World War II: Battle of Midway - Turning Point in the Pacific

[Lord ZeN]

US Navy SBD dive bombers at the Battle of Midway, June 4, 1942.
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Battle of Midway - Summary:

In May 1942, Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto sought to draw the US Pacific Fleet into a battle where he could overwhelm and destroy it. To accomplish this he planned an invasion of Midway Island which would provide a base for attacking Hawaii. Using decrypted Japanese radio intercepts, Admiral Chester Nimitz was able to counter this offensive. On June 4, 1942, US aircraft flying from USS Enterprise, USS Hornet, and USS Yorktownattacked and sunk four Japanese carriers, forcing Yamamoto to withdrawal. The Battle of Midway marked the turning point of World War II in the Pacific.
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Commanders at the Battle of Midway:

US Navy

• 
  Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief, US Pacific Fleet
• 
  Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletcher, Task Force 17 (senior tactical commander)
• Rear Admiral Raymond Spruance, Task Force 16

Imperial Japanese Navy

• 
  Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Commander-in-Chief, Combined Fleet
• 
  Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, First Air Fleet

United.States .. . . . .

Japan

Dates:
The Battle of Midway was predominantly fought on June 4, 1942, though operations did continue until June 7.

Battle of Midway - Yamamoto's Plan -- Operation MI

Following the stategic defeat at the Battle of Coral Sea (May 4-8), the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, devised a plan to draw the remaining ships of the US Pacific Fleet into a battle where they could be destroyed. To accomplish this, he planned to invade the island of Midway, 1,300 miles northwest of Hawaii. A key to Pearl Harbor's defense, Yamamoto knew the Americans would send their remaining aircraft carriers to protect the island. Believing the US to only have two carriers operational, he sailed with four, plus a large fleet of battleships and cruisers.

Battke of Midway - Nimitz's Response:

At Pearl Harbor, Admiral Chester Nimitz was made aware of the impending attack by his team of cryptanalysts led by Lt. Commander Joseph Rochefort. Having successfully broken the Japanese JN-25 naval code, Rochefort was able to provide an outline of the Japanese plan of attack as well as the forces involved. To meet this threat, Nimitz dispatched Rear Admiral Raymond Spruance with the carriers USS Enterprise and USS Hornet to Midway hoping to surprise the Japanese. The carrier USS Yorktown, with Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletcher, followed two days later after damage received at Coral Sea was hastily repaired.

Battle of Midway - Attack on Midway:

At 04:30 on June 4, Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, commanding the Japanese carriers, launched 108 planes to attack Midway Island, as well as seven scout planes to locate the American fleet. Brushing aside the island's small force of fighters, the Japanese planes pounded Midway's installations. While returning to the carriers, the strike leaders recommended a second attack. In reponse, Nagumo ordered his reserve aircraft, which had been armed with torpedoes, to be rearmed with bombs. After this process had commenced, a scout plane from the cruiser Tone reported locating the American fleet.

Battle of Midway - The Americans Arrive:

Upon receiving this news, Nagumo reversed his rearmament order. As a result, the hangar decks of the Japanese carriers were full of bombs, torpedoes, and fuel lines as ground crews scrambled to reequip the aircraft. As Nagumo vacillated, the first of Fletcher's planes arrived over the Japanese fleet. Armed with sighting reports from scout planes, Fletcher had begun launching his aircraft at 07:00. The first squadrons to arrive were the TBD Devastator torpedo bombers from Hornet (VT-8) and Enterprise (VT-6). Attacking at low level, they failed to score a hit and suffered heavy casualties.

Devastators of VT-6 aboard USS Enterprise being prepared for take off during the battle.

Battle of Midway - Dive Bombers Strike the Japanese:

Though VT-8 and VT-6 did not do any damage, their attack, coupled with the late arrival of VT-3, pulled the Japanese combat air patrol out of position, leaving the fleet vulnerable. At 10:22, American SBD Dauntless dive bombers approaching from the southwest and northeast struck the carriers Kaga, Soryu, and Akagi. In less than six minutes they reduced the Japanese ships to burning wrecks. In reponse, the remaining Japanese carrier, Hiryu, launched a counterstrike. Arriving in two waves, its planes twice disabledYorktown. Later that afternoon, American dive bombers located Hiryu and sank it, completing the victory.

Battle of Midway - Aftermath:

On the night of June 4th, both sides retired to plan their next move. By 02:55, Yamamoto ordered his fleet to return to base. In the following days, American aircraft sunk the cruiserMikuma, while the Japanese submarine I-168 torpedoed and sank the disabled Yorktown. The defeat at Midway broke the back of the Japanese carrier fleet and resulted in the loss of invaluable air crews. It also marked the end of major Japanese offensive operations as the initiative passed to the Americans. That August, US Marines landed on Guadalcanaland began the long march to Tokyo.

