A 'yuuuuuuuuuge' 'THANK YOU' to JK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd8_vO5zrjo

My American political/military/history correspondent and, I almost forgot, also my Chief Archivist, 'JK', sent me the above link because of my utter fascination with the Battle of Midway.  Whilst I recognise that not all of you share my fascination with matters military, this battle was utterly crucial in the war in the Pacific against Japan.  Given its, er, 'fluid' nature - well, dammit, it was a naval/air battle! - and therefor the myriad 'ifs, buts and maybes' - this computer generated illustration is superb! 

Even so, for anyone coming fresh to it, I would advise reading a couple of books on the subject first!  I would recommend "MIDWAY: The Battle that doomed Japan" by Mitsuo Fuchida and Masatake Okumiya which, just like the YouTube presentation above, gives a Japanese perspective to the battle.  For an American view, try "Miracle at Midway" by Gordon Prange.  In its way, this single battle sums up the nature of warfare in which tiny incidents and factors can tip a battle this way or that.

Sorry to bore on but  . . .

 

 

 

Comments

[JK]

https://ninetymilesfromtyranny.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-attack-on-pearl-harbor-taken-from.html

[JK]

https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2019/12/saturday-snippet-uss-enterprise-and.html

It's often asked, "Where were the carriers"?

Though, given the IJN's very recent tactical innovations (as explicated in David's archives) the presence of such carriers would not have been but a detriment.

[Ridhard]

The Americans thought Midway was the turning point. The Japanese thought it was Guadalcanal.

They were both right.

[JK]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB5hH3ksvKE

Actually 'Ridhard' (Richard?) I think the Japanese were correct.

https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2016/december/taranto-pearl-harbor-connection

Carrier operations being "brand new" an' all.

[Richard]

As a former ground pounder, I yield to your superior knowledge on naval matters.
Having said that though, at Midway, the Japanese lost four carriers against one for the Americans. At and around Guadalcanal, both sides took heavy losses, which included numerous destroyers, heavy cruisers, the carrier Hornet (American) plus the battleships Kirishima and Hiei for the Japs. As is usually the case, logistics were to overshadow tactics. The Japanese couldn't replace their losses, whereas the Americans not only did, but expanded her fleet to the mightiest navy the world has yet seen.

Yamamoto's remark about 'wakening a sleeping giant and giving it terrible resolve' was bang on the mark.

[Malcolm Pollack]

Hi David,

See also these podcasts from John Batchelor.

[David Duff]

Richard, very pleased to see that you seem to have made a 'safe landing' on D&N again! Also, though I hesitate to argue with JK's sources, I think you are right. From the Grand Strategic viewpoint, the USA/Japanese war was an oceanic war in which the aircraft carrier ruled supreme. I do not belittle in any way the many land battles that were fought as the American approached the Japanese mainland but the 'queen' on the Pacific chess board was the carrier! And remember, I may only have been a Corporal but my rank was substantive!

[JK]

Shall we recall the first imperative was Germany's defeat?

And that Guadalcanal was the first by the US Navy in the offensive posture? Hindsight only allows us to view Midway as we may and, as Japan's view being, apparently, formed closer to the events ("we" bearing in mind that which "we" could not see then) the Japanese recognition they'd need implore the "Divine Wind"?

For when it is recognized an enemy is no longer "restricted" to conducting defensive actions it is only then possible to view the fulcrum.

[SCOTTtheBADGER]

This is a must read, from the Japanese side.
https://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Sword-Untold-Battle-Japanese-ebook/dp/B005NIQ8SM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Shattered+Sword&qid=1575796073&sr=8-1

[JK]

And to that recommendation SCOTTtheBADGER,

Whilst I'm unable to fire a 21 gun salute I'll nevertheless be hoping my firing "some few" of mine 21 times today will be suffice?

[Andra]

JK knows a lot of stuff but he lives in a cryptic world to make things more interesting.

[JK]

Nothing cryptic a'tall this time Andra.

What today was was November's monthly skeet and then pistols target competition. And while it ain't an "official part" of the get-together there is some smallish number of us 'reach-out-and-touch' ex-military types takes an interest in hitting stuff out to a quarter mile. To me that there'uns funner than who hit John.

And I compete in four handgun calibers.

Though my blunderbussing skills leave alot to be desired I do admit.

[Andra]

Oh, well, that's made all the difference. Now I know where we're at. Pass the wine Sabrina.