Battle of MidwayBattle of Midway

Fought over U.S. Mid-Fought over U.S. Mid-Pacific BasePacific Base– Midway, AtollMidway, Atoll

June 4-7, 1942June 4-7, 1942

Japan had a superior navyJapan had a superior navy

Japan’s PlanJapan’s Plan

Japanese Fleet commanderJapanese Fleet commander– Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

Yamamoto wanted revenge Yamamoto wanted revenge for the Doolittle raidsfor the Doolittle raids

Wanted to destroy the Wanted to destroy the U.S.’s pacific striking forcesU.S.’s pacific striking forces

Yamamoto wished to follow up with an invasion of the atoll's two small islands and establish Japan’s own air base there

American CounterAmerican Counter

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz - the U.S. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz - the U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Pacific Fleet commander

Surprise attack thwarted by superior Surprise attack thwarted by superior American communications intelligence American communications intelligence

Nimitz established an ambush, having Nimitz established an ambush, having his carriers ready and waiting for the his carriers ready and waiting for the Japanese Japanese

Outcome of MidwayOutcome of Midway U.S. Ambushed the U.S. Ambushed the

JapaneseJapanese

America’s fleet America’s fleet successfully defended successfully defended MidwayMidway

4 irreplaceable Japanese 4 irreplaceable Japanese Fleet carriers destroyed.Fleet carriers destroyed.

Only 1 of 3 American Only 1 of 3 American Carriers was destroyedCarriers was destroyed

Why is Midway Important• Midway marks the turning point in pacific

naval superiority

Battle of GuadalcanalBattle of Guadalcanal

Guadalcanal is part of the Solomon Islands Guadalcanal is part of the Solomon Islands which lie to the north-eastern approaches which lie to the north-eastern approaches of Australia of Australia

Americans Americans were trying to were trying to re-capture re-capture taken Pacific taken Pacific islands islands

Codenamed Codenamed operation operation watchtower by watchtower by Allied troopsAllied troops

A Conflict EmergesA Conflict Emerges Its position made it strategically important Its position made it strategically important

for both sides in the Pacific War.for both sides in the Pacific War.

Japanese IncentiveJapanese Incentive

If the Japanese captured the island, If the Japanese captured the island, they could cut off the sea route they could cut off the sea route between Australia and America. between Australia and America.

Japan’s army wanted to consolidate Japan’s army wanted to consolidate their forces and abandon the islandtheir forces and abandon the island

Navy disagreed, they thought Navy disagreed, they thought abandoning it would make them abandoning it would make them seem weak.seem weak.

Americans would be better able to Americans would be better able to protect Australia from Japanese protect Australia from Japanese invasioninvasion

They could also protect the Allied They could also protect the Allied build-up in Australia that would act build-up in Australia that would act as a springboard for a major assault as a springboard for a major assault on the Japanese. on the Japanese.

American IncentiveAmerican Incentive

American troops slogging through the jungles of Guadalcanal.

Japanese air attack on shipping outside of Guadalcanal

The InvasionThe Invasion

August 7th, Americans attacked on August 7th, Americans attacked on Guadalcanal. Guadalcanal.

Up to that date, the amphibious force Up to that date, the amphibious force was the most powerful ever assembled. was the most powerful ever assembled.

The Americans achieved complete The Americans achieved complete tactical surprise. tactical surprise.

When Americans arrived on Red Beach When Americans arrived on Red Beach they met absolutely no resistance.they met absolutely no resistance.

Defending HendersonDefending Henderson

American troops American troops secured Henderson secured Henderson airfield.airfield.

Japanese bombed Japanese bombed airfield to prevent airfield to prevent American useAmerican use

Despite Japanese Despite Japanese efforts made efforts made repairs to airfield repairs to airfield using abandoned using abandoned Japanese vehiclesJapanese vehicles

Success for the AlliesSuccess for the Allies

Major-General Alexander Vandegrift Major-General Alexander Vandegrift placed marines in strategic defense placed marines in strategic defense points and held off Japanese points and held off Japanese attempts to retake the airfieldattempts to retake the airfield

Using Henderson airfield marines Using Henderson airfield marines received air support and supplies.received air support and supplies.

Japanese troops found it impossible Japanese troops found it impossible to trek through the tolling jungle and to trek through the tolling jungle and attack the Americans.attack the Americans.

Henderson AirfieldHenderson Airfield

Captured Japanese Artillery Allied Torpedo bombers on Henderson

Allied soldier prepares graves for fallen warriors

JAPANESE MG POSITION

Video of MidwayVideo of Midway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v4I6RGRW50&feature=fvw4I6RGRW50&feature=fvw