Pacific Theater Of Operations During World War II: The Battle Of Midway

The Battle of Midway took place in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II, between 4 and 7 June 1942. Six months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The United States Navy was under the leaderships of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz as Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher as senior tactical commander Task Force 17, and Rear Admiral Raymond Spruance Task Force 16; the Imperial Japanese Navy was under the command of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto as Commader-in-Chief Combined Fleet and Vive Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, First Air Fleet. This attack on Midway was an attempt by the Japanese to expand their defense perimeter and have a closer outpost to Hawaii, this way eliminating the United States strategic power in the area. This would be accomplished by
It was simple because the main outcome was to “invade a target relatively 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 crush them.” It was complex because he decided so divide his assets into four main components. This meant that a very careful and timely coordination between their battle groups was necessary for the plan to succeed. Yamamoto’s battle plan also relied on information that the United States Enterprise and Hornet were the only carriers operational at the time. But Japanese intelligence fail to acknowledge that the carrier USS Yorktown had been repaired after the Battle of Coral Sea; a battle that took place a month before. Yamamoto was also optimistic on thinking that Midway wouldn’t pose a threat until reinforcements arrived from Hawaii. Vice-Admiral Nagumo’s carrier strike force was to weaken Midway’s defenses for a full invasion to happen. Once the American