Battle of Midway - Casualties:

US Pacific Fleet Losses

• 340 killed
• Aircraft Carrier USS Yorktown
• Destroyer USS Hammann
• 145 aircraft

Imperial Japanese Navy Losses

• 3,057 killed
• Aircraft Carrier Akagi
• Aircraft Carrier Kaga
• Aircraft Carrier Soryu
• Aircraft Carrier Hiryu
• Heavy Cruiser Mikuma
• 228 aircraft

@levina @C130 @gambit @LeveragedBuyout @DESERT FIGHTER @boomslang

 

[Koovie]

Maybe the most significant battle in the Pacific... and certainly the most interesting one from a tactical and technological point of view.

And it also shows the importance of having superior intelligence, because thats what gave the Americans the crucial edge in the end.

 

[LeveragedBuyout]

One thing about Midway that has always resonated with me is the emphasis on information analysis and damage control used to overcome disadvantages in force size and quality, which seems to have played a significant part in allowing the Americans to employ more force than the Japanese expected:

BBC - History - World Wars: The Battle of Midway

The Japanese were caught unawares because they did not have radar, relying instead on the human eye to spot the threat. It was not enough. In five minutes the carriers Kaga and Akagi had been hit, starting uncontrollable fires. Their decks were cluttered with bombs, torpedoes and hoses charged with high octane fuel, while every plane was a huge petrol bomb waiting to explode. It took only three or four 1,000lb bombs to set these massive ships ablaze.
...
Despite radar warnings, the purging of its fuel lines with carbon dioxide and well-organised fighter defences, Yorktown was torpedoed twice and hit by three bombs. The Japanese success contrasted sharply with the much larger, but less effective, American attack. The Japanese squadrons lived up to their reputation as the masters of carrier warfare.

Although seriously damaged, Yorktown did not catch fire and remained afloat. The United States Navy had invested heavily in damage control, fire-fighting and safety systems. They had also learned a costly lesson at the battle of Coral Sea, where a carrier exploded. The Yorktown was thus saved, and its planes landed on the other carriers. But now Hiryu had revealed itself, and would be caught and destroyed by American dive-bombers six hours later.

 

[Lord ZeN]

One thing about Midway that has always resonated with me is the emphasis on information analysis and damage control used to overcome disadvantages in force size and quality, which seems to have played a significant part in allowing the Americans to employ more force than the Japanese expected:

Admiral Nimitz knew exactly what they are up against. He planned accordingly and executed his plan brilliantly. He had the priceless advantage of Japanese radio intercepts. He and his men entered the battle with a very good picture of where, when, and in what strength the Imperial Japanese navy would appear. His success is indeed a great example of the importance of knowing everything about your adversary before they actually appear.

 

[Penguin]

One thing about Midway that has always resonated with me is the emphasis on information analysis and damage control used to overcome disadvantages in force size and quality, which seems to have played a significant part in allowing the Americans to employ more force than the Japanese expected:

BBC - History - World Wars: The Battle of Midway

The Japanese were caught unawares because they did not have radar, relying instead on the human eye to spot the threat. It was not enough. In five minutes the carriers Kaga and Akagi had been hit, starting uncontrollable fires. Their decks were cluttered with bombs, torpedoes and hoses charged with high octane fuel, while every plane was a huge petrol bomb waiting to explode. It took only three or four 1,000lb bombs to set these massive ships ablaze.
...
Despite radar warnings, the purging of its fuel lines with carbon dioxide and well-organised fighter defences, Yorktown was torpedoed twice and hit by three bombs. The Japanese success contrasted sharply with the much larger, but less effective, American attack. The Japanese squadrons lived up to their reputation as the masters of carrier warfare.

Although seriously damaged, Yorktown did not catch fire and remained afloat. The United States Navy had invested heavily in damage control, fire-fighting and safety systems. They had also learned a costly lesson at the battle of Coral Sea, where a carrier exploded. The Yorktown was thus saved, and its planes landed on the other carriers. But now Hiryu had revealed itself, and would be caught and destroyed by American dive-bombers six hours later.

Yes USN had better damage control, both 'built in' and in terms of drills and routines, which allowed them to loose fewer carriers and do more with the carriers they had.

 

[Aepsilons]

The Battle of Midway is a clear example of the indispensable importance of situational awareness, coherent communication of the plan of attack and when necessary to have an exit battle strategy. Naval strategists would say , and i am in agreement here, that the loss of the carriers and their associated air wings had doomed the Nihon Kaigun's ability to prosecute the war.

Tho I will resign to the fact that the Kido Butai fought gallantly, despite the cost and odds.

 

[Pangu]

One of my favorite battle of the Pacific War. It's fascinating that air power totally dominated naval warfare. But I do lament the fact that we did not get to see the heavies slug-it-out. Yamato class vs Iowa class.

