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BATTLE // 4–7 Jun 1942

Midway

Midway Atoll · 28.207, -177.374

Cartographic map of the Midway
Keysanger, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Overview

The Battle of Midway was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II that took place on 4–7 June 1942, six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea. The Japanese Combined Fleet under the command of Isoroku Yamamoto suffered a decisive defeat by two carrier strike groups of the U.S. Pacific Fleet near Midway Atoll, about 1,300 mi northwest of Oahu. Yamamoto had intended to capture Midway and lure out and destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet, especially the aircraft carriers which had escaped damage at Pearl Harbor.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

Carrier balance shifts

Result

U.S. victory

Forces & casualties

Troop strength

  • États-Unis127–233
    medium
  • Empire du Japon248
    medium

Empire du Japon fielded a 1.4 : 1 numerical advantage

Casualties

  • United States21,300
    medium
  • Japan119,100
    medium

Commanders (8)

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Related

6 sibling battles · 6 factions

Last verified May 2026
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