The Battle of Midway Atoll was a turning point in the confrontation between the United States and Japan in the Pacific. The Japanese fleet, which lost four heavy aircraft carriers, almost two and a half hundred aircraft and the best pilots, is now completely unable to operate effectively without coastal air cover.
Geographic data
Midway Atoll is located in the Central Pacific Ocean, more than a thousand miles northwest of the Hawaiian Islands. The territory is administered by the United States but is not included in any of the states or the District of Columbia. The atoll consists of three small islands with a total area of 6.23 km2, the area of the lagoon is 60 km2.
From 1941 to 1993 on the islands there was a US naval base and a point for refueling intercontinental flights. Now the atoll has the status of a reserve, but one runway remains in working condition, also on Midwaya supply of aviation fuel is stored - in case of an emergency landing of aircraft.
The Midway Island Group is located halfway between Japan and California (in fact, it is thanks to this fact that the territory got its name). The atoll is of great strategic importance. It is located in the middle of a triangle formed by the American military bases of Pearl Harbor and Dutch Harbor, as well as the Japanese base on Wake. For Japan, the capture of the archipelago would open up the possibility of more successful planning and implementation of the military operations of the imperial fleet.
Plans of Imperial Japan
It is believed that Japan suggested the possibility of an attack on the island group back in February 1942, more than six months before the Battle of Midway Island (1942). Until mid-April, however, the details of the battle plan were not developed, and he himself was not approved as a whole. The bomber raid by American Lieutenant Colonel J. Doolittle on the capital of Japan, which took place on April 18, 1942, put an end to the disputes over actions in the Pacific Ocean. The imperial headquarters no longer doubted that they should move out as soon as possible.
There are several versions of why Japan decided to attack Midway. The Imperial Navy needed to finally neutralize the United States in the Pacific. To ensure the success of the operation, a diversionary attack on the Aleutian Islands was even undertaken. The occupation of Midway Atoll itself was a secondary task. The atoll would be useful to Japan to strengthen the "protective perimeter" of their territories. Next to speakplanned for Fiji and Samoa, then (possibly) Hawaii.
The Japanese did not carry out a second attack on Pearl Harbor. The command decided to attack the naval base near Midway Atoll. The bet was made on the surprise and unpreparedness of the United States for defense, as was the case with the attack on Pearl Harbor almost a year earlier (December 7, 1941).
US information
The United States anticipated in advance that the Japanese would attempt to start a naval battle in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Cryptographers in May 1942 managed to break the Japanese naval encryption and get valuable information that the target of the next attack would be a certain object in the Pacific Ocean. In Japanese negotiations, it was codenamed AF.
The American command, however, could not unambiguously identify this very AF target. It was assumed that this could be Pearl Harbor or the naval battle at Midway Atoll. The date was also unknown. To test the assumptions, the Americans sent a message that there was not enough water on Midway. Intercepted the Japanese "At AF water supply problems."
Characteristics of opponents
The forces of Imperial Japan were divided into two parts: a strike group of aircraft carriers and a group of battleships with escorts. Four aircraft carriers, a light cruiser, two heavy cruisers, two battleships, almost two and a half hundred aircraft, and twelve destroyers came out from Japan. Additionally, two more light aircraft carriers, five battleships, two light and fourheavy cruisers, more than thirty support ships.
Admiral C. Nimitz planned response actions based on information about the impending battle near Midway Atoll. To the northwest of Midway, the Enterprise, Yorktown, and Hornet, fully prepared for battle, were put forward. Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance took command of the Hornet and Enterprise at the core, while Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletcher took command of the Yorktown.
First encounters
On the morning of June 3rd, a pilot of an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered a grouping of the Japanese fleet heading for Midway. The first blow was delivered by the Americans in the battle of Midway Atoll. The course of the battle, therefore, was initially determined by US forces. True, the bomb dropped on Japanese ships did not reach the target.
By the early morning of June 4th, the Japanese force reached Midway Atoll and struck at it. The naval base suffered significant damage, but despite this, American fighters fought back.
The naval battle at Midway Atoll continued. Many American vehicles were shot down by the Japanese, but anti-aircraft artillery worked successfully. About a third of the Japanese bombers that attacked the naval base were shot down from the ground. The Japanese lieutenant in charge of the attack reported to the Imperial Headquarters that the Americans had withdrawn their main forces before the Battle of Midway, and that the ground defenses were not sufficiently suppressed, so another air strike was needed.
After the first defeat of American forcesthe Japanese command was sure that luck was now on their side. Scouts reported to the imperial headquarters that only one aircraft carrier was found at the naval base (the rest did not come into view). But since there was a shortage of personnel, torpedoes and bombs remained on the deck, which they did not have time to hide in the cellars. This created the risk of a dangerous situation, because one aerial bomb that pierced the deck could cause the detonation of all ammunition.
Aircraft carrier battle
The Americans calculated that enemy planes would return to aircraft carriers by about nine o'clock in the morning. In order to attack the forces of the imperial fleet, when they were receiving and refueling aircraft, an order was given to take off all American aircraft in full combat readiness. However, the Japanese fleet, having completed the reception of several aircraft, changed course. The American command miscalculated.
