IJ Combined Fleet and US Pacific Fleet Commanders

Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto (HQ aboard BB Yamato)

Adm. Chester W. Nimitz (HQ at Pearl Harbor)

This is the order of battle for the Battle of Midway, a major engagement of the Pacific Theatre of World War II, fought 4–7 June 1942 by naval and air forces of Imperial Japan and the United States in the waters around Midway Atoll in the far northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

The Japanese had two purposes for the campaign: to occupy Midway for use as a base for long-range search planes (for which the Americans were already using it), and to draw the US Pacific Fleet out of its base at Pearl Harbor for a decisive showdown battle.

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet (comprising all combat vessels) and mastermind of the Pearl Harbor Attack, was tasked with drawing up the operational plan. The Japanese Naval General Staff, responsible for strategic planning, required him to include a diversionary move as part of his detailed battle plan; they told him to include a side operation that would result in the capture of two islands in the Aleutians chain, believing that the occupation of even a tiny portion of a US possession would be sufficient to draw out the bulk of the Pacific Fleet.^[1]

US Navy code-breaking, breathtaking Japanese overconfidence and the courage of American carrier fliers combined to create both a strategic and a tactical defeat for the Japanese: they failed to capture Midway and they suffered much greater losses in ships and planes than did the Americans (the loss of experienced naval pilots would prove to be particularly costly as the war dragged on). Midway put an end to Japanese expansion in the Pacific.

Because the Japanese assumed the tactical initiative, their forces are listed first.

Overview

Ships involved in the Midway operation^[2][3]
Losses indicated by *, counts in parentheses

Combat vessels

Auxiliaries

Aircraft

Japan

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto^[a]
Commander, Combined Fleet

The only significant combat, both offensive and defensive, was experienced by Nagumo's First Striking Force. Kurita's transports were bombed with limited success by B-17s of the US Army Air Corps, but the vast majority Japanese ships saw no action during the entire Midway campaign.

First Fleet

First Fleet Main Force

Admiral Yamamoto in Yamato

1st Battleship Division

1 Yamato-class battleship (9 × 18-in. main battery)

Yamato (Rear Adm. Gihachi Takayanagi)

2 Nagato-class battleships (8 × 16-in. main battery)

Mutsu (Rear Adm. Gunji Kogure)

Nagato (Captain Hideo Yano)

Carrier Group:

CVL Hōshō (Capt. Kaoru Umetani)

Air Unit: 8 Yokosuka B4Y1 'Jean' biplane torpedo bombers (Lieutenant Yoshiaki Irikiin)

1 Minekaze-class destroyer (4 × 4.7-in. main battery)

Yūkaze (Lt. Cmdr. Shizuka Kajimoto)

Special Force

CVS Chiyoda (Capt. Kaku Harada)

CVS Nisshin (Capt. Katsumi Komazawa)

Screening Force

3rd Destroyer Squadron

Rear Admiral Shintaro Hashimoto^[b] in Sendai

1 Sendai-class cruiser (7 × 5.5-in. main battery)

Sendai (Capt. Nobue Morishita)

11th Destroyer Division (Capt. Kichiro Shoji)

4 Fubuki-class destroyers (6 × 5-in. main battery)

Fubuki (Lt. Cmdr. Shizuo Yamashita)

Shirayuki (Lt. Cmdr. Rokoro Sugawara)

Hatsuyuki (Lt. Cmdr. Junnari Kamiura)

Murakumo (Lt. Cmdr. Hideo Higashi)

19th Destroyer Division (Capt. Ranji Oe)

4 Fubuki-class destroyers (6 × 5-in. main battery)

Isonami (Cmdr. Ryokichi Sugama)

Uranami (Lt. Cmdr. Tsutomu Hagio)

Shikinami (Lt. Cmdr. Akifumi Kawahashi)

Ayanami (Cmdr. Eiji Sakuma)

1st Supply Group

Captain Shigeyasu Nishioka in Naruto

AO Naruto (Capt. Nishioka)

AO Toei Maru

First Carrier Striking Force / First Air Fleet

Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo^[c] in Akagi

1st Carrier Division

Vice Admiral Nagumo

Akagi (scuttled 5 June) (Capt. Taijiro Aoki)

Air Unit (Commander Mitsuo Fuchida)

18 Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 21 'Zeke' fighters (Lt. Cmdr. Shigeru Itaya)

18 Aichi D3A1 'Val' dive bombers (Lt. Takehiko Chihaya)

18 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. Shigeharu Murata)

