Overview

A detailed re-examination of Midway, the most famous battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II. In June 1942, the United States Navy (USN) inflicted a decisive defeat on the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) off Midway Atoll. During the battle, four Japanese fleet carriers were lost, while the Americans suffered the loss of a single carrier. This dramatic result blunted the IJN’s offensive capabilities in the Pacific and passed the initiative to the USN. The course of the battle has been outlined in many previous works. Since this was only the second carrier battle in history, doctrine for both sides was immature. This book will carefully examine the competing doctrines, as well as the tactics used by both sides. Much of this was driven by the ships and aircraft in service, while both sides had leaders who struggled under existing doctrine. Only after understanding existing doctrine, tactics, leaders, and the capabilities of the ships and aircraft involved can the results of the battle be fully explained and understood. The American plan was driven by exquisite intelligence and Admiral Nimitz’s courage to use it to the extent he committed the USN’s remaining strength to the battle. The Japanese plan exhibited total arrogance and set their carrier force up for defeat in detail. This is a book built around hard-core analysis of the battle. The reasons for the American victory and the Japanese disaster will be fully outlined. In the final analysis, as is true in many battles, the side making the fewest errors and with the most fortune prevailed. At Midway, American luck, magnified by bad Japanese doctrine and decisions, provided the margin of victory. As unsatisfying as this conclusion may be to many, the role of luck dominated in the outcome of the battle and needs to be a point of emphasis. No other book on Midway will provide such a thorough analysis of the battle. Other books have rigorously examined aspects o the battle, often from a single side, but none will present this level of insight into Midway.

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9781472862068

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Reviews

[Mark Stille] ably presents the strategic context of the campaign, illuminates the tactical similarities and differences between the two navies, and adroitly compares the opposing commanders… a wonderful introduction to, as the subtitle boldly declares, The Pacific War’s Most Famous Battle. * Jon B. Lundstrom, author of 'Black Shoe Carrier Admiral and The First Team' * Mark Stille's unique perspective as a former naval intelligence officer, and his adroit utilization of newer Japanese sources, make this a must-have for any serious student of this, the most important naval battle of the Second World War. * Jon Parshall, co-author of 'Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway' *

[Mark Stille] ably presents the strategic context of the campaign, illuminates the tactical similarities and differences between the two navies, and adroitly compares the opposing commanders… a wonderful introduction to, as the subtitle boldly declares, The Pacific War’s Most Famous Battle. * Jon B. Lundstrom, author of 'Black Shoe Carrier' Admiral and 'The First Team' * Mark Stille's unique perspective as a former naval intelligence officer, and his adroit utilization of newer Japanese sources, make this a must-have for any serious student of this, the most important naval battle of the Second World War. * Jon Parshall, co-author of 'Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway' * A major contribution to naval history. * Alan D. Zimm, author of 'Attack on Pearl Harbor' * Stille once again takes on the monumental task of challenging an accepted historical narrative and carries it off splendidly. The Midway epis is no longer gathering historical dust – it has emerged again as a stirring chapter in modern naval warfare. * History of War *

Author Information

Mark Stille is the author of numerous Osprey titles focusing on naval history in the Pacific. He recently concluded a nearly 40-year career in the intelligence community, including tours on the faculty of the Naval War College, on the Joint Staff and on US Navy ships. He received his BA in History from the University of Maryland and also holds an MA from the Naval War College.

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