 

[Aepsilons]

One of my favorite battle of the Pacific War. It's fascinating that air power totally dominated naval warfare. But I do lament the fact that we did not get to see the heavies slug-it-out. Yamato class vs Iowa class.

I love studying and reading about WWII, especially the ground warfare and naval warfare. I agree with you that there was a paradigm shift in terms of naval warfare during this global conflict. The traditional notion of capital ships of the line dishing it out with each other (battleship wars) was replaced with carrier-based air war.

Imagine --- the Great Battleship Yamato being sunk by 20 bombs and several torpedoes. Over 2,000 men dead. 20 planes and 20-40 men taking out a ship populated by 2,000 men.

WWII ended the importance of the dreadnaughts, battleships, or heavy cruisers. The future of naval warfare was now determined by air power, and a navy's anti-air capabilities.

 

[Pangu]

I love studying and reading about WWII, especially the ground warfare and naval warfare. I agree with you that there was a paradigm shift in terms of naval warfare during this global conflict. The traditional notion of capital ships of the line dishing it out with each other (battleship wars) was replaced with carrier-based air war.

Imagine --- the Great Battleship Yamato being sunk by 20 bombs and several torpedoes. Over 2,000 men dead. 20 planes and 20-40 men taking out a ship populated by 2,000 men.

WWII ended the importance of the dreadnaughts, battleships, or heavy cruisers. The future of naval warfare was now determined by air power, and a navy's anti-air capabilities.

I read somewhere that battleship armor were designed for dealing with ship-fired projectiles at a certain angle of incidence, but not designed to deal with verticle plunge of air dropped bombs, perhaps Yamato's fate will be different if she had suffered 20 battleship rounds instead of 20 air-dropped bombs.

 

[Aepsilons]

I read somewhere that battleship armor were designed for dealing with ship-fired projectiles at a certain angle of incidence, but not designed to deal with verticle plunge of air dropped bombs, perhaps Yamato's fate will be different if she had suffered 20 battleship rounds instead of 20 air-dropped bombs.

Very good point, buddy. Perhaps it could have made some difference. One thing that I also admire that the Americans had over the Japanese -- was their preparation in damage control ability. The ability to patch up holes or sealing off damaged compartments in a ship was something the Americans had drilled / practiced. It was something that was required organization-wide. Whereas for Japanese , it was the sole responsibility of the Engineering Crew.

The caveat here was that say the entire engineering crew were wiped out during an explosion. Then who would be able to do damage control ? No one. This dire and important structural reality was one of the reasons why Japanese warships had succumbed to their battle injuries.

 

[Penguin]

I read somewhere that battleship armor were designed for dealing with ship-fired projectiles at a certain angle of incidence, but not designed to deal with verticle plunge of air dropped bombs, perhaps Yamato's fate will be different if she had suffered 20 battleship rounds instead of 20 air-dropped bombs.

From the first attack at 12:37 to the explosion at 14:23, Yamato was hit by at least eleven torpedoes and six bombs.


16 airdropped .... TORPEDOES.

Armorbelts

See also JPN_BB_Yamato_LD-protection.gif gif by Brad_R | Photobucket
and Japanese Carrier IJN Shinano - General & Upcoming - War Thunder - Official Forum

 

[Pangu]

From the first attack at 12:37 to the explosion at 14:23, Yamato was hit by at least eleven torpedoes and six bombs.


16 airdropped .... TORPEDOES.

See also JPN_BB_Yamato_LD-protection.gif gif by Brad_R | Photobucket
and Japanese Carrier IJN Shinano - General & Upcoming - War Thunder - Official Forum

Thks for the data! Look at the starboard torpedo hits, all six tightly packed into lower armor belt, I'm pressed with the accuracy of the American pilots! I'm surprised that the Yamato lasted the duration as well with at least 11 torpedo hits. She's a monster!

 

[Aepsilons]

From the first attack at 12:37 to the explosion at 14:23, Yamato was hit by at least eleven torpedoes and six bombs.


16 airdropped .... TORPEDOES.

Armorbelts

See also JPN_BB_Yamato_LD-protection.gif gif by Brad_R | Photobucket
and Japanese Carrier IJN Shinano - General & Upcoming - War Thunder - Official Forum

Anti Air Defense was .... lacking.

 

[Penguin]

Anti Air Defense was .... lacking.

Strafing killed off many of the exposed AAA crews, reducing the effectiveness of the 162 on board 25mm cannon.

 

[Aepsilons]

Strafing killed off many of the exposed AAA crews, reducing the effectiveness of the 162 on board 25mm cannon.

Not only that, the Yamato was denied light destroyer escorts, which normally would have provided necessary anti sub and anti air support.