Kaga (sunk 4 June) (Capt. Jisaku Okada†)

Air Unit (Lt. Cmdr. Tadashi Kusumi†):

18 Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 21 'Zeke' fighters (Lt. Masao Sato)

18 Aichi D3A1 'Val' dive bombers (Lt. Shoichi Ogawa†)

27 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers (Lt. Ichiro Kitajima)

2nd Carrier Division

Rear Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi† in Hiryū

Hiryū (scuttled 5 June) (Capt. Tomeo Kaku†)

Air Unit (Lt. Joichi Tomonaga†)

18 Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 21 'Zeke' fighters (Lt. Shigeru Mori†)

18 Aichi D3A1 'Val' dive bombers (Lt. Michio Kobayashi†)

18 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers (Lt. Rokuro Kikuchi†)

Sōryū (scuttled 4 June) (Capt. Ryusaku Yanagimoto†)

Air Unit (Lt. Cmdr. Takashige Egusa)

18 Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 21 'Zeke' fighters (Lt. Masaji Suganami)

16 Aichi D3A1 'Val' dive bombers (Lt. Masai Ikeda)

18 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers (Lt. Heijiro Abe)

2 Yokosuka D4Y1 'Judy' dive bombers

Support Group

8th Cruiser Division

Rear Admiral Hiroaki Abe^[d] in Tone

2 Tone-class heavy cruisers (8 × 7.9-in. main battery)

Tone (Capt. Tametsugu Okada)

Air Unit: 3 Aichi E13A1 Type 0 'Jake' float planes, 2 Nakajima E8N2 Type 95 'Dave' float planes

Chikuma (Capt. Keizo Komura)

Air Unit: 3 Aichi E13A1 Type 0 'Jake' float planes, 2 Nakajima E8N2 Type 95 'Dave' float planes

3rd Battleship Division, 2nd Section

Rear Admiral Tamotsu Takama in Haruna

2 Kongo-class fast battleships (8 × 14-in. main battery)

Haruna (Rear Adm. Takama)

Air unit: 3 Nakajima E8N2 Type 95 'Dave' float planes

Kirishima (Capt. Sanji Iwabuchi)

Air unit: 3 Nakajima E8N2 Type 95 'Dave' float planes

Screening Force

10th Destroyer Squadron

Rear Admiral Susumu Kimura in Nagara

1 Nagara-class light cruiser (7 × 5.5-in. main battery)

Nagara (Capt. Toshio Naoi)

4th Destroyer Division (Capt. Kōsaku Aruga)

4 Kagero-class destroyers (6 × 5-in. main battery)

Nowaki (Cmdr. Magataro Koga)

Arashi (Cmdr. Yusumasa Watanabe)

Hagikaze (Cmdr. Juichi Iwagami)

Maikaze (Cmdr. Seiji Nakasugi)

10th Destroyer Division (Capt. Toshio Abe)

3 Yugumo-class destroyers (6 × 5-in. main battery)

Kazagumo (Cmdr. Masayoshi Yoshida)

Yūgumo (Cmdr. Shigeo Semba)

Makigumo (Cmdr. Isamu Fujita)

17th Destroyer Division (Capt. Masayuki Kitamura)

4 Kagero-class destroyers (6 × 5-in. main battery)

Urakaze (Cmdr. Nagayoshi Shiraishi)

Isokaze (Cmdr. Shunichi Toyoshima)

Tanikaze (Cmdr. Motoi Katsumi)

Hamakaze (Cmdr. Tsuneo Orita)

Supply Group 1

Captain Masanao Ota in Kyokuto Maru

1 Kagero-class destroyer (6 × 5-in. main battery)

Akigumo (Cmdr. Shohei Soma)

AO Kyokuto Maru (Capt. Ota)

AO Shinkoku Maru (Capt. Tokugyo Ito)

AO Tōhō Maru (Capt. Kazutaka Niimi)

AO Nippon Maru (Capt. Hironosuke Ueda)

AO Kokuyo Maru (Capt. Toraji Hidai)

Second Fleet (Midway Invasion Force)

Second Fleet Main Body

Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondō^[5] in Atago

3rd Battleship Division less 2nd Section

Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa

2 Kongo-class fast battleships (8 × 14-in. main battery)

Kongō (Capt. Tomiji Koyanagi)

Hiei (Capt. Masao Nishida)

4th Cruiser Division less 2nd Section

Vice Admiral Kondo

2 Takao-class heavy cruisers (10 × 7.9-in. main battery)

Atago (Capt. Baron Matsuji Ijuin)

