The narrative describes the Battle of Midway, a significant turning point in World War II. In June 1942, the Empire of Japan was successful in securing oil supplies from the Dutch East Indies and had territorial victories against British, US, Australian, and Dutch forces in the West Pacific and Southeast Asia. However, they were aware that the industrial power of the United States would eventually outpace them.
To counter this, the Japanese planned a decisive blow to the remaining US Pacific Fleet, specifically targeting the aircraft carriers, which posed a threat to Midway, a US Navy submarine mounting station for operations in the Pacific. The Japanese hoped that with the loss of Midway and the Pacific Fleet, the US would negotiate for peace.
On June 28, 1942, the largest assembly of naval vessels ever seen in the Pacific left their bases across Japan to head east. However, the US Navy's combat intelligence office in Hawaii had cracked the Japanese communications code and was aware of their plans. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz was alerted to the possible attack on Midway and was assembling his defense.
The Japanese naval force, consisting of four carriers, two battleships, seven cruisers, fourteen destroyers, and 276 naval aircraft, approached Midway. The US defense of Midway consisted of three carriers carrying 233 aircraft, eight cruisers, 15 destroyers, 16 submarines, and 127 land-based aircraft.
The Japanese launched their first strike wave at 9:00 a.m. on June 3, 1942. The US defenders, however, were ready and launched their own counter-attack. The battle was intense, with both sides suffering heavy losses. By the end of the day, all three Japanese carriers had been severely damaged and eventually sunk.
The battle was a clear victory for the Americans, who had lost two carriers. The Japanese had lost their most potent offensive force, and the industrial might of the United States was now brought against Japan. This marked the loss of the offensive initiative for Japan, and she would not regain it.
1. In June 1942, the war was going well for the Empire of Japan, having succeeded in securing the oil supplies of the Dutch East Indies.
2. The Japanese had scored territorial victories against the British, US, Australian, and Dutch forces in the West Pacific and Southeast Asia.
3. Aware that the industrial power of the United States would eventually outdo them, the Japanese decided to deal a decisive blow to the remains of the US Pacific Fleet.
4. The Japanese target was specifically the aircraft carriers, with the threat to Midway, a U.S. Navy submarine mounting station for operations in the Pacific.
5. The Japanese naval force, the largest assembly of naval vessels ever seen in the Pacific, left their bases across Japan and headed east on May 28, 1942.
6. The commander of the Japanese force was Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who was confident of victory.
7. The US Navy combat intelligence office in Hawaii had cracked the Japanese communications code and was aware of their plans.
8. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz had been alerted to the possible attack on Midway almost a month before the Japanese set sail.
9. The US defense of Midway comprised three carriers carrying 233 aircraft, eight cruisers, 15 destroyers, 16 submarines, and 127 land-based aircraft.
10. The Japanese naval force heading towards Midway comprised four carriers commanded by Vice Admiral Nagumo and two battleships.
11. The Japanese first strike wave began to launch into the night sky from carriers at 9:34 p.m. on June 4, 1942.
12. The US defending aircraft on Midway were ready to launch with engine started at 6:16 a.m. on June 5, 1942.
13. The Japanese raid commander sent a message back to the fleet that a second raid would be required to fully neutralize the base.
14. At 7:48 a.m. on June 5, 1942, the next U.S. wave arrived.
15. The Japanese submarine infiltrated the protective cordon and launched a deadly salvo of torpedoes against two ships, both of which sank.
16. The battle was a clear victory for the Americans, with the loss of their carriers.
17. Strategically, the desire to bring the U.S. to the negotiating table for Japan had failed.
18. The industrial might of the United States would now be brought against Japan.
19. The battle saw the loss of the offensive initiative for Japan, and she would not regain it.