Battle of Midway

Impact of Kamikaze in World War 2

Kamikaze were largely used during and following the Battle of Leyte Gulf until the end of the war. They were a major cause of American losses during the Battle of Okinawa. Approximately 3,800 kamikaze pilots died during the war. Around 7,000 Americans were killed by kamikaze attacks.

Island Hopping

American strategy used to defeat Japan; Americans would only attack islands that would allow us to build bomber bases to attack Japan. The Allies followed a plan of attacking some islands controlled by Japan and skipping others.

Kamikaze

Japanese suicide pilots who loaded their planes with explosives and crashed them into American ships.

Outcome of the Battle of Midway

Battle of Midway - Casualties: US Pacific Fleet Losses 340 killed Aircraft Carrier USS Yorktown Destroyer USS Hammann 145 aircraft Imperial Japanese Navy Losses 3,057 killed, many of the Japanese dead were experienced pilots. Aircraft Carrier Akagi, Aircraft Carrier Kaga, Aircraft Carrier Soryu, Aircraft Carrier Hiryu, Heavy Cruiser Mikuma and 228 aircraft.

Rear Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi

Commander of the Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu who chose to "go down with his ship" costing the Japanese Navy one of its best carrier commanders.

Admiral Chester Nimitz

Commander of the Pacific Fleet during World War 2. He was assigned as Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Area, giving him command of all sea, land, and air forces in that area. He was largely responsible for developing the "island hopping" strategy for defeating the Japanese.

Battle of Leyte Gulf

Fought between October 23 and 26, 1944, the Battle of Leyte Gulf was the largest naval battle in history. The victory in which the United States navy destroyed most of what was left of the Japanese navy. The First Kamikazes were used in Leyte Gulf.

Breaking the Japanese Navy's JN-25B Code

Japanese Objective AF Midway Island sent a false message stating that its water distillation plant had been damaged and that the base needed fresh water. The Japanese intercepted this and soon started sending messages that "AF was short on water. Thus the Americans knew the Japanese planned to move toward Midway.

General Douglas MacArthur

MacArthur commanded the Allied forces in the Philippines when Japan attacked in 1941. He was ordered to Australia by President Roosevelt when it became obvious the islands could not be defended. He was named commander of the forces in the Southwest Pacific after his arrival in Australia.

Kamikaze culture

Pilots attended their own funeral ceremonies before taking off on suicide missions.

Reason for the Battle of Midway

The Japanese wanted a decisive victory over the U. S. Pacific fleet that would create a "barrier" to protect Japan from attack and force the U. S. to capitulate in the Pacific leaving it free to create the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere. The Japanese high command hoped to lure the American aircraft carriers into a trap and destroy them. The Americans had broken the Japanese naval code and knew the Japanese naval force was heading for Midway in early June, 1942, six months after Pearl Harbor and one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea. Doolittle's raid on Tokyo was on April 18, 1942. The U. S. lost the carrier Lexington and the Yorktown had been badly damaged. Unknown to the Japanese, the Yorktown had been repaired and took a decisive role in the Midway battle. The Japanese forces were not deployed in such a way that they could not be used to their full potential. The Japanese Army's invasion to the Aleutian Islands of Attu and Kiska also reduced the number of ships the Imperial Navy had available for the Midway action. These factors combined with the underestimate of the strength and morale of the American force added to the potential for disaster for the Japanese. Despite early success shooting down a large number of American dive bombers and torpedo bombers, the Japanese only managed to cause significant damage to one U. S. carrier, the Yorktown, and the sinking of the destroyer Hammann.

Battle of Midway

U.S. naval victory over the Japanese fleet in June 1942, in which the Japanese lost four of their best aircraft carriers. It marked a turning point in World War II.

Result of the Battle of Leyte Gulf

US 3,000 dead; 1 light carrier,2 escort carriers, 2 destroyers, 1 destroyer escort sunk 200+ planes[1]~ Japan 10,500 dead; 1 fleet carrier, 3 light carriers, 3 battleships, 10 cruisers, 11 destroyers sunk, 500 planes.