Yamamoto Isoroku by Mark Stille

Author:Mark Stille
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Yamamoto Isoroku
ISBN: 9781780964461
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

During the battle of the Coral Sea, the Japanese inflicted heavy losses on the Pacific Fleet with the carrier Lexington, shown here exploding, being sunk and a second carrier, Yorktown, being damaged. (Naval History and Heritage Command)

The attack on Midway was scheduled to open on the morning of June 3 with an air raid by the aircraft from Nagumo’s carriers. For this operation, Nagumo had only four carriers and these would approach Midway from the northwest to knock out Midway’s air strength. Strategic and tactical surprise was assumed. Further air strikes were planned against Midway on June 4 to prepare for a troop landing. A transport group was to deliver a total of 5,000 troops to Midway Atoll on June 6. Several forces supported the landing including a Close Support Group of four heavy cruisers and two destroyers, a minesweeper group, and the Invasion Force Main Body with two battleships, another four heavy cruisers, eight destroyers, and a light carrier.

Following the quick capture of the island (another faulty assumption as the combat elements of the landing force were not much larger than the entrenched American defenders), Japanese construction troops were tasked with making the base operational. They were given exactly one day to accomplish this before the expected clash with the American fleet.

The seizure of Midway was only the prelude to the most important phase of Yamamoto’s plan. The entire battle was being fought under the premise that an attack on Midway would force the Pacific Fleet into battle. Midway was the bait for the American fleet, which would dutifully depart Pearl Harbor to counterattack the Combined Fleet after Midway had been captured. Another startling assumption made by the Japanese was that the MI operation would gain the element of surprise and the Pacific Fleet would need three days to sortie from Pearl Harbor to Midway to give battle. This would give Yamamoto plenty of time to lay his trap. Yamamoto was concerned that an overwhelming show of force by the Combined Fleet could make the Americans think twice about playing their part in the drama and could prevent them from joining battle at all. This concern perhaps explains Yamamoto’s dispersal of forces, as a degree of deception was required so the Americans would not gauge his true strength.

After Midway was captured, the Invasion Force would remain near the island as bait to induce the Americans to fight. Nagumo’s carriers would move to a position some 500 miles to the northeast of the island. The other Japanese heavy forces would linger to the north, out of range of American reconnaissance. The Main Body, which contained Yamamoto’s flagship Yamato, would be positioned some 300 miles to the west of Nagumo’s force, and the other battleship force would move to a position some 500 miles north of the Main Body. Meanwhile, the two carriers assigned to the Aleutians operation would move south and take up position some 300 miles east of the Guard Force.

With all the Japanese forces in position it was assumed that the Pacific Fleet would then make an appearance to hit the invasion force near Midway.

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