Chōkai (Capt. Mikio Hayakawa)

5th Cruiser Division

Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi^[e]

2 Myōkō-class heavy cruisers (10 × 7.9-in. main battery)

Myōkō (Capt. Teruhiko Miyoshi)

Haguro (Capt. Tomokazu Mori)

Screening Force

4th Destroyer Squadron

Rear Admiral Shoji Nishimura^[f] in Yura

1 Nagara-class light cruiser (7 × 5.5-in. main battery)

Yura (Capt. Shiro Sato)

3rd Destroyer Division (Capt. Ranji Oe)

4 Shiratsuyu-class destroyers

Murasame (Lt. Cmdr. Naoji Suenaga)

Samidare (Cmdr. Takisaburo Matsubara)

Harusame (Lt. Cmdr. Masao Kamiyama)

Yūdachi (Cmdr. Kiyoshi Kamiyama)

9th Destroyer Division (Capt. Yasuo Sato)

3 Asashio-class destroyers

Asagumo (Cmdr. Toru Iwahashi)

Minegumo (Lt. Cmdr. Yasuatsu Suzuki)

Natsugumo (Lt. Cmdr. Moritaro Tsukamoto)

Carrier Group

Captain Sueo Obayashi

CVL Zuihō (Capt. Obayashi)

12 Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 21 'Zeke' fighters (Lt. Saneyasu Hidaka)

12 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers (Lt. Kaji Matsuo)

1 Mutsuki-class destroyer (4 × 4.7-in. main battery)

Mikazuki (Lt. Cmdr. Saneho Maeda)

Supply Group

Captain Jiro Murao in Sata

AO Sata (Capt. Murao)

AO Tsurumi (Capt. Toshizo Fujita)

AO Genyo Maru (Capt. Shigetaro Ogawa)

AO Kenyo Maru (Capt. Yoshio Kanemasu)

AR Akashi (Capt. Tsunekichi Fukuzawa)

Midway Occupation Force

Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka^[g] in Jintsu

Transport Group carrying about 5000 troops under Captain Minoru Ōta^[h], IJN and Colonel Kiyonao Ichiki^[i], IJA

Transports

Kiyosumi Maru (Capt. Seiichiro Kito)

Keiyo Maru (Capt. Masamichi Ikeuchi)

Zenyo Maru

Goshu Maru (Capt. Hiyoshi Furuya)

Toa Maru No. 2 Go

Kano Maru (Capt. Tomosaburo Miura)

Argentina Maru (Cmdr. Takeshi Watanabe)

Hokuroku Maru (Capt. Hiotaro Tsukagoshi)

Brazil Maru (Capt. Kyujiro Jintsu)

Kirishima Maru (Capt. Hiroshi Okubo)

Azuma Maru (Capt. Nobuyoshi Morikawa)

Nankai Maru (Capt. Akira Maki)

Patrol Boats

Patrol Boat #1

Patrol Boat #2

Patrol Boat #34 also carrying SNLF detachment

AO Akebono Maru (damaged by torpedo night of June 3–4) (Capt. Miki Otsuka)

Escort Force

Rear Admiral Tanaka

1 Sendai-class cruiser (7 × 5.5-in. main battery)

CL Jintsu (Capt. Torazo Kozai)

15th Destroyer Division (Capt. Torajiro Sato)

2 Kagero-class destroyers

Kuroshio (Cmdr. Tamaki Ugaki)

Oyashio (Cmdr. Tokiyoshi Arima)

16th Destroyer Division (Capt. Shiro Shibuya)

4 Kagero-class destroyers

Yukikaze (Cmdr. Kenjiro Tobita)

Amatsukaze (Cmdr. Tameichi Hara)

Tokitsukaze (Cmdr. Giichiro Nakahara)

Hatsukaze (Cmdr. Kameshiro Takahashi)

18th Destroyer Division (Capt. Yoshito Miyasaka)

2 Kagero-class destroyers

Shiranui (Cmdr. Shizuo Akazawa)

Kagerō (Cmdr. Minoru Yokoi)

2 Asashio-class destroyers

Kasumi (Cmdr. Kiyoshi Tomura)

Arare (Cmdr. Tomoe Ogata)

Seaplane Tender Group

Rear Admiral Ruitaro Fujita in Chitose

11th Seaplane Tender Division

CVS Chitose (Capt. Tamotsu Furukawa)