Despite the seemingly failure in the battle of Midway Atoll (the date of the battle of aircraft carriers is June 4, 1942), the Americans made more than six attacks, and by the evening two Japanese aircraft carriers had already sunk.
Attack of the Nautilus
Several hours after the carrier battle at Midway Atoll, the USS Nautilus fired several torpedoes at Japanese forces. The report says that the submarine attacked the Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu, but in fact the torpedoes hit the Kaga. At the same time, two torpedoes flew past, and one did not explode at all. True, Bill Brockman, captain of the third rank, commander of the Nautilus, was sure all his life thatthat sank the Soryu. So the submarine "Nautilus" entered American history.
Japanese retaliation
To strike back in the battle of Midway Atoll (1942), the Japanese managed to collect eighteen bombers on the Hiryu. The Americans raised twelve aircraft to intercept. Five Japanese dive bombers were shot down, but seven scored three hits on the carrier. Only five dive bombers and one fighter returned back.
Immediately it was decided to attack again in the Battle of Midway Atoll. The Japanese raised several torpedo bombers and fighters into the air. At Yorktown, they learned about the impending attack immediately. Only one group of Japanese aircraft in full strength and three fighters from other groups emerged alive from the battle. The Yorktown was severely damaged and was towed to Pearl Harbor.
Attack of the last aircraft carrier
At the time of the attack on the Yorktown, information came about the discovery of the last Japanese aircraft carrier. The Americans no longer had torpedo bombers, so it was decided to create a strike group of several dive bombers.
Lt. Earl Gallagher led the air group. The Japanese no longer had time to respond to the attack, when the Americans dropped four bombs that caused explosions and numerous fires in the holds. A few more bombs were dropped on the fleet of imperialist Japan a little later, but not a single hit was made.
The hopelessly damaged Hiryu was scuttled by the decision of the Japanese Admiral Yamaguchi at dawn on June 5th. Aircraft from the Midway naval base continued to attack the Japanese, but they failed to detect the main forces. Japan took the fleet to the west, in addition, bad weather accompanied the Japanese - their ships were not visible to the Americans.
On June 6, US aircraft attacked Japan's heavy cruisers again. One cruiser was sunk, the second managed to reach the port with significant damage.
Results for the Japanese Navy
In the battle near Midway Atoll, more than two and a half thousand personnel were killed, more than two and a half hundred aircraft from aircraft carriers, four heavy aircraft carriers and a heavy cruiser were damaged. Among the dead were the best and most experienced Japanese pilots.
The commanders of several aircraft carriers refused to leave the damaged ships and died with them. The vice admiral in charge of the strike force tried to commit suicide but was saved.
US Pacific Fleet losses
The United States Pacific Fleet in the Battle of Midway, a major naval battle, lost over 300 personnel and 150 aircraft. The USS Yorktown and one destroyer also sank. On the islands, the runway was badly damaged, the hangar and the fuel depot were destroyed.
Reasons for Japan's defeat
The reasons for the defeat of the Japanese forces are many, but they are all interconnected. Firstly, the command set two goals that contradicted each other, namely the capture of the island group and the destruction of the American fleet. These tasks require the samethe same air force, but with different weapons.
Also, the Japanese had insufficient concentration of forces to carry out a successful attack. Some researchers and experts believe that Japan would have been better off conserving the decisive strike force - aircraft carriers. Affected by the history of the battle at Midway Atoll and planning flaws. The plans were tough and complex, losing any meaning with non-standard behavior of the enemy.
The Japanese planned their failure in advance. The command of the strike group was placed at a disadvantage. The Americans did not make really serious mistakes during the Battle of Midway. There were, of course, insufficient training of personnel, shortcomings in tactics, but still these are not conscious mistakes, but a normal part of any clash.
Strategic Implications
After the defeat at the Battle of Midway, imperialist Japan was forced into an exclusively defensive position and lost all initiative. Irreversible changes have taken place both in tactics and in the strategy of waging war at sea.
The battle of aircraft carriers, as part of a major naval battle at Midway, clearly showed that aircraft carriers have now taken over the leading role in the Pacific Ocean.
Myths about battle
There are several myths about the Battle of Midway. Here are some of them:
- The Japanese faced fatal bad luck. In fact, they helped themselves to this “bad luck” of theirs.
- The headquarters did not transmit information to the command of the strike group in time, and one ofaircraft carriers and was not at all adapted to receive information messages. In fact, there were no technical problems.
- The Japanese have lost their best pilots. Of course, there were losses, but still they were relatively small. In Japan, personnel remained for other operations, but since the strategic initiative was lost, their knowledge and experience was no longer needed.
Memory
The commander of the Hiryu, who refused to leave the damaged aircraft carrier, was posthumously promoted to the rank of vice admiral.
The United States, in memory of the victory, gave the name "Midway" to several ships - transport aircraft carriers. The name "Midway" is also used by the entire series of the same type of aircraft carriers of the US Navy.
