Battle of Midway, June 4-7 1942

6-4-2008 | eekitsagreek

[eekitsagreek]

Dauntless dive bombers during the battle.

A pre-war view of USS Yorktown.

[BIGLOOK]

“God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.”

[R W Reactionairy]

"the enemy had eight?"

[ArchAngel1983]

God Bless the United States Navy, for many have perished on the sea. Honor, Courage, Commitment… Rest in peace my long lost ship-mates.

[Loud Mime]

I pray with you! Duty’s call was well answered by those great sailors and aviators.

[eekitsagreek]

"the enemy had eight?"

I wonder if Walter Lord used that number when taking into account not just the Kido Butai at Midway, but all Japanese carriers that were involved with the Midway operation in one way or another. Let' see: For the Midway attack:
Akagi
Kaga
Hiryu
Soryu

For the diversionary raid in the Aleutians at Dutch Harbor:
Junyo
Ryujo

OK...that gives us six flattops. There was one carrier Hosho that was with the group of battleships well west of the flattops. That gives us seven. With that group was a seaplane carrier Chiyoda that was used to transport midget subs. Perhaps that was what Walter was thinking?

[eekitsagreek]

Here is a photo of a Wildcat that I took at an airshow many years ago. Great plane!

[eekitsagreek]

Also at this airshow was a Japanese A6M Zero fighter.

[EternalVigilance]

“God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.”

Amen.

[Bobalu]

The film 'Midway' starring Charlton Heston is a must-see.

[eekitsagreek]

[verklaring]

They had three carriers (one of them crippled); the enemy had eight.

Yes, all of them were not present. Some were in the Indian ocean and some were damaged at the battle of Coral Sea.

[verklaring]

You are correct. I forgot the Aleutian campaign

[alfa6]

The sun begin to set on the IJN at Midway.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[mavfin]

That looks correct: 4 of the 6 Pearl Harbor carriers: Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu

2 in the Aleutians

Chiyoda

1 with the Main Fleet

Shokaku and Zuikaku (the other 2 Pearl Harbor strikers) were elsewhere. One was in the yard after taking some bomb hits at Coral Sea, the other had taken heavy airgroup losses at Coral Sea.

[353FMG]

Nimitz was a great overall commander of the Pacific fleet but what I have read is that it was Admiral Fletcher who was the true conqueror at the Battle of Midway. In naval history he is compared to Nelson of Battle of Trafalgar fame.

[mavfin]

The sun begin to set on the IJN at Midway.

I'm not so sure the sun ever really shone on the IJN. Maybe for an hour or two at most. Check out

http://www.combinedfleet.com/economic.htm

for a good write-up about what Japan was getting into even starting a war with the US, and what might have happened *even if Japan had won at Midway*. Regardless, it was a great victory, especially for the codebreakers, without whose help, our carriers would not have been lying in wait at Midway for the Japanese fleet.

[mavfin]

Admiral Fletcher You mean Spruance perhaps? Fletcher was basically taken out of fleet command functions after leaving the transports uncovered at Guadalcanal, and at Midway, he basically left it up to Spruance.

[iowamark]

Japan had six heavy carriers, all of which attacked Pearl Harbor. The 2 newest, Shokaku and Zuikaku, were damaged at Coral Sea in May 1942 and thus missed Midway.

http://www.friesian.com/pearl.htm
The Strike Force -- Kido Butai, -- would consist of the largest number of aircraft carriers ever to operate together. The Akagi and Kaga, a reconstructed battlecruiser and battleship, were the Japanese equivalent of the American Lexington and Saratoga. The Hiryu and Sôryu were the Japanese equivalent of the American Enterprise, Yorktown, and Hornet. The newest Japanese carriers, Shokaku and Zuikaku, were roughly the equivalent of the American Essex class. It was originally thought that the latter would not be ready for the operation.