A ferocious battle fought between the Japanese and United States Carrier Fleets, which proved to be one of the most decisive victories and a major turning point for America in the war in the Pacific. The Japanese lost four of their powerful carriers and from that point on, no longer able to risk a major fleet versus fleet action, went on the defensive. By the time they had recovered enough to rebuild their fleet, American power had mobilized into the unstoppable force that Japan had so feared.