16 Nakajima A6M2-N 'Rufe' floatplane fighters

4 Aichi E13A 'Jake' scout floatplanes

AV Kamikawa Maru (Capt. Tarohachi Shinoda)

8 Nakajima A6M2-N 'Rufe' floatplane fighters

4 Aichi E13A 'Jake' scout floatplanes

1 Kagero-class destroyer

Hayashio (Cmdr. Kiyoshi Kaneda)

Patrol Boat #35 (carrying troops)

Midway Support Force

Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita in Kumano

7th Cruiser Division (Vice Adm. Kurita)

Kumano (Capt. Kikumatsu Tanaka)

Suzuya (Capt. Masatomi Kimura)

Mikuma (scuttled x June) (Capt. Shakao Sakiyama†)

Mogami (Capt. Akira Soji)

8th Destroyer Division (Cmdr. Nobuki Ogawa)

2 Asashio-class destroyers

Asashio (Lt. Cmdr. Goro Yoshii)

Arashio (Cmdr. Hideo Kuboki)

Attached Oiler

AO Nichiei Maru (Capt. Matsushi Yamamoto)

Minesweeper Group

Captain Sadatomo Miyamoto

4 auxiliary minesweepers

Tama Maru #3 (Lt. (j.g.) Atsutoshi Yamaguchi)

Tama Maru #5 (Lt. Akira Takato)

Showa Maru #7 (Lt. Teruhisa Takahashi)

Showa Maru #8 (Lt. (j.g.) Kiichi Sasaki)

3 subchasers

Subchaser #16 (Lt. Yasukichi Suzuki)

Subchaser #17 (Lt. Shigematsu Yoshioka)

Subchaser #18 (Lt. Mitsugu Miyoi)

1 supply ship

Soya (Cmdr. Toshi Kubota)

2 cargo ships

Meiyo Maru (Capt. Hisao Koizumi)

Yamafuku Maru (Capt. Torao Honda)

Advance (Submarine) Force (Sixth Fleet)

Vice Admiral Teruhisa Komatsu in Katori at Kwajalein

1 Katori-class cruiser (4 × 5.5-in. main battery)

Katori (Capt. Noboru Owada)

3rd Submarine Squadron

Rear Admiral Chimaki Kona in Rio de Janeiro Maru at Kwajalein

19th Submarine Division (Capt. Ryojiro Ono)

I-156 (Lt. Cmdr. Katsuo Ohashi)

I-157 (Lt. Cmdr. Sakae Nakajima)

I-158 (Lt. Cmdr. Soshichi Kitamura)

I-159 (Lt. Cmdr. Tamori Yoshimatsu)

13th Submarine Division (Capt. Takeji Miyazaki)

I-121 (Lt. Cmdr. Yasuo Fujimori)

I-122 (Lt. Cmdr. Sadatoshi Norita)

I-123 (Lt. Cmdr. Toshitake Ueno)

30th Submarine Division (Capt. Maseo Teraoka)

I-162 (Lt. Cmdr. Takakazu Kinashi)

I-165 (Lt. Cmdr. Hakue Jarada)

I-166 (Lt. Cmdr. Makio Tanaka)

Shore-based Air Force

Eleventh Air Fleet
Vice Admiral Nishizo Tsukahara at Tinian

Midway Expeditionary Force (Capt. Chisato Morita)

36 Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters (Lt. Tadashi Kaneko)

10 Mitsubishi G4M 'Betty' level bombers at Wake Island

6 flying boats at Jaluit

24th Air Flotilla (Rear Adm. Minoru Maeda)

Chitose Air Group at Kwajalein (Capt. Fujiro Ohashi)

36 Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters

36 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers

1st Air Group at Aur and Wotje (Capt. Samaji Inoue)

36 Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters

36 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers

14th Air Group (Capt. Daizo Nakajima)

36 Kawanishi H6K 'Mavis' flying boats at Jaluit and Wotje

Northern Area Force

Fifth Fleet Main Body

Vice Admiral Boshirō Hosogaya^[j] in Nachi

1 Myoko-class heavy cruiser

Nachi (Capt. Takahiko Kiyota)

2 Akatsuki-class destroyers

Inazuma (Lt. Cmdr. Hajime Takeuchi)

Ikazuchi (Lt. Cmdr. Shunsaku Kudo)

Supply Group:

AO Fujisan Maru (Capt. Kikuta Maki)

AO Nissan Maru (Capt. Hachiro Naotsuka)

