Pre-battle Documents
CinC, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Estimate of the Situation CinC U.S. Pacific Fleet. Operation Plan No. 29-42 CinC U.S. Pacific Fleet. Letter. May 28, 1942 Cmdr. PatWing 2. Memorandum. May 23, 1942 Cmdr. PatRon 44. Operation Plan. June 1, 1942 CO 6th Def. Btn. F.M.F. Instruction No. 3-42
Action Reports
CinC, U.S. Pacific Fleet. June 28, 1942 Cmdr. Task Force SIXTEEN. June 16, 1942 Cmdr. Task Force SEVENTEEN. June 14, 1942 CO U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5). June 18, 1942 CO U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6). June 8, 1942 CO U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6). June 13, 1942 CO U.S.S. HORNET (CV-8). June 13, 1942 Cmdr. Bombing Squadron 3 (VB-3). June 10, 1942 Cmdr. Scouting Squadron 5 (VS-5). June 7, 1942 Cmdr. Bombing Squadron 6 (VB-6). June 10, 1942 Cmdr. Scouting Squadron 6 (VS-6). June 20, 1942 CO Naval Air Station, Midway. June 18, 1942 OpO Naval Air Station, Midway. June 15, 1942 CO 6th Defense Bn., F.M.F. June 13, 1942 CO Marine Aircraft Group 22. June 7, 1942 XO Marine Aircraft Group 22. June 7, 1942 CO Marine Fighting Squadron 221. June 6, 1942 CO Marine Scout-Bombing 241. June 12, 1942
War Diaries, Logs
NAS Midway Island. War Diary, May 1-29, 1942 NAS Midway Island. War Diary, Battle of Midway U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6). War Diary, June 1942 U.S.S. HORNET (CV-8). Deck Logs, June 4-6, 1942
Early Researches
ONI Combat Narratives: Battle of Midway, 1943 The Japanese Story of the Battle of Midway, 1947 Richard W. Bates, U. S. Naval War College, 1948
  CinC, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Estimate of the Situation May 26, 1942
 
S E C R E TMay 26, 1942


ESTIMATE OF THE SITUATION

ATTACK ON HAWAIIAN AND ALASKAN BASES

PART I - MISSION


The Problem

1.          There are indications that the enemy will make a strong simultaneous effort, commencing after May 26, 1942, to -

(a)  Capture MIDWAY for possible subsequent operations against OAHU, and

(b)  Capture an advanced position in the ALEUTIAN ISLANDS.
The problem here considered is how to deal with that

enemy effort, while continuing to carry out tasks assigned but not directly related to this problem.

The Situation

2.          The basic task of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, which applies is:

"covering and holding the line HAWAII-MIDWAY and maintaining its communications with West Coast".

          The Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas, is assigned, among others, the following supplementary tasks:

"(a) Hold island positions between the United States and Southwest Pacific Area necessary for security of the line of communications between these regions and for supporting naval, air, and amphibious operations against Japanese."

"(d) Support defense of the continent of North America."

"(e) Protect essential sea and air communications."

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3.    The following is quoted from a message from COMINCH:

"I consider that our appropriate strategy is to make strong concentration HAWAIIAN AREA and ---- to employ strong attrition tactics and not allow our forces to accept such decisive action as would be likely to incur heavy losses in our carriers and cruisers.

 

"Create for the defense of ALASKA the North Pacific Force comprising northwest sea frontier forces plus such western sea frontier forces as you elect to include sound school destroyers and submarines plus such Fleet units as you can make available all preferably to be concentrated initially at KODIAK and/or COLD BAY."

 

4.    The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet will employ the major part of his forces to repel these attacks. He will expect full cooperation from Army forces stationed in ALASKA.

 

 

 

 

 

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PART II - SURVEY OF OPPOSING STRENGTHS

1. (a) The Japanese have just experienced a setback in the NEW BRITAIN - NEW GUINEA Area. In spite of this, their morale is high.

(b) It is to be expected, that the planning for this campaign will be excellent and the preparations complete. They are indicated having a rehearsal for parts of the campaign.

(c) Their planes, are generally speaking, of greater range than ours. Their fighters out-perform ours.

(d) They have amply demonstrated their ability to use their carrier air with great ability. We can no longer under-estimate their naval air efficiency.

(e) On the other hand, our men are just as brave, and those who have been properly trained are believed to be better than their opposite Jap number. Our Army is untried except in Bataan. The Army air has not demonstrated that it has the ability to coordinate with surface forces, and they are not very successful in hitting mobile targets with their high altitude bombers.

(f) Our submarines have demonstrated considerable superiority. Division tactics have not been tried out against the enemy.

 

 

 

 

 

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2.     Character of the Theater.

