Page 110 - NS-2 Textbook

WORLD WAR II: THE PACIFIC WAR 103

JAPANESE STRIKING FORCE

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,
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nautical miles

The Battle of Midway. This was the turning point of the Pacific war. Not only did the Japanese lose four carriers, but more important. they lost
the best of their carrier pilots.

refueling, and the off-loaded bombs lying around wait- four direct bomb hits. Yamamoto was now ·without aiT-
ing to be returned to the magazines. American bombs hit craft carriers to protect his main body of heavy warships.
the carriers Soryo, Kaga, and Akngi and hlrned them into Though he ordered a counterattack during the night with
flaming torches in minutes. Only the carrier Hiryll, far- fom cruisers of his bombardment force, he canceled the
ther north, escaped this attack. Her dive bombers fol- Midway operation in the early hours of the morning,
lowed the Yorktown's planes back and stopped the u.s. rather than have his surface force exposed to a daylight
carrier with three hits. Additional hits by torpedo planes dive-bombing attack. He ordered his entire force to retire
caused Fletcher to abandon his flagship and hlTn tactical to the west.
command over to Admiral Spruance. 11,e cruiser force now came tmder attack by a U.s.
About the time the Yorktown was being abandoned, submarine, and in the process of dodging torpedoes, hVD
her search planes discovered the Hiryll and reported her of them, the Mogal1li and Mikllma, collided. On 6 June
location and COllTSe. A short rune later a ,,,ave of dive Spruance located the damaged ships and sank the
bombers from the Ellterprise set the Hiryll on fire with Mikllma. 11,e final action came when the Yorktowll, which