AC Muroto (Capt. Masaji Yamagata)

AP Akashisan Maru (Capt. Yoshio Hosoya)

AF Tōkō Maru No. 2 Go

Second Carrier Striking Force

Rear Admiral Kakuji Kakuta^[k] in Ryujo

4th Carrier Division (Rear Adm. Kakuta)

CVL Ryūjō (Capt. Tadeo Kato)

Air Unit (Lt. Masayuki Yamagami)

16 Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 21 'Zeke' fighters (Lt. Minoru Kobayashi)

21 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers (Lt. Yamagami)

CV Jun'yō (Capt. Shizue Isii)

Air Unit (Lt. Yoshio Shiga)

24 Mitsubishi A6M Zero Type 21 'Zeke' fighters (Lt. Shiga)

15 Aichi D3A1 'Val' dive bombers (Lt. Zenji Abe)

4th Cruiser Division, 2nd Section (Capt. Shunsaku Nabeshima in Maya)

2 Takao-class heavy cruisers

Takao (Capt. Bunji Asakura)

Maya (Capt. Nabeshima)

7th Destroyer Division (Capt. Kaname Konishi)

3 Fubuki-class destroyers

Akebono (Lt. Cmdr. Minoru Nakagawa)

Ushio (Lt. Cmdr. Yoshitake Uesugi)

Sazanami (Lt. Cmdr. Hiroshi Uwai)

AO Teiyo Maru (Capt. Katasuke Tanaka)

Aleutian Support Force

Vice Admiral Shiro Takasu^[l] in Hyūga

2nd Battleship Division (Vice Adm. Takasu)

Fusō (Capt. Chozaemon Obata)

Hyūga (Capt. Chiaki Matsuda)

Ise (Capt. Isamu Takeda)

Yamashiro (Capt. Gunji Kogure)

Screening Force (Rear Adm. Fukuji Kishi] in Kitakami)

9th Cruiser Division (Rear Adm. Kishi)

CL Kitakami (Capt. Saiji Norimitsu)

CL Ōi (Capt. Moichi Narita)

20th Destroyer Division (Capt. Yuji Yamada)

4 Fubuki-class destroyers

Asagiri (Lt. Cmdr. Nisaburo Maekawa)

Yūgiri (Cmdr. Masayoshi Motokura)

Shirakumo (Cmdr. Toyoji Hitomi)

Amagiri (Capt. Buichi Ashida)

24th Destroyer Division (Capt. Yasuji Hirai)

4 Shiratsuyu-class destroyers

Umikaze (Cmdr. Nagahide Sugitani)

Yamakaze (Lt. Cmdr. Shuichi Hamanaka)

Kawakaze (Lt. Cmdr. Kazuo Wakabayashi)

Suzukaze (Lt. Cmdr. Kazuo Shibayama)

27th Destroyer Division (Capt. Matake Yoshimura)

2 Hatsuharu-class destroyers

Ariake (Lt. Cmdr. Shoichi Yoshida)

Yūgure (Lt. Cmdr. Kiyoshi Kamo)

2 Shiratsuyu-class destroyers

Shigure (Cmdr. Noboru Seo)

Shiratsuyu (Lt. Cmdr. Kanematsu Hashimoto)

Supply Group (Capt. Matsuo Eguchi)

AO San Clemente Maru (Capt. Eguchi)

AO Toa Maru (Capt. Yataro Yokohama)

Attu Invasion Force

Rear Admiral Sentarō Ōmori^[m] in Abukuma

CL Abukuma (Capt. Seiroku Murayama)

21st Destroyer Division (Capt. Toshio Shimizu)

4 Hatsuharu-class destroyers

Wakaba (Lt. Cmdr. Masakichi Kuroki)

Nenohi (Lt. Cmdr. Saburo Terauchi)

Hatsuharu (Lt. Cmdr. Hiroshi Makino)

Hatsushimo (Lt. Cmdr. Satoru Kohama)

ML Magane Maru (Capt. Heiji Sasaki)

AP Kinugasa Maru (Capt. Naoshi Arima) carrying 1,200 army troops under Major Matsutoshi Hozumi

Kiska Invasion Force

Captain Takeji Ono in Kiso

21st Cruiser Division (Capt. Ono)

2 Kuma-class cruisers

Kiso (Capt. Ono)

Tama (Capt. Masaharu Kawabata)

2 auxiliary cruisers

Asaka Maru (Capt. Jiro Ban)

Awata Maru (Capt. Kikuta Maki)

