Battle of Midway
a truly decisive battle
about the battle...
About six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States defeated Japan in one of the most decisive naval battles of World War II. Thanks to the major advances in code breaking, the United States was able to anticipate and counter Japan’s planned ambush of the few remaining aircraft carriers, causing permanent damage on the Japanese Navy. A very important turning point in the Pacific campaign, this victory allowed the United States and its allies to move into an offensive position.
how it happened...
The Japanses fleet commander, Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku, chose to invade a target close to Pearl Harbor to draw out the American fleet, calculating that when the United States began its counterattack, the Japanese would be prepared to attack them. Instead, the solving of the Japanese fleet codes enabled Pacific Fleet commander, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, to understand the plans of the Japanese. Nimitz placed available U.S. carriers in position to surprise the Japanese moving up for their air strikes on Midway Island itself.
Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku
Japanese Fleet Commander
Midway Island
where the battle took place
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
Pacific Fleet Commander
technology used in battle:
aircraft carriers, torpedo bombers, ships (CV-6, DD-412, CV-5), planes
Casualties:
Japanese - four fleet carriers–the entire strength of the task force–Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu, with 322 aircraft and over five thousand sailors, also lost the heavy cruiser Mikuma.
American - 147 aircraft and more than three hundred seamen
brooke glass
hour 5