During the Battle of Midway, carriers Akagi, Kaga, and Souyuu were dive bombed by a surprise attack, disabling them. Rear Admiral Yamaguchi Tamon stated to the personnel aboard Hiryuu that all three carriers other than Hiryuu were damaged, Souryuu was set ablaze, and that fighting for the glory of empire depended on Hiryuu. An attacking squadron from Hiryuu heavily damaged the American aircraft carrier, Yorktown. Ships near Hiryuu such as the battleships Haruna and Kirishima, heavy cruisers Chikuma and Tone, and light cruiser Nagara tightened their defenses, but Hiryuu, after receiving a concentrated attack, was evacuated and sunk.