Screening Force

6th Destroyer Division (Capt. Yusuke Tamada)

2 Akatsuki-class destroyers

Hibiki (Lt. Cmdr. Hagumu Ishii)

Akatsuki (Lt. Cmdr. Osamu Takasuka)

1 Minekaze-class destroyer

Hakaze (Lt. Cmdr. Tomo Tanaka)

13th Minesweeper Division (Capt. Toshio Mitsuka)

Hakuhō Maru

Kaihō Maru

Shunkotsu Maru

Transports

Hakusan Maru (Capt. Hareyoshi Goto) carrying 550 troops under Lt. Cmdr. Hifumi Mukai

Kumagawa Maru (Capt. Shiro Yoshida) carrying 700 labor troops with construction equipment

Submarine Detachment

1st Submarine Squadron (Rear Adm. Shigeaki Yamakazi)

I-9 (Cmdr. Akiyoshi Fujii)

2nd Submarine Division (Capt. Hiroshi Imazato)

I-15 (Cmdr. Nobuo Ishikawa)

I-17 (Cmdr. Kozo Nishino)

I-19 (Cmdr. Shogo Narahara)

4th Submarine Division (Capt. Mitsuru Nagai)

I-25 (Cmdr. Akiji Tagami)

I-26 (Cmdr. Minoru Yokota)

Aleutian Seaplane Tender Force (Capt. Keiichi Ujuku)

AV Kimikawa Maru (Capt. Ujuku)

Air Unit: 8 3-seat floatplanes

1 Minekaze-class destroyer

Shiokaze (Lt. Yoji Tanegashima)

United States

The US Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas were under the overall command of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.^[6]

Task Force 17

Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletcher^[n] in Yorktown

Task Group 17.5 (Carrier Group)

Yorktown (sunk by I-168 7 June) (Captain Elliott Buckmaster)

Yorktown Air Group^[o] (Lieutenant Commander Oscar Pederson)

25 Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighters (VF-3 – Lt. Cmdr. John S. Thach)

18 Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers (VB-3 – Lt. Cmdr. Maxwell F. Leslie)

19 Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers (VS-5 – Lt. Wallace C. Short, Jr.)

13 Douglas TBD-1 Devastator^[p] torpedo bombers (VT-3 – Lt. Cmdr. Lance E. Massey†)

Task Group 17.2 (Cruiser Group)

Rear Admiral William W. Smith^[q] in Astoria

1 New Orleans-class heavy cruiser (9 × 8-in. main battery)

Astoria (Capt. Francis W. Scanland)

1 Portland-class heavy cruiser (9 × 8-in. main battery)

Portland (Capt. Laurance T. DuBose)

Task Group 17.4 (Destroyer Screen)

Captain Gilbert Hoover^[r], COMDESRON 2

5 Sims-class destroyers (4 × 5-in. main battery)

Hammann (sunk by I-168 7 June) (Commander Arnold E. True)

Anderson (Lt. Cmdr. William M. Hobby, Jr.)

Hughes (Lt. Cmdr. Donald J. Ramsey)

Morris (Cmdr. Harry B. Jarrett)

Russell (Lt. Cmdr. J. C. Pollock)

1 Gleaves-class destroyer (5 × 5-in. main battery)

Gwin (Lt. Cmdr. John M. Higgins)

Task Force 16

Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance^[s] in Enterprise

Task Group 16.5 (Carrier Group):^[7]

Enterprise (Capt. George D. Murray)^[t]

Enterprise Air Group (Lt. Cmdr. C. Wade McClusky)

27 F4F-4 fighters (VF-6 – Lt. James S. Gray)

19 SBD-2/3 dive bombers (VB-6 – Lt. Richard H. Best)

19 SBD-2/3 dive bombers (VS-6 – Lt. Wilmer E. Gallaher)

14 TBD-1 torpedo bombers (VT-6 – Lt. Cmdr. Eugene E. Lindsey†)

Hornet (Capt. Marc A. Mitscher, promoted to Rear Adm en route)^[u]

Hornet Air Group (Cmdr. Stanhope C. Ring)

27 F4F-4 fighters (VF-8 – Lt. Cmdr. Samuel G. Mitchell)

19 SBD-2/3 dive bombers (VB-8 – Lt. Cmdr. Robert R. Johnson)

18 SBD-1/2/3 dive bombers (VS-8 – Lt. Cmdr. Walter F. Rodee)

15 TBD-1 torpedo bombers (VT-8 – Lt. Cmdr. John C. Waldron†)

Task Group 16.2 (Cruiser Group)

Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid^[v], COMCRUDIV 6

1 Pensacola-class heavy cruiser (10 × 8-in. main battery)

Pensacola (Capt. Frank L. Lowe)

1 Northampton-class heavy cruiser (9 × 8-in. main battery)

Northampton (Capt. William D. Chandler Jr.)

