the Battle of Midway - June 4, 1942.

[DGUtley]

This is considered the greatest sea battle of the Pacific theater. It started 77 years ago today. It’s aftermath left the Japanese in the position of not being able to launch offensive sea warfare. I don’t think it’s strategic importance can be overstated. If you read about it in American luck played a huge part in it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Midway

[Mister D]

I have no doubt that luck played a role (doesn't it always?) but I don't believe the Empire of Japan ever stood a chance after the failure at Pearl Harbor.

[alexa]

Nagumo's indecisiveness doomed the Japanese.

Yamamoto's strategic abilities had no tactical counterpart in the IJN, else Pearl Harbor would have truly been the knockout blow Yamamoto envisioned. A successful third attack on the fuel dumps and repair facilities would have crippled the Pacific Fleet for years. Here again Nagumo commanded.

The importance of MAGIC cannot be overestimated at Midway.

This takes nothing away from the performance of Fletcher and Spruance, but without MAGIC they would not have been in position to defend Midway in the first place.

My late father-in-law flew a Dauntless off the Hornet.

He never spoke of it.

[MisterVeritis]

Nagumo's indecisiveness doomed the Japanese.

Yamamoto's strategic abilities had no tactical counterpart in the IJN, else Pearl Harbor would have truly been the knockout blow Yamamoto envisioned. A successful third attack on the fuel dumps and repair facilities would have crippled the Pacific Fleet for years. Here again Nagumo commanded.

The importance of MAGIC cannot be overestimated at Midway.

This takes nothing away from the performance of Fletcher and Spruance, but without MAGIC they would not have been in position to defend Midway in the first place.

Where were the two American Carriers?
American Air Defense Artillery took down a significant number of Japanese aircraft in the second wave.
The Japanese Combined Fleet was within range of the American land based bombers.
Turn-around time for the third wave attack would have returning Japanese planes conducting night carrier landings.

Japanese naval doctrine place emphasis on conserving the fighting strength. The Japanese primary objective was to destroy the American fleet.

One makes decisions with the best information one has available. We make assumptions to fill in the gaps.

On December 7th I side with Nagumo.

[alexa]

Where were the two American Carriers?
American Air Defense Artillery took down a significant number of Japanese aircraft in the second wave.
The Japanese Combined Fleet was within range of the American land based bombers.
Turn-around time for the third wave attack would have returning Japanese planes conducting night carrier landings.

Japanese naval doctrine place emphasis on conserving the fighting strength. The Japanese primary objective was to destroy the American fleet.

One makes decisions with the best information one has available. We make assumptions to fill in the gaps.

On December 7th I side with Nagumo.

I'm not surprised.

You're wrong, of course, and that doesn't surprise me either.

20 planes out of over 400 isn't significant.

Since only five (5) US planes got off the ground during the first two waves, I don't think that was an immediate concern.

The Japanese pilots were all well trained and experienced in night ops, so that's a fail too.



You did get the primary objective right.

Kudos

[MisterVeritis]

I'm not surprised.

You're wrong, of course, and that doesn't surprise me either.

20 planes out of over 400 isn't significant.

Since only five (5) US planes got off the ground during the first two waves, I don't think that was an immediate concern.

The Japanese pilots were all well trained and experienced in night ops, so that's a fail too.

You did get the primary objective right.

Kudos

Plane losses. The Japanese believe the Second Wave loses were significant. They were there. You were not.
You err on night carrier landings.

[alexa]

Plane losses. The Japanese believe the Second Wave loses were significant. They were there. You were not.
You err on night carrier landings.

5% loss is insignificant.

Nagumo was given command due to seniority; he knew little to nothing of naval aviation, although he had competent advisors.

The Japanese had been landing planes on carriers at night for ten years by 1942, including a week before at Coral Sea.

https://www.quora.com/In-WW2-was-the...rcraft-carrier

Sometimes they even landed on the right one.

[MisterVeritis]

5% loss is insignificant.

Nagumo was given command due to seniority; he knew little to nothing of naval aviation, although he had competent advisors.

The Japanese had been landing planes on carriers at night for ten years by 1942, including a week before at Coral Sea.

https://www.quora.com/In-WW2-was-the...rcraft-carrier

Sometimes they even landed on the right one.

You are dealing with near perfect hindsight. Japanese at the time offered their reasons. I accept them as reasonable. You do not. It is an interesting exercise. Nothing more.