Regarding this question: "I've never understood why, if a ship is unsalvageable, it must be sunk by its own escorts."
The answer is that if the enemy boarded the ship they would have access to all of the sensitive equipment and weaponry on-board and have full knowledge of our communications, planes, weapons systems, ad infinitum. Therefore the ship is deemed a big security risk if left to the enemy. Keep in mind that the Japanese were continually breaking our codes which finally led to the Navajo Code Talkers. Can you imagine the amount of information the Japanese could have gained had they been able to board CV-8?
The answer is that if the enemy boarded the ship they would have access to all of the sensitive equipment and weaponry on-board and have full knowledge of our communications, planes, weapons systems, ad infinitum. Therefore the ship is deemed a big security risk if left to the enemy. Keep in mind that the Japanese were continually breaking our codes which finally led to the Navajo Code Talkers. Can you imagine the amount of information the Japanese could have gained had they been able to board CV-8?