(a) Hydrography, topography. The Hawaiian Sea Frontier presents no problem. Ships up to the size of CAs can enter and berth at MIDWAY, but must exercise extreme caution.

   In the ALASKAN Sector navigation is difficult because of fog. Charts are only fairly accurate. Harbors are generally poor from the viewpoint of the fair weather sailor. The best anchorage for a Fleet is at COLD HARBOR, but it has no resources. The islands are rugged and very thinly populated and will not support troops.

(b) The Weather. The normal trades are expected in the Hawaiian Islands Area, while in the Aleutians south of the chain overcast weather with fog and occasional rain will be an average condition. North of the Aleutian chain there will be a somewhat higher percentage of good flying weather.

(c) Daylight will be from about 0341 to 2014 in Latitude 25°N on June 1st. In Latitude 50°N It will be from about 0023 to 2342.

    There will be a full moon on June 1st.

(d) The following distances are pertinent:

PEARL
PEARL
PEARL
MIDWAY
MIDWAY
DUTCH HARBOR
DUTCH HARBOR 
to MIDWAY
to SAN DIEGO
to DUTCH HARBOR
to SAIPAN
to DUTCH HARBOR    
to COLD BAY
to KODIAK
1149 mi.
2200 mi.
2046 mi.
2300 mi.
1653 mi.
 200 mi.
 600 ml.

 

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2.     (Continued)

SAIPAN       
SAIPAN
WOTJE
to TOKYO           
to TRUK
to PEARL
1343 mi.
 570 mi.
1986 mi.

3.     Information.

(a) Our sole source of information for this problem is RI and CI. The enemy may be deceiving us.

(b) We may expect the enemy to have had full information prior to December 7, 1941. Since that time he has not had such good opportunities. Nevertheless he spotted the return of Task Force 16 in April due to our radio carelessness.

(c) Communication facilities are considered equal, with the exception of our ECM.

4.     Enemy Forces.

(a) Ultimate Japanese strength which will be employed In each sector cannot be accurately determined at this time.

In the Hawaiian sector he may employ:

Cominch estimate     CinCPac estimate
Fast BBs
Crudivs 4 and 8
Cardivs 1 & 2 plus 1  
At least 2 Desrons
A landing force
4
?
5
?
?
        BBs         
CVs
CAs
DDs
SS
 2-4
  4
 8-9
15-20
  2 surbrons
      A landing force.

 

 

II-3

4.     (Continued)

In the Alaskan Sector he may employ:

Cardiv Three (RYUJO and 1 XCV)

NACHI (Flag CInC 5th Fleet)

One section of Crudiv 4

One old cruiser of TAMA type

Desron ONE, less 1 Desdiv, and Desdiv TWO

Subron ONE

2 CV 
1 CA 
2 CA 
1 OCL
16 DD 
8-10 SS 

This force will escort and cover auxiliary types consisting of transports, landing boat carriers, cargo vessels, and tankers.

(b) Shore based air can only be employed by some refueling method such as fueling seaplanes from submarines and/or tankers, and using CVs to act as staging points.

5.     Bases.

The nearest bases are too far distant for consideration. He will be well over 2000 miles from any good base support.

6.     Own Forces.

(a) Battleships.

 We have seven battleships on the Pacific Coast. All of them can be moved westward, but because of entire lack of air support and inadequacy of screening vessels they will be kept where they are at the present. They could hardly be secure at Pearl during the period of this estimate because of the strong probability of an air raid.

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6.     (Continued)

(b) Carrier Task Forces.

(1) Task Force SIX­TEEN should ar­rive in the OAHU area about May 26th. De­part­ing OAHU 28 May it can ar­rive off MID­WAY, fu­eled, about 1 June.

(2) Task Force SEVENTEEN will arrive Pearl about May 28th. The YORKTOWN is damaged and must receive plane replacements. It is possible that she can be placed in service four days after arrival Pearl. If she cannot be given adequate temporary repairs in that time she will be sent to BREMERTON at once.

(3) The SARATOGA will be ready at San Diego June 5th. She could, arrive in the critical area of the Central Pacific only if the Japs are considerably later than now expected.

(4) The WASP will not arrive in time to be considered.

(5) The LONG ISLAND is not suitable as a Carrier Task Force nucleus for present operations but might be used after June 15th.

(c) North Pacific Force.

 This force is being formed at the direction of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet. It comprises all of the forces which can reach Alaskan waters during the first week in June.

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6.     (c) (Continued)

As Task Force EIGHT, this will eventually comprise: 2 CA, 3 CL, 12 DD, PG, 1 AVP, 1 AM, 14 YP, 4 AMC, 15 CG, 6 SS, 20 PBY-5A, 9 VSO and all Army aircraft that can be made available.