3 New Orleans-class heavy cruisers (9 × 8-in. main battery)

New Orleans (Capt. Howard H. Good)

Minneapolis (Capt. Frank J. Lowry)^[w]

Vincennes (Capt. Frederick L. Riefkohl)^[x]

1 anti-aircraft light cruiser (16 × 5-in. main battery)

Atlanta (Capt. Samuel P. Jenkins)

Task Group 16.4 (Destroyer Screen)

Captain Alexander R. Early, COMDESRON 1

Destroyer Squadron 1

1 Porter-class destroyer (8 × 5-in. main battery)

Phelps (Lt. Cmdr. Edward L. Beck)

3 Farragut-class destroyer (5 × 5-in. main battery)

Worden (Lt. Cmdr. William G. Pogue)

Monaghan (Lt. Cmdr. William P. Burford)

Aylwin (Lt. Cmdr. George R. Phelan)

Destroyer Squadron 6

1 Gridley-class destroyer (4 × 5-in. main battery)

Maury (Lt. Cmdr. Gelzer L. Sims)

2 Benham-class destroyer (4 × 5-in. main battery)

Benham (Lt. Cmdr. Joseph M. Worthington)

Ellet (Lt. Cmdr. Francis H. Gardner)

1 Mahan-class destroyer (5 × 5-in. main battery)

Conyngham (Lt. Cmdr. Henry C. Daniel)

1 Porter-class destroyer (8 × 5-in. main battery)

Balch (Lt. Cmdr. Harold H. Thiemroth)

Oilers Group

AO Cimarron (Cmdr. Russell H. Ihrig)

AO Platte (Capt. Ralph H. Henkle)

DD Dewey (Lt. Cmdr. C.F. Chillingworth, Jr.)

DD Monssen (Cmdr. Roland N. Smoot)^[y]

Submarines

Rear Admiral Robert H. English^[z]
Commander, Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, HQ at Pearl Harbor

Task Group 7.1 (Midway Patrol Group)

3 Gato-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft):

Gato (Lt. Cmdr. W.G. Myers)

Grouper (Lt. Cmdr. C.E. Duke)

Flying Fish (Lt. Cmdr. Glynn R. Donaho)

5 Tambor-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft):

Tambor (Lt. Cmdr. J.W. Murphy)

Trout (Lt. Cmdr. F.W. Fenno)

Grayling (Lt. Cmdr. E. Olsen)

Grenadier (Lt. Cmdr. Willis A. Lent)

Gudgeon (Lt. Cmdr. H.B. Lyon)

4 Narhwhal-class (6 tubes: 4 forward, 2 aft):

Nautilus (Lt. Cmdr. William H. Brockman Jr.)

Dolphin (Lt. Cmdr. R.L. Rutter)

Cachalot (Lt. Cmdr. G.A. Lewis)

Cuttlefish (Lt. Cmdr. Martin P. Hottel)

Task Group 7.2 ("Roving Short-Stops")

1 Gato-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft):

Trigger (Lt. Cmdr. J.H. Lewis)

1 Porpoise-class (6 tubes: 4 forward, 2 aft):

Plunger (Lt. Cmdr. D.C. White)

1 Narhwhal-class (6 tubes: 4 forward, 2 aft):

Narwhal (Lt. Cmdr. C.W. Wilkins)

Task Group 7.3 (North of Oahu Patrol)

2 Gato-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft):

Growler (Lt. Cmdr. Howard W. Gilmore)

Finback (Lt. Cmdr. J.L. Hull)

2 Porpoise-class (6 tubes: 4 forward, 2 aft):

Pike (Lt. Cmdr. W.A. New)

Tarpon (Lt. Cmdr. Lewis Wallace)

Midway Garrison

Air group

Marine Aircraft Group 22

Colonel Ira L. Kimes, USMC

21 Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo^[aa] (VMF-221, Major Floyd B. Parks†, USMC)

7 Grumman F4F-3A Wildcat (VMF-221, Captain John F. Carey, USMC)

19 Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless (VMSB-241 Major Lofton R. Henderson†, USMC)

