XBradTC

By

XBradTC

·

Battle of Midway After Action Report

I’ve read quite a bit about the epic Battle of Midway, and even seen a movie or two. But I’ve never had a chance to read the Japanese after action reports. Until now.   Ammunition rooms were immediately ordered flooded, and all hands were ordered to fire-fighting stations. The pump system aboard, however, failed to…

I’ve read quite a bit about the epic Battle of Midway, and even seen a movie or two.

But I’ve never had a chance to read the Japanese after action reports.

Until now.

 

Ammunition rooms were immediately ordered flooded, and all hands were ordered to fire-fighting stations. The pump system aboard, however, failed to function and it became apparent that the fire would not be extinguishable in the immediate future. The headquarters, therefore, was moved to the Nagara at 0746. Subsequent to this, every effort was made to bring the fire under control but it became increasingly evident that there would be little hope of success.

At 1038, the Emperor’s portrait was transferred to the destroyer Nowake. By 1620, the situation was deemed hopeless, and the captain of the Akagi decided to order all hands to abandon ship. A report to that effect was made to the commander of the Mobile Force and the order was issued at 1625. Personnel began transferring to the destroyers Arashi and Nowake at 1700. At 1925 CinC Combined Fleet ordered: "Delay disposition." While standing by awaiting further orders, CinC Combined Fleet ordered: "Dispose," at 0150 on the 6th. In accordance with this order, the ship was scuttled at 0200, in position 30-30N, 178-40W.

Tags:

Responses to “Battle of Midway After Action Report”

  1. KenH

    Bear in mind, this is the NAGUMO Report, a creation mostly of Fuchida , with some input from the staff. As such, it is not the most accurate, or also, most truthful document there is. Shattered Sword, and just about every Japanese Historian, tears it (and especially Fuchida) to tiny bits

    Like

  2. Stormy

    KenH already beat me to the recommendation on Shattered Sword. I thought I knew everything about Midway, but Shattered Sword gave some fantastic insight into the how’s and why’s of the battle from the Japanese perspective.

    Like

  3. Captain Ned

    I bought Shattered Sword when it came out and it tore the then-given Midway account )mainly Fuchida’s) to pieces. It wasn’t indecision, it was Nagumo following doctrine (after all, who in that system deviates from what Yamamoto laid down) and physical constraints on stowing ordnance that left those decks strewn with splodey bits at the exact time the SBDs showed up.

    Like

  4. NaCly Dog

    Shattered Sword is an eyeopener. History done right, and compellingly written.
    I aver that the American side of Midway needs it’s own examination at the Shattered Sword level of detail. We have swept a little under the rug, like the Hornet dive bombers and fighters.

    Like

  5. rsmith

    re Hornet “Dawn Like Thunder” really roasts the Hornet air group commander Stanhope(?) Ring and from the footnotes to the appendix it looks like he deserves every line of it everyone else headed south west Ring and everyone else (except Torpedo 8) flew west and then completley around the battle he also wound up killing most of the missing fighter pilots by delibertaly misstating where they had been heading of course he got promoted (Hey We won!)

    Like

Leave a comment