The major part of this task force can rendezvous at COLD BAY or KODIAK about June 5th.

Being opposed to a force containing carriers, it must depend very heavily on land based air.

(d) Escorts.

 All of the remaining surface forces are assigned to escort duty.

(e) Submarines.

 At daylight May 26th submarines will be disposed off MIDWAY as follows:

 1 - 50 miles NW of MIDWAY.

 1 - 50 miles NNW of MIDWAY.

 3 - in the arc 215-315 from MIDWAY distant 175

     miles.

 Eight more submarines will be ready at Pearl between May 24 - 30 to take up offensive patrol in the MIDWAY - OAHU Area.

 Other submarines of the Pacific Fleet not under overhaul are on patrol in enemy waters.

(f) Oilers.

(1) The COMET with ten days oil for Task Force EIGHT is being sent to KODIAK for orders. The SABINE is available for that force also.

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6.     (f) (Continued)

 (2) Other oilers will be used as necessary in the Hawaiian Sea Frontier.

(g) Aircraft.

      ARMY      
NUMBER TYPE REMARKS
50 Heavy bombers
   (B-17)
30 of these are already here. The re-
maining 20 are due within the next few
days, to stay here until further orders.
26 Medium bombers
   (B-26)
Due within next few days, to remain
here until further orders.
17 Medium bombers
   (B-18)
These are obsolescent.
180  Pursuit
   (P-39, P-40)
 
 7 Attack (A-20)  
NAVY
96 Patrol Does not include 18 planes at NOUMEA.
Does include 16 at or enroute MIDWAY.
Total actually based OAHU and KAUAI: 80.
11 more due within a few weeks.
43 Fighters SARATOGA Squadron (22) and Marines (21).
27 more in reserve as CV replacements.
29 Scout Bombers SARATOGA Squadron (18) and Marines (11).
16 more in reserve as CV replacements.
13 Torpedo planes SARATOGA Squadron. 3 more in reserve
as CV replacements.
15 VO/VS

 

12 VJ (large)

 

26 VJ (small)

 

II-7

6.     (Continued)

(h) Bases

(1) Pearl Harbor is being cleared of shipping as far as possible.

(2) Midway can be used as a staging point for Army bombers.

(3) Alaskan bases are shown in Annex "A" to Task Force EIGHT Operation Plan No. 28-42.

(i) 

i. Defense troops at:    
    OAHU (Army) 64,843 total
    MIDWAY (Marines) Officers Men
      Defense Battalion 71 1828
      2 Raider Companies  9 270
  ii. ALASKA (Army) troops 23,518 total
  iii.   Note: The above does not include air personnel
at MIDWAY who are sufficient to handle the 16
PBY (Navy) and the 54 Marine planes, but do
include some air personnel in ALASKA.

7.     Logistics.

The enemy will have a difficult logistic problem. Because of this the time spent by their combatant types east of 180° will be strictly limited. Should they establish themselves in Alaska or Hawaii their logistic supply will be an immediate objective of the Pacific Fleet forces.

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7.     (Continued)

Own logistic supply will mainly be from Pearl. Small Navy tankers and supply ships now assigned to Alaska cannot be diverted to supply Task Force EIGHT.

8.     Summary of Strength and Weakness Factors.

Strength
Own Enemy
1. Fairly good idea of enemy
   intentions.
2. Present ability to detect
   changes in enemy intentions.
3. Fairly strong shore based air.
4. Strength inherent in de-
   fense of strong positions.
5. Reinforcement of MIDWAY.
6. Submarines available in
   probable area.
7. A strong base at PEARL.
8. Adequate logistics.
1. Superior CV and BB strength.
2. Sufficient and seasoned
   amphibious troops and trans-
   ports.
3. Training and experience in
   amphibious warfare.
4. Possible carrier VF super-
   iority.
5. Larger range of CV aircraft.
6. Efficient air weapons.
7. Initiative due to superior
   strength.
Weakness
Own Enemy
1. We are forced to employ
   attrition.
2. The Y0RKT0WN may have to
   go to Bremerton at once.
1. Operation projected at long
   distance from own bases.
2. Must establish new bases.
3. Difficult logistic problem.

 

II-9

8.     (Continued)

Weakness (Cont'd)
Own Enemy
3. We have no adequate air or
   submarine protection for
   our BBs.
4. Army air is of uncertain
   value.
5. Our submarines have not
   operated as a division
   against the enemy.
6. Coordination with the Army
   in Alaska will be difficult.
4. Inability to adapt them-
   selves to forced change
   of plan.
5. Striking forces will be
   hampered by train.