17 Chance-Vought SB2U-3 Vindicator (VMSB-241, Major Benjamin W. Norris†, USMC)

Navy Air Units

Captain Cyril T. Simard

31 PBY-5 and PBY-5A Catalinas (Detachments from Patrol Wings 1 and 2, USN)

6 Grumman TBF Avenger (Detachment from VT-8, USS Hornet - Lt. Langdon K. Fieberling†, USN)

Detachment of Seventh Air Force

Major General Willis Hale

4 Martin B-26 Marauder (Detachments from the 18th Reconnaissance and 69th Bombardment Squadrons - Capt. James Collins, USAAF)

17 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (Detachments from the 26th, 31st, 72nd, and 431st Bombardment Squadrons - Lt.Col. Walter C. Sweeney, Jr., USAAF)

Local Defenses

Colonel Harold D. Shannon, Fleet Marine Force commander

"C" and "D" Companies, 2nd Raider Battalion, USMC

6th Defense Battalion (Reinforced) USMC Colonel Harold D. Shannon

1st Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron

11 PT boats (9 at Midway Island and 2 at Kure Atoll)^[8]

Deployed along lesser reefs and islands of the Hawaiian Group

French Frigate Shoals

seaplane tenders Thornton and Ballard

gasoline tanker Kaloli

destroyer Clark

Pearl and Hermes Reef

patrol boat Crystal

fleet tug Vireo

Lisianski Island

patrol boat YP-284

Gardner Pinnacles

patrol boat YP-345

Laysan Island

patrol boat YP-290

Necker Island

patrol boat YP-350

Midway Refueling Unit

Cmdr. Harry R. Thurber, USN

AO Guadalupe

DD Blue and Ralph Talbot

The military forces at the immediate point of tactical contact (i.e. not including support formations) are described below.

Aircraft

American Forces

Naval Air Station (NAS) Midway operated:^[9]

United States Navy

• 31 Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina, seaplanes.
• 6 Grumman TBF-1 Avenger, torpedo bombers (5 lost)

United States Army Air Forces

• 4 Martin B-26 Marauder, medium bombers
• 17 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, heavy bombers

United States Marine Corps

• 19 Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless, dive bombers
• 17 Chance-Vought SB2U-3 Vindicator, dive bombers
• 21 Brewster F2A Buffalo, fighters
• 7 Grumman F4F-3A Wildcat, fighters
• 1 light utility aircraft

Task Force 17:

Yorktown: 77 aircraft (sunk)

• 25 Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat, fighters
• 37 Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless, dive bombers
• 15 Douglas TBD-1 Devastator, torpedo bombers (13 lost)

Task Force 16:

Enterprise: 78 aircraft

• 27 Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat, fighters
• 37 Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless, dive bombers
• 14 Douglas TBD-1 Devastator, torpedo bombers (10 lost)

Hornet: 77 aircraft

• 27 Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat, fighters
• 35 Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless, dive bombers
• 15 Douglas TBD-1 Devastator, torpedo bombers (all lost)

Japanese Forces

The Japanese carriers of the Striking Force operated:

Akagi: 60 aircraft (sunk)

• 24 Mitsubishi A6M Zero, fighters
• 18 Aichi D3A,"Val" dive bombers
• 18 Nakajima B5N,"Kate" torpedo bombers

Kaga: 74 aircraft (sunk)

• 27 Mitsubishi A6M Zero, fighters
• 18 Aichi D3A,"Val" dive bombers
• 27 Nakajima B5N,"Kate" torpedo bombers
• 2 Aichi D3A,"Val" dive bombers (as cargo, likely non-operational)

Hiryū: 57 aircraft (sunk)

• 21 Mitsubishi A6M Zero, fighters
• 18 Aichi D3A,"Val" dive bombers
• 18 Nakajima B5N,"Kate" torpedo bombers

Sōryū: 57 aircraft (sunk) ^[10]

• 21 Mitsubishi A6M Zero, fighters
• 16 Aichi D3A,"Val" dive bombers
• 18 Nakajima B5N,"Kate" torpedo bombers
• 2 Yokosuka D4Y1C, pre-series dive bombers (experimental reconnaissance aircraft)

(Note: These figures include 21 operational Zero fighters of the 6th Air Group being ferried to Midway by the carriers.)

• Japanese battleships and cruisers: 16 reconnaissance floatplanes, most of them short-ranged (5 Aichi E13A, 10 Nakajima E8N, 1 Aichi E11A)