Spruance's Operational Leadership
Due to the advancement of technology today and the growth of roles and equipment in the maritime environment, the Navy is become more modernized and diversified and recognizes importance of operational leadership, or leadership characterized by the ability to think broadly through an exposure to a wide range of experiences, ideas, and training. One of the best embodiments of operational leadership was Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, known primarily for his outstanding leadership in World War II that eventually led to the Allied Forces’ victory of the Asia-Pacific Theater. Admiral Spruance’s exceptional operational leadership, characterized by meticulous planning and devotion to analytical thinking and demonstrated through his time at the Naval
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At this point during the war, the Japanese held the upper hand in the Pacific Theater – following their victory at Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces took control of Guam, Wake, Singapore, and Malaya, and were at the brink of capturing the Philippines. Additionally, the power of the Japanese Navy, under the leadership of Fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and Admiral Osami Nagano, was greater than that of the U.S. Navy. U.S. forces in the Pacific possessed five carriers, Yorktown, Lexington, Saratoga, Hornet, and Enterprise, while the Japanese owned seven large and four light carriers, as well as all available strength and a use of over 200 ships. Admiral Nimitz, convinced of the Japanese forces’ intentions towards Midway, ordered all carriers to return to Pearl Harbor in May of 1942, instructed Spruance to take command of Task Force 16 from the Enterprise, and began to carry out his Operation Plan No. 29-42 to protect Midway. On 3 June, 1942, Japanese forces were sighted at Midway by U.S. reconnaissance planes, and by June 4, they launched their first strike, although still unaware of U.S. fleet presence. U.S. forces were able to launch an attack on the Japanese carrier force; however, the carrier Hiryu and a full air group were still not located. Despite being limited in accurate information, Spruance was able to make a critically timed decision to send up attack planes left on the two remaining U.S. carriers, which were able to make four dive bomb hits on the flight deck of Hiryu, causing its sinking and
At this point during the war, the Japanese held the upper hand in the Pacific Theater – following their victory at Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces took control of Guam, Wake, Singapore, and Malaya, and were at the brink of capturing the Philippines. Additionally, the power of the Japanese Navy, under the leadership of Fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and Admiral Osami Nagano, was greater than that of the U.S. Navy. U.S. forces in the Pacific possessed five carriers, Yorktown, Lexington, Saratoga, Hornet, and Enterprise, while the Japanese owned seven large and four light carriers, as well as all available strength and a use of over 200 ships. Admiral Nimitz, convinced of the Japanese forces’ intentions towards Midway, ordered all carriers to return to Pearl Harbor in May of 1942, instructed Spruance to take command of Task Force 16 from the Enterprise, and began to carry out his Operation Plan No. 29-42 to protect Midway. On 3 June, 1942, Japanese forces were sighted at Midway by U.S. reconnaissance planes, and by June 4, they launched their first strike, although still unaware of U.S. fleet presence. U.S. forces were able to launch an attack on the Japanese carrier force; however, the carrier Hiryu and a full air group were still not located. Despite being limited in accurate information, Spruance was able to make a critically timed decision to send up attack planes left on the two remaining U.S. carriers, which were able to make four dive bomb hits on the flight deck of Hiryu, causing its sinking and