Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway, fought in June 4-7 1942, only six months after Japan 's attack on Pearl Harbor, and one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea, the United States Navy decisively defeated an Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) attack against Midway Atoll, must be considered one of the most decisive battles of World War II. Fought over and near the tiny U.S. mid-Pacific base at Midway atoll, represents the strategic high water mark of Japan 's Pacific Ocean war. The Battle of Midway was the most decisive single naval battle in US history. After having so little to show for the efforts until the Battle of the Coral Sea, Midway was finally a day with significant results for the US. Four large Japanese carriers were sunk in one day Prior to this action, Japan possessed general naval superiority over the United States and could usually choose where and when to attack. After Midway, the two opposing fleets were essentially equals, and the United States soon took the offensive. Japanese Combined Fleet commander Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto moved on Midway in an effort to draw out and destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet 's aircraft carrier striking forces, which had embarrassed the Japanese Navy in the mid-April Doolittle Raid on Japan 's home islands and at the Battle of Coral Sea in early May. He planned to quickly knock down Midway 's defenses, follow up with an invasion of the atoll 's two small islands and establish a Japanese air base there. He expected the U.S. carriers to come out and fight, but to arrive too late to save Midway and in insufficient strength to avoid defeat by his own well-tested carrier air power. Yamamoto 's intended surprise was thwarted by superior American communications intelligence, which deduced his scheme well before battle was joined. This allowed Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the U.S. Pacific Fleet commander, to establish an ambush by having his carriers ready and waiting for the Japanese. On 4 June 1942, in the second of the
The Battle of Midway, fought in June 4-7 1942, only six months after Japan 's attack on Pearl Harbor, and one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea, the United States Navy decisively defeated an Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) attack against Midway Atoll, must be considered one of the most decisive battles of World War II. Fought over and near the tiny U.S. mid-Pacific base at Midway atoll, represents the strategic high water mark of Japan 's Pacific Ocean war. The Battle of Midway was the most decisive single naval battle in US history. After having so little to show for the efforts until the Battle of the Coral Sea, Midway was finally a day with significant results for the US. Four large Japanese carriers were sunk in one day Prior to this action, Japan possessed general naval superiority over the United States and could usually choose where and when to attack. After Midway, the two opposing fleets were essentially equals, and the United States soon took the offensive. Japanese Combined Fleet commander Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto moved on Midway in an effort to draw out and destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet 's aircraft carrier striking forces, which had embarrassed the Japanese Navy in the mid-April Doolittle Raid on Japan 's home islands and at the Battle of Coral Sea in early May. He planned to quickly knock down Midway 's defenses, follow up with an invasion of the atoll 's two small islands and establish a Japanese air base there. He expected the U.S. carriers to come out and fight, but to arrive too late to save Midway and in insufficient strength to avoid defeat by his own well-tested carrier air power. Yamamoto 's intended surprise was thwarted by superior American communications intelligence, which deduced his scheme well before battle was joined. This allowed Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the U.S. Pacific Fleet commander, to establish an ambush by having his carriers ready and waiting for the Japanese. On 4 June 1942, in the second of the
Bibliography: Page: Books: Midway & Guadalcanal by McGowen Websites: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwari1/p/Midway.htm http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_midway.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Midway