 

 

 

 

II-10

PART III - ENEMY COURSES OF ACTION

1.     The enemy knows our build­ing pro­gram - and that in time - our forces will be suf­fi­ciently strong to take the of­fen­sive. He fur­ther knows our de­fenses are in­ad­e­quate now - but grad­u­ally being strength­ened. Hence, from the time fac­tor alone, such op­er­a­tion should be con­ducted at the ear­li­est pos­si­ble time. While he is "ex­tended", he is able to as­sem­ble a con­sid­er­able force - as most of the oc­cu­pied ter­ri­tory is un­able to make any real ef­fort. He knows that AUS­TRALIA is being heav­ily re­in­forced from the United States and would un­doubt­edly de­sire to cut that sup­ply line. But he may also con­sider MID­WAY to be just an­other WAKE and ALASKA un­de­fended. Re­gard­less of our ideas of his strate­gic pos­si­bil­i­ties, the pur­pose here is to dis­cuss im­me­di­ate pos­si­bil­i­ties.

2.     To hamstring our efforts to build up facilities for the offensive we conclude that he will:

(a) Attempt to capture MIDWAY.

(b) Raid OAHU.

(c) Attempt to secure an advance position in the

    ALEUTIAN Islands.

3.     It is believed that his forces will depart for the ALEUTIANS from a point in northern Japan on May 25 or 26; and that the Hawaiian forces will depart from the SAIPAN Area a bit later. If these beliefs are accepted our opposing forces should be in initial positions in the ALASKAN Sector by June 1st and in the MIDWAY - OAHU Sector June 3rd.

 

III-1

PART IV - OWN COURSES OF ACTION

1.     We have decided:

(a) To retain the battleships on the West Coast.

(b) To employ Task Force SIXTEEN to the northeast of MIDWAY initially as soon as possible.

(c) To employ Task Force EIGHT in the ALEUTIANS.

(d) To initially employ a submarine screen of 6 fleet submarines off MIDWAY.

(e) To employ Task Force SEVENTEEN in the MIDWAY - OAHU Area if temporary repairs can be made at Pearl. Otherwise the YORKTOWN will be sent to Bremerton.

(f) To expedite the arrival of the SARATOGA in the HAWAIIAN Area.

(g) To reinforce the submarine screen with 6 fleet submarines at Pearl as soon as possible.

(h) To reinforce MIDWAY with PBYs, AA, and a small Raider Group.

(i) To alert forces in the HAWAIIAN Area.

(j) To clear Pearl Harbor of ships as much as is possible.

(k) To hold Army bombers enroute to AUSTRALIA at OAHU during the present emergency.

(1) To use MIDWAY to stage Army bombers to enemy carriers.

 

IV-1

 

2.     Danger from submarines and other raiders along the Pacific lines of communications requires the continued use of convoys and escorts.

3.     Not only our directive from Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet, but also common sense dictates that we cannot now afford to slug it out with the probably superior approaching Japanese forces. We must endeavor to reduce his forces by attrition - submarine attacks, air bombing, attack on isolated units. The principle of calculated chance is indicated, as set forth in a letter of instructions to Task Force EIGHT. If attrition is successful the enemy must accept the failure of his venture or risk battle on disadvantageous terms for him.

4.     There is the suggestion that the enemy will attempt to trap our surface forces. Our air umbrella will assist in preventing that.

5.     While the dif­fi­culty of plac­ing our sub­marines within reach of the enemy is ex­tremely great, and de­pen­dent to a large ex­tent on chance, the risk to them is no more than nor­mal and we only do it at the ex­pense of ul­ti­mate re­duc­tion in of­fen­sive pa­trol in close to the enemy home­land. The plac­ing of sub­ma­rine leav­ing Pearl May 28-30 will de­pend some­what on the RI and CI in­for­ma­tion.

 

IV-2

PART V - DISPOSITIONS AND FUTURE DECISIONS

1.     More information of the enemy is expected. On present information the following, not indicated in Part IV, is planned:

(a) All submarines available in the Hawaiian Area will be placed on a scouting line to the westward of Midway. They are assigned patrol sectors until contact. On contact they will close in for attack without regard to the assigned sectors.

(b) The SARATOGA will be the carrier of a new task force which will be assigned to the Striking Forces operating in the critical area.

(c) Key personnel under orders to other stations will be retained in present duties until further orders.

(d) Leave and liberty for officers and men will be cancelled until further orders.

(e) Extreme care will be used to prevent the enemy from gaining information of own deployment by radio or otherwise.

(f) The Amphibious Force at San Diego will be put on 48 hours notice in order that it may load and retake any positions captured by the enemy.

(g) Part of a marine Raider Battalion will be retained at Pearl for use in eventualities.

2.     The disposition of the YORKTOWN should be determined by May 28th.

3.     An Operation Plan for MIDWAY Area will be issued to all concerned prior to the departure of major forces.

 

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