Midway, June 4-6, 1942

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OPERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COMBINED WITH TACTICAL SKILL AND LOTS OF LUCK GAVE THE US NAVY A GREAT VICTORY

DIVE BOMBERS WERE THE KEY TO TACTICAL SUCCESS

What the Japanese Navy Expected

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A decisive and dramatic fleet battle, like Tsushima (vs. Russia) in 1905

What the Japanese Navy Got

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An ambush by U.S. military aviation

Goals of the Two Navies

Japan U.S.

Strategic

Gain resources, an armistice with the USA, and isolate China

Prevent Japan from achieving these goals and coordinating with Hitler

Operational

Create “an invincible strategic position”

Take the operational initiative from Japan

Tactical

For Both: Strike first and strike by surprise4

The Imperial Navy’s Offensive

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Roosevelt’s Nightmare

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First Air Fleet Invasion Force Main Body

Vice Admiral Nagumo Vice Admiral Kondo Admiral Yamamoto

4 aircraft carriers2 battleships2 heavy cruisers1 light cruiser11 destroyers248 carrier planes

1 aircraft carrier2 battleships8 heavy cruisers2 light cruisers20 destroyersmany transports

1 carrier3 battleships1 light cruiser9 destroyers

10 submarines based at Kwajalein

Japanese Forces at Midway

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U.S. Forces at MidwayTask Forces 16 & 17 Midway Air Forces COMSUBPAC

Rear Admirals Fletcher and Spruance

Captain Simard and Major Gen. Hale

Rear Admiral English

3 aircraft carriers7 heavy cruisers1 light cruiser15 destroyers233 carrier planes

27 USMC fighters27 USMC bombers4 Army B-2619 Army B-1732 Navy PBY6 Navy TBF

19 submarines based at Pearl Harbor

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Vice Adm. Nagumo’s Assumptions

“The enemy is not aware of our plans.”

“It is not believed that the enemy has any powerful unit, with carriers as its nucleus, in the vicinity.”

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The “enemy” was aware

• CDR Joseph Rochefort, head of Station Hypo

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Then LCDR Edwin Layton, Rochefort’s liaison with ADM Nimitz

USS Enterprise (TF-16)

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USS Hornet (TF-16)

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USS Yorktown (TF-17)

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USMC Planes on Midway

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Vindicator dive bomber. Called “Wind Indicators” by Marine pilots, these planes were no match for Japanese Zeros.

“Buffalo” fighter in early 1942 markings. These small fighters were completely outclassed by the Japanese Zero.

June 4, 1942, First Phase

• Japanese carrier aircraft hit Midway – Japanese carriers launch “half strikes”

• Midway planes attack Japanese carriers before Japanese planes return to their carriers– US carriers also launch against the Japanese

• US carrier torpedo bombers attack Japanese– 38 of 42 torpedo bombers lost

• US carrier dive bombers hit three Japanese carriers & put all 3 out of action

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June 4, 1942: Second Phase

• Japanese carrier Hiryu launches two attacks

– Dive bombers at Yorktown; strike her at noon

– Torpedo planes hit her at about 1445, stopping her. She lists heavily and is abandoned.

• Enterprise and Hornet launch strikes against Hiryu, bombing and crippling her at about 1700, just as Hiryu is about to launch another strike at the US force

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Guadalcanal Becomes Strugglefor The Initiative in the Pacific

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