Why was it called the Battle of
Midway?
Why was it called the Battle of Midway? It
was called the Battle of Midway because the fighting took place
around the Midway Atoll, part of the Hawaiian islands half-way
(midway) between East Asia and California. Definition: An atoll is a
ring-shaped reef, island, or chain of islands formed of coral. The
Midway Islands measure just 2.4 sq miles (6.2 sq km) covering 1,540
acres and consists of Sand Island, Spit Island and Eastern Island.
Where was the Battle of Midway
fought?
The Battle of Midway was fought over, and
near, the tiny US Pacific base at Midway Islands.
Who won the Battle of Midway?
The Battle of Midway was won by America
when the United States Navy defeated the Imperial Japanese naval
force and in one stroke reversed the dominant position of Japan in
the Pacific. The Japanese navy lost four aircraft carriers, a cruiser, 270 aircraft
and over 3,000 men during the battle including the highly trained and efficient Japanese aircraft
maintenance teams. The United States lost one aircraft
carrier, 307 men and 150 aircraft.
When was the Battle of Midway?
The Battle of Midway was fought June 3 -
7, 1942. The times and events of the battle are described in the
Battle of Midway Timeline.
What was the key to the American
success at the Battle of Midway?
The key to the American success at the
Battle of Midway was due to three important factors:
● American naval
intelligence broke Japan’s JN-25 code and knew at least a week
in advance that the Japanese naval force were planning to attack
Midway Islands around June 4, 1942. The US Navy therefore knew
when and where the Japanese would attack and how many aircraft
and ships it would attack with
● The Yorktown aircraft
carrier, which was undertaking repairs after damage at Pearl
Harbor, was rushed to reinforce the American force at Midway
Islands
● The United States had
land-based aircraft and also troops available for the battle
enabling the U.S. Marine Corps to shot down significant numbers
of enemy planes
Why was the Battle of Midway
important?
The Battle of Midway was a decisive
victory for the United States and turning point in the Pacific War.
Four important Japanese aircraft carriers were destroyed which
enabled America to halt the Japanese advance in the
Pacific.
Battle of Midway Aircraft
Carriers
The names of the US and Japanese aircraft
carriers at the Battle of Midway were as follows. The US had three
Aircraft Carriers: The USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Hornet (CV-8) and
USS Yorktown (CV-5). The USS Yorktown was sunk in the battle. The
Japanese had six Aircraft Carriers: The Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu.
The Zuiho and Hosho were light carriers. The Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and
Hiryu were all sunk
US Force at the Battle of Midway:
Order of Battle
The Order of battle relates to the units,
formations, and equipment. The US Force at the Battle of Midway
consisted of 3 carriers (Enterprise, Hornet and Yorktown), 8
cruisers,16 destroyers and 360 aircraft.
Japanese Force at the Battle of
Midway: Order of Battle
The Japanese Force at the Battle of Midway
consisted of 4 large carriers (Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and Hiryu), 2
light carriers (Zuiho and Hosho), 7 battleships, 14 cruisers, 15
submarines, 42 destroyers, 35 supporting ships and 280 planes.
Casualties and Death Toll
The United States lost 1 carrier, 1
destroyer and 150 aircraft were destroyed. 307 US servicemen were
killed at the Battle of Midway. The Japanese lost 4 carriers, 1
heavy cruiser and 248 aircraft. The Japanese death toll was 3,057.
Battle of Midway Facts
for kids
The following fact
sheet contains interesting information, history and
facts on Battle of Midway for kids.
Battle of Midway
Facts for kids
Battle of Midway
Facts - 1: Background
History: Following the surprise attack on
Pearl Harbor the
United States launched its first attack on the Japan by
the "Doolittle Tokyo Raiders". The
Doolittle Raid shocked
the Japanese who began to make plans to destroy the
American fleet in the Pacific in order to protect Tokyo
from further bombing.
Battle of Midway
Facts -
2: Background
History: Allied code-breakers and American naval
intelligence had alerted the US of the Japanese war
plans to invade New Guinea which resulted in the
Battle of the Coral Sea.
Battle of Midway
Facts -
3: Background
History: Naval intelligence then provided information
about Japanese plans to attack the American base at
Midway Island. American code breakers were able to
determine the date and the size of the attack, enabling
the forewarned U.S. Navy to set up an ambush of its own
to trap the Japanese fleet.
Battle of Midway
Facts - 4: Achieving complete surprise
over the Americans was the key prerequisite for Japanese success at
Midway. Japan had no idea that the US had broken their codes.
Battle of Midway
Facts -
5: The complex
Japanese war plan involved launching an attack on the
Aleutian Islands near Alaska in an attempt to divert
some of the American fleet. Two Japanese aircraft
carriers and 58 other ships were sent to the Aleutians.
This part of the Japanese plan failed, as the Americans
did not respond to the diversion.
Battle of Midway
Facts - 6: Due to battle
damage following the Battle of Coral Sea, the Americans
knew that the Japanese Carrier Strike Force consisted of
only four Aircraft Carriers, the Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and
Hiryu, would guarded by just a handful of cruisers and
destroyers.
Battle of Midway
Facts - 7: The destruction of
the four Japanese aircraft carriers would effectively
destroy Japan's naval strength.
Aircraft Carriers
allowed for planes to take off and land from anywhere in
the ocean
Continued...
Battle of Midway
Facts for kids
Facts
about the Battle of Midway Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet continues with interesting information, history and facts
on Battle of Midway for kids.
Battle of Midway
Facts for kids
Battle of Midway
Facts - 8:
The US Commanders at the Battle of
Midway were Admiral Chester Nimitz, Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletcher
(Task Force 17) and Rear Admiral Raymond Spruance (Task Force 16).
Battle of Midway
Facts - 9:
The commanders of the Imperial
Japanese Navy were Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Commander-in-Chief of
the Combined Fleet and Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo of the First Air
Fleet.
Battle of Midway
Facts - 10: The powerful
Japanese fleet was led by the four heavy carrier Mobile
Force supported by heavy units of the Main Body (First
Fleet) which vastly outnumbered the U.S. carrier force.
Battle of Midway
Facts -
11: The Fleet Marine
Force defense battalion consisting of Navy personnel,
Marine Corps, and Army air units were based on Midway
Islands.
Battle of Midway
Facts - 12: The conflict began
on June 4, 1942 as the Japanese, unaware they were
heading into an ambush, launched their aircraft to
attack the Midway Islands.
Battle of Midway
Facts - 13: The Americans were
well prepared for the attack and although the Marine
Corps suffered losses, 38 enemy warplanes were shot down
in a hail of anti-aircraft fire. The first Japanese wave
of attack returned to their aircraft carriers to refuel
and to re-arm.
Battle of Midway
Facts -
14: A second wave of
attack was launched by the Japanese only to be met by
aircraft launched from the three American carriers USS
Hornet, Yorktown, and Enterprise.
Battle of Midway
Facts - 15: Admiral Yamamoto was shocked to
learn about American aircraft carriers so near the area of conflict.
And the Japanese thought the U.S. only had two carriers. They were
not counting on the battle-damaged Yorktown also being in the area.
Battle of Midway
Facts - 16: US dive bombers
and torpedo bombers were launched from the US aircraft
carriers. The US Dive bombers dropped bombs on top of
the flight decks of the Japanese Aircraft carriers. The
US Torpedo bombers dropped torpedoes into the water
which propelled themselves in the direction of the enemy
warships.
Battle of Midway
Facts -
17: Within a matter of
minutes 3 Japanese aircraft carriers, the Kaga, Akagi
and Soryu were reduced to burning wrecks. The
Japanese also lost the heavy cruiser Mikuma. The fourth
Japanese aircraft carrier, the fourth was sunk a few
hours late, was sunk several hours later.
Battle of Midway
Facts - 18: The Americans
had dealt the Japanese navy a terrible blow and Admiral
Yamamoto ordered his remaining ships to retreat.
Battle of Midway
Facts for kids
Facts
about
Battle of Midway for kids:
For visitors interested in the early US history of
WW2 refer to the following articles:
Battle of Midway Facts for kids - President Franklin Roosevelt Video
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containing the
Battle of Midway Facts provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following
Franklin Roosevelt video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 32nd American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945.
Battle of Midway Facts
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Interesting Facts about Battle of Midway for kids and schools
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Battle of Midway Facts for kids
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Battle of Midway Facts with important dates and key
events
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Franklin Roosevelt
Presidency from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945
●
Fast, fun, Battle of Midway Facts for kids
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WW2 in the Pacific in the Battle of Midway
● Franklin Roosevelt Presidency and
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