Midway, June 4-6, 1942 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 1 What the Japanese Navy Expected A decisive and dramatic fleet battle, like Tsushima (vs. Russia) in 1905 2 What the Japanese Navy Got An ambush by U.S. military aviation 3 Goals of the Two Navies Japan U.S. Strategic Gain resources, an Prevent Japan from achieving armistice with the USA, these goals and coordinating and isolate China with Hitler Operational Create “an invincible Take the operational initiative strategic position” from Japan Tactical For Both: Strike first and strike by surprise 4 The Imperial Navy’s Offensive 5 Roosevelt’s Nightmare 6 Japanese Forces at Midway First Air Fleet Invasion Force Main Body Vice Admiral Nagumo Vice Admiral Kondo Admiral Yamamoto 4 aircraft carriers 1 aircraft carrier 1 carrier 2 battleships 2 battleships 3 battleships 2 heavy cruisers 8 heavy cruisers 1 light cruiser 1 light cruiser 2 light cruisers 9 destroyers 11 destroyers 20 destroyers 248 carrier planes many transports 10 submarines based at Kwajalein 7 U.S. Forces at Midway Task Forces 16 & 17 Midway Air Forces COMSUBPAC Rear Admirals Captain Simard and Rear Admiral Fletcher and Spruance Major Gen. Hale English 3 aircraft carriers 27 USMC fighters 19 submarines 7 heavy cruisers 27 USMC bombers based at Pearl 1 light cruiser 4 Army B-26 Harbor 15 destroyers 19 Army B-17 233 carrier planes 32 Navy PBY 6 Navy TBF 8 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.” 9 The “enemy” was aware • CDR Joseph Rochefort, head of Station Hypo Then LCDR Edwin Layton, Rochefort’s liaison with ADM Nimitz 10 USS Enterprise (TF-16) 11 USS Hornet (TF-16) 12 USS Yorktown (TF-17) 13 USMC Planes on Midway 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. 14 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 15 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 16 Guadalcanal Becomes Struggle for The Initiative in the Pacific 17.