It would be hard to imagine that a video game would inspire a company with a US Navy focus to generate a line of US Navy warship challenge coins. But then again it is 2020 so maybe not the hardest thing to imagine. With that being said there is one game (yes it’s awesome and I have played on several occasions) called World of Warships. As a somewhat dedicated if not addicted player I have witnessed a game that really understands naval warfare, speed, gunnery, ship movement, aerial spotting, the fog of war and so many little things that taken as a whole is really an incredible experience into fighting with a warship in a sea battle.

World of Warships has destroyers, cruisers, battleships and aircraft carriers and most recently added submarines. That just about did it right there for us and as a result an entire US Navy challenge coin line of warship coins ensued.

2020 Marks The 75th Anniversary Of World War 2

75 years later and people still talk about it like it was yesterday. December 7th and Pearl Harbor is still remembered, Hollywood still makes movies like Midway. Veterans still travel to the vast part of the world to see the battlefields, smell the salty sea air, feel the winds of the South Pacific and transport themselves to those battles. This year, 2020 is the Diamond Anniversary of World War 2 and for the men and women and the generations of Americans that fought and served in this war never to be honored like this again. They will not be here for long and they are forever remembered for what they did.

So what do we do now?

Take a US Navy challenge coin company, add inspiration, artistic designs, sprinkle it with US Navy history, and toss it around with a video game and what does that set of ingredients produce? An amazing set (challenge coins collection) of US Navy World of Warship 75th Anniversary challenge coins designed with the warships of the Second World War2. Yeah it’s a mouthful but let’s say the best US Navy challenge coins of this type anywhere on land or at sea.

Let’s talk US Navy challenge Coins

Up to date we have created 22 magnificently designed US Navy coins with original artwork of Navycrow.Com. Are there more to come? Sure thing but let’s take a look at these 22 coins to help get things started.

USS Yorktown